Agriculture continues to play a central role in Iowa’s economy. As of 2022, there were nearly 87,000 farms in the state, employing more than 70,000 farm workers. These laborers face many hazards on the job, especially from heavy machinery.
Pesticides are another safety threat. Occupational exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to respiratory and other problems, forcing workers to miss weeks and months of work. Call our office if you believe pesticide exposure has led to illness. Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., has helped employees file injury claims, and we know what evidence is most useful. A Des Moines workers’ compensation attorney can check if you qualify for benefits, or we can file an appeal for you after receiving a denial.
Health Problems and Pesticide Exposure
Workers are exposed to pesticides in a variety of ways:
- Handling pesticides by mixing, loading, or applying pesticides to agriculture;
- Cleaning pesticide application equipment;
- Helping with the preparation or application of pesticides;
- Absorption of pesticides while harvesting;
- Inhalation of airborne toxic substances while on the job;
- Repotting plans.
At base, pesticides are designed to kill or repel common pests which can damage crops. They are a standard feature at most farms in Iowa. However, some common pesticides can cause serious health effects in humans:
- Acaricides are used to kill mites, but these pesticides can lead to dementia in the elderly.
- Antifeedants prevent insects and other pests from feeding. In children, exposure to antifeedants can lead to toxic encephalopathy.
- Desiccants like boric acid are used to dry plant tissue but in certain cases may lead to cardiac arrest in humans.
- Fungicides prevent or eradicate fungi from plants. They are known to cause cancer in the liver and thyroid.
- Herbicides are used to kill certain plants, but they can lead to vomiting, nausea, and loss of consciousness in humans.
- Insecticides kill insects or disrupt their growth. Common examples include DDT and malathion. If consumed, insecticides cause diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. They could be fatal if consumed in excessive quantities.
- Rodenticides are critical substances to kill rats and related rodents. However, ingestion can lead to respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, kidney damage, and renal failure. Death is common.
These are some of the most common pesticides used on farms. If you work around livestock, then you might have other chemicals on-site.
Are Agricultural Workers Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Iowa?
Generally, yes. Under Iowa Code § 85.1 agricultural workers are covered if they work for an employer whose cash payroll is $2,500 or more in the previous year. Some workers might be exempt, such as an owner or a family member, but most workers on larger farms are covered.
If you have questions, contact our office to find out more. We can review if workers’ compensation will cover an illness related to occupational exposure to common pesticides.
Under Iowa Code § 206.14, any suspected pesticide poisoning should be reported by health care providers such as hospitals and doctors. It is critical to go to the hospital if you are feeling sick, because the state takes exposure to pesticides seriously.
Documenting Your Exposure to Pesticides
Many agricultural workers are unaware of what pesticides they are exposed to, especially if they only harvest or handle plants instead of applying the pesticides themselves. You might not immediately connect your health issues with possible pesticide exposure at work.
Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer at Ball, Kirk & Holm. We can dig deeper into the cause of your illness. For example, you might suffer from respiratory problems but do not know the reason why. Your doctor also cannot immediately identify the cause of your problems.
If you work on a farm, then there’s a chance the chemicals used on the job are contributing to ailments. An attorney can investigate to help connect injury or illness to your jobsite. This connection is critical if you hope to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Some agricultural workers are denied benefits because the insurer is not convinced toxic exposure is to blame. There’s always the possibility you were exposed to something outside of work. Let us gather evidence for you. You can help your case by writing down any pesticides you know are used at your farm.
How Much Can You Receive in Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Workers’ compensation should cover:
- Medical treatment, which might include doctor’s visits, blood work, imaging tests, surgery, and hospital overnight stays. If you develop tumors, then you might need chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
- Healing period benefits, which can pay wage loss benefits while you recover from your injuries.
- Scheduled member benefits, if your exposure to pesticides causes a permanent loss of a bodily organ or body part. For example, you might suffer kidney damage because of pesticide exposure or require amputation if you develop a tumor in your eye or a limb.
- Vocational benefits. A worker might need to retrain for a new job or a job in a new industry.
Contact our law firm if you have submitted a claim but were denied. Many agricultural workers struggle to get claims approved.
Can You File a Lawsuit?
Pesticides are regulated by the federal government. Nonetheless, you might be able to bring a lawsuit for exposure in a few situations:
- Defective person protection equipment (PPE). You might receive goggles, respirators, or other PPE if you work around pesticides. If this equipment does not work as expected, you might file a product liability claim.
- Harmful chemicals. Some pesticides are more harmful than imagined, and we might be able to sue the manufacturer for failing to provide adequate warnings.
Our firm is happy to investigate to see if a personal injury lawsuit is viable.
Contact Us to Arrange a Consultation
The agricultural industry remains central to Iowa’s identity, and laborers deserve to receive medical benefits when they are injured due to pesticide exposure. We continue to learn every day that some chemicals are more dangerous than imagined.
Call our firm if you are struggling after suspected exposure to pesticides. We can help you navigate the workers’ compensation claims process. We have hundreds of satisfied clients who can attest to our passionate representation of their interests in the workers’ comp system. Our firm is always available to our clients 24/7.