A job is not only just a career, but is also a way of life. No matter the type of job a person has or what industry he or she works in, having a job means having a steady income. While working is important to individuals in Ohio and elsewhere, it is important to note how certain occupations could have an impact on a person’s health. Because of some work environments, a worker’s lungs could be significantly impacted, even causing a lung disease.

For the coal mining industry, it is well-noted that it is harmful to inhale the dust particles in the work environment. While safety legislation has been passed as far back as the 1960s to address these health and safety concerns, miners are still suffering from lung diseases. Since the 1990s, there has been a significant increase in lung disease, most of it documented among young workers.

Black lung disease occurs when there is an accumulation of coal dust in the lungs. This disease can cause severe respiratory distress, causing some people to be on oxygen for the rest of their lives or even require a lung transplant. Despite the efforts to control and even decrease the occurrences of this disease, data from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicates that it has increased by 3.1 percent.

Discovering that you are suffering from a workplace illness is a shocking event. When a person suffers an occupational illness, it can lead to growing medical bills and deal with lost wages.