Common Types of Occupational Diseases

Employees are right to expect to work in a safe and healthy environment. In fact, employers have a responsibility to provide their employees with a safe workplace.

Unfortunately, many people work in environments that expose them to harmful substances or unsafe conditions that can lead to several common types of occupational diseases.

These illnesses can range from mild to severe and can even be fatal in some cases. Occupational diseases can also significantly impact a person’s long-term health and quality of life.

In North Carolina, workers who suffer from occupational diseases may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

If you or a loved one suffers from an occupational illness, it is important to seek legal assistance to help you pursue compensation.

You can reach our lawyers at 980-326-2270.

At Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, we can help you file a workers’ compensation claim and help you pursue the settlement you need to heal.

Our compassionate advocates have over 30 years of combined legal experience helping clients who have suffered employment-related illnesses fight for the compensation they deserve.

What Is an Occupational Illness?

Occupational diseases are illnesses caused or worsened by work environments, including asthma, contact dermatitis, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Workplace absenteeism rises due to diseases including occupational asthma, avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, occupational cancer, cardiovascular disease, Valley Fever, and ergonomic-related musculoskeletal disorders.

OSHA defines a “workplace” as “the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment.”

Under North Carolina G.S. 97-53, a disease is compensable when it is characteristic of and peculiar to a particular trade or occupation, and when the claimant can demonstrate a causal relationship between workplace exposure and the diagnosed condition. A workers’ compensation attorney can help obtain the occupational medicine evaluations and employment exposure records needed to satisfy this causation standard.

A person’s work environment includes physical locations as well as the use of any equipment or materials during their work.

Furthermore, a disease only becomes an occupational disease when it is more prevalent in a specific body of workers than in the general population or other worker populations.

In other words, the condition must relate to the work you have done.

For instance, if a chemist contracts anthrax from a specimen after a tube breaks, that illness counts as an occupational disease because it is related to the nature of the chemist’s employment and job tasks.

Conversely, if the same worker can easily encounter a specific disease outside the workplace—for instance, the flu—catching it at work does not make it an occupational disease.

What Are the Most Common Types of Occupation-Related Diseases?

North Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act (G.S. 97-53) lists specific compensable occupational diseases, including asbestosis, silicosis, byssinosis, lead poisoning, radiation-related conditions, and occupational hearing loss. Workers whose conditions fall outside the enumerated list may still qualify if they can prove the disease is characteristic of their occupation and caused by workplace conditions.

Occupational diseases include conditions caused by workplace hazards such as asbestosis, silicosis, hearing loss, and dermatitis.

But while there are many kinds of occupational diseases, a handful of occupational diseases are more common than others. Some of the most common occupational diseases are discussed below.

1. Respiratory Diseases

Occupational respiratory disease is a category of lung and airway conditions caused by inhaling toxic dust, fumes, chemicals, or biological agents in the workplace, with asbestosis, silicosis, and work-related asthma among the most common compensable forms in North Carolina.

Workers in industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing are at a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases because of their exposure to harmful substances like asbestos, silica, and coal dust.

These substances can damage the lungs and lead to chronic conditions like asbestosis, silicosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

These chronic conditions can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, and fatigue.

2. Skin Diseases

Occupational skin disease includes contact dermatitis, chemical acne, and work-related skin cancer – all caused by repeated exposure to irritants, allergens, or carcinogens encountered on the job.

Workers in industries such as healthcare, cleaning, and construction are at a higher risk of developing skin diseases because of their exposure to harmful chemicals, irritants, and allergens.

This regular exposure can cause contact dermatitis, occupational acne, and skin cancer.

Contact dermatitis is a skin rash caused by exposure to irritants or allergens, while occupational acne is a skin condition caused by exposure to oils, greases, and other chemicals.

Sunlight, chemicals, and radiation exposure can cause skin cancer. All these diseases can cause skin damage and internal damage.

3. Chemical Poisoning

Occupational chemical poisoning is a serious health concern for many workers, including agricultural workers, ranchers, health care professionals, lab workers, factory workers, and construction workers.

Because these laborers work with harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, asbestos, benzene, and pesticides, they often suffer from numerous health problems.

Chemical-caused diseases include heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, fertility and pregnancy abnormalities, thyroid disease, and chronic fatigue, to name just a few.

4. Infectious Diseases

Occupational infectious diseases are illnesses or health conditions caused by exposure to infectious workplace agents.

Workers in healthcare, laboratories, and animal handling jobs are at a higher risk of occupational infectious diseases, including diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, and COVID-19. Airline and cabin crew members face similar exposure risks in close-quarters aircraft cabins, which is why workers’ comp for flight attendants claims often involve infectious disease exposure alongside other occupational hazards.

