Several weeks ago the Ohio firefighter cancer bill was passed, but not until recently was the bill signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich.
On January 4, 2017 Ohio became the 35th state to sign in legislation protecting firefighters diagnosed with cancer due to their risky occupations.
Firefighters and their families have been fighting for this kind of protection for almost 20 years; Ohio workers’ compensation will now offer medical coverage for specific types of cancer related to the toxins and chemicals they face on duty.
What will this mean for our brave Ohio firemen and women?
Under the new law, renamed the Palumbo Act, firefighters will receive Workers’ Compensation benefits, additional money for medical costs relating to a cancer diagnosis, and survivor benefits for dependents.
There are, however, several exemptions from this new law. Firefighters filing worker’s compensation are exempt from this if they are: 75+ years old, smoke cigarettes, and have served less than three years.
Below are the confirmed cancer diagnoses for firefighters covered under Ohio Workers’ Compensation:
- Brain cancer
- Leukemia
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with any of these cancers and work in this field, you may want to consult with an experienced workers compensation lawyer. Call me today for your free consultation, and I will fight for the justice you and your family deserve.
As your Ohio workplace accident attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373