What to Do if You’ve Been Exposed to Harmful Substances at Work: Four Important Things to Consider

Posted on 9/22/2025, 2:41:45 PM

The workplace can be a dangerous environment depending on the industry you’re involved with, and unfortunately, far too many people don’t take this into account. Industries like construction, automotive, and manufacturing each have their respective risks, and it’s essential to be aware of the dangers involved. 

From deadly substances like asbestos to dangerous industrial chemicals and the fumes they create, there are a lot of ways to get injured or harmed. In this article, you’ll learn about four important things to consider if you’ve been affected. 

Seeking Immediate Medical Attention

Hopefully, after exposure to the harmful substance, you sought immediate medical attention. If not, and you’re still sitting on a recent exposure, do so immediately: your first priority should always be getting medical help. 

While you can’t undo the damage, you can certainly prevent the problem from getting any worse, and in that regard, time is of the essence. It’s usually best to go straight to the ER if you’ve been exposed to any kind of dangerous or toxic substance, even if you’ve waited a few days. 

Reporting the Exposure

Once you’ve recovered from the immediate effects of the exposure, it’s imperative that you report it to your employer. Your employer has a duty of care to maintain a safe working environment, and if there’s been a slip-up somewhere that wasn’t your fault, it needs addressing immediately. 

Importantly, the report also serves as a written record if you need to escalate things further. This will help you when it comes to seeking legal representation, as well as dealing with the relevant regulatory bodies.

Gathering the Evidence for a Case

If you do need to escalate things further, that starts with collecting necessary evidence. The above report is one key piece of documentation, after which you’ll want to approach the doctor who tended to your injuries for a full written report of how you were harmed (you’ll also want to hold onto any medical bills). 

It’s also key to procure a series of photos relevant to the incident. If you have visible injuries on your body, snap some pictures, and if you can, obtain images of the environment you got injured in. These will help when it comes to building a water-tight case. 

Consulting with an Experienced Attorney

If you’ve been seriously harmed by exposure to industrial substances, it’s essential to consult with an experienced legal professional. 

Depending on the type of substance you’ve been exposed to and over what specific timespan, there are different types of attorneys you can approach. Some cases of exposure are brought to bear many years after the initial event. For example, if long-term asbestos exposure is your concern, there exist many mesothelioma attorneys fighting for survivors - it all depends on the nature of your exposure. 

At the end of the day, you need someone with not only direct experience in helping those who have sustained injuries at work, but with acute knowledge of the substance in question. 

Wrapping Up

Being exposed to chemicals at work can seriously derail your life, and it can feel totally overwhelming as you do your best to recover physically, psychologically, and financially. 

Help is available, though; you just need to lean on the right professionals for support and take things one step at a time.