Pesticide Exposure

A person who has been exposed to pesticides has a myriad of symptoms ranging from dizziness to cramps that it is best to consult a physician immediately. Check out your symptoms against this list:

• Dizzy spells, feeling of "lightheadedness"
• Nausea and the impulse to vomit
• Difficult breathing, stuffiness on the chest
• Rashes on the skin and other areas exposed to pesticides
• Fuzzy vision
• Uncontrollable muscle spasms

If you detect any of the above symptoms, you may also consult a Florida accident lawyer for the best steps to take when filing a legal complaint.

Pesticide Exposure and What the Law Requires

The Worker Protection Standard Law ensures the protection of agricultural workers from pesticide exposure or injury by requiring their employers to implement safety measures to reduce workers' exposure to pesticides, which can result to poisoning and other serious ailments and injury.

Farm workers, including those working in nurseries, greenhouses and forests are the ones the law tries to protect. The Worker Protection Standard Law also mandates that failure of any employer to take necessary steps on how to curb pesticide exposure, or reduce the risk of contamination among its workers is expressed violation of this law, and filing of a legal complaint can proceed.

When to report a violation? As a general rule, when an employer does not protect his employees from pesticide exposure, there is expressed violation of the law. This can clearly manifest in two (2) instances:

• When the employer fails to implement necessary steps on how to protect his farm employees from exposure to pesticide or injuries resulting from it, or when employees feel they are not being provided with proper and sufficient protection;
• When pesticides affect "non-targeted" areas where employees more likely, may get exposed to the risk of contamination.

You should consult a competent Florida accident attorney who has legal expertise in handling cases involving pesticide exposure on how to file a formal complaint.

The law, in its entirety prohibits an employer to retaliate against an employee filing a proper and valid complaint. For additional information about The Worker Protection Standard Law, or about pesticide exposure, you may refer the matter to your state's Department of Agriculture or to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For legal matters however your Florida personal injury attorney remains the best person to see.