These diseases can range from mild to severe and may even be fatal. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms are often the cause of occupational infectious diseases, which is why these diseases are more prevalent in workers who work with human waste and biological agents.

For this reason, employees who work for employers that fail to provide proper protective equipment or follow appropriate safety protocols are at a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases.

5. Hearing Loss

Occupational hearing loss is permanent or progressive damage to auditory function caused by sustained exposure to workplace noise levels above 85 decibels, and it is a recognized compensable condition under the NC Workers’ Compensation Act.

Exposure to loud noise can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Workers in industries such as construction, mining, manufacturing, and aviation ground operations are at a higher risk of developing hearing loss. If you work on the tarmac, learn more about airport ramp worker injuries in our related guide.

This damage can lead to ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing, and sensitivity to noise. Hearing loss is an injury that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

6. Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) occur because of repetitive and forceful movements. Workers in the assembly, manufacturing, and construction industries are at higher risk of developing RSIs.

These injuries can result in tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger. Tendinitis is tendon inflammation caused by overuse.

Trigger finger causes a finger to stick in a bent position because the finger’s tendon is inflamed, and it is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist.

7. Cancer

In the workplace, the carcinogenic agents people most commonly encounter include asbestos, second-hand smoke, and benzene.

Exposure to these and other harmful substances, such as radiation, can increase a worker’s risk of developing cancer.

Construction workers, roofers, print shop workers, metal workers, manufacturers, welders, factory workers, coal miners, and healthcare workers are at a higher risk of developing cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer commonly caused by asbestos exposure, while benzene exposure can cause leukemia—both affect the blood and bone marrow.

These types of cancers can be challenging to diagnose and treat and are often fatal.

How Our NC Workers’ Comp Attorneys Can Help You

If you or a loved one suffers from an occupational disease, the skilled occupational disease lawyers at Mehta & McConnell can help you navigate the workers’ compensation claims process and protect your rights every step of the way.

Our experienced attorneys pride themselves on providing knowledgeable and compassionate representation and giving our clients the care, consideration, and attention they deserve.

Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an occupational disease under North Carolina workers comp law?

An occupational disease is a health condition caused or significantly aggravated by workplace conditions, hazardous exposures, or repetitive job tasks rather than a single traumatic event. North Carolina law under Section 97-53 of the Workers’ Compensation Act enumerates recognized occupational diseases, including conditions caused by toxic chemical exposure, repeated physical strain, and biological hazards. To qualify for workers’ comp benefits, you must show a direct causal link between your job duties and the diagnosed condition.

What are the most common types of occupational diseases?

The most common occupational diseases include occupational asthma caused by inhaled workplace substances, hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure, repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, contact dermatitis from chemical exposure, and lung diseases including silicosis or asbestosis. Industries such as construction, manufacturing, mining, and healthcare carry the highest risk due to ongoing exposure to hazardous substances, extreme physical demands, and infectious environments. Expert medical evidence linking your diagnosis to your specific job conditions is essential when filing an occupational disease workers’ comp claim in North Carolina.

How is an occupational illness different from a work accident injury?

A work accident injury results from a single, identifiable traumatic event at a specific time and place, such as a fall or equipment malfunction. An occupational illness, by contrast, develops gradually over time as a direct result of repeated exposures or conditions inherent to the job. Both types are covered under North Carolina’s workers’ compensation system, but occupational disease claims require detailed medical documentation that establishes the connection between cumulative workplace exposure and the resulting health condition.

What characterizes an occupational disease for workers comp purposes?

An occupational disease is characterized by a causal relationship to the worker’s specific job environment or duties, distinguishing it from ordinary diseases of life that affect the general public equally. Classification requires that the condition is either listed under North Carolina’s recognized occupational disease statute or that evidence shows the work environment placed the employee at a greater risk of developing it. Employers often dispute these claims, making thorough medical evidence and experienced legal representation critical to a successful outcome.

Viral Mehta

Viral Mehta is a Managing Attorney at Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers in Charlotte, NC, and one of fewer than 1% of North Carolina attorneys holding a North Carolina State Bar Board Certification in Workers’ Compensation law. He spent the first decade of his career defending employers and insurance companies in workers’ comp claims before switching sides to represent injured workers. A North Carolina Super Lawyer (2024, 2025) and five-time Rising Star, Viral was also a contributing author of the 2017 North Carolina Workers’ Compensation LexisNexis Practice Guide and is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Superior Court mediator.