Cancer is known to affect 40% of the population at some point in their lifetime, with men facing a slightly higher risk than women, according to the National Cancer Institute. While many elements play into the development of cancer including age, lifestyle, diet, genetics and environment; one’s workplace can also be a factor in a cancer diagnosis. High-risk occupations for cancer include first responders, airline pilots, construction workers, and military members. Even white-collar jobs with prolonged sitting can increase risk with higher blood pressure, blood sugar, and an overall sedentary lifestyle. As research evolves on work-related cancers, state and federal authorities have utilized the workers’ compensation system to enhance protections for workers most at risk of cancer from their work-related duties.
IWP’s newest whitepaper gives readers an overview of current and proposed cancer presumptions amongst U.S. states. The whitepaper focuses on occupations more at risk of developing cancer, primarily first responders. While most states have cancer protections/presumptions for first responders, each piece of legislation can range significantly in coverage allotted and vary in qualifications as well as restrictions. Judicial implications are also reviewed in this piece displaying certain states’ interpretations of how the statutes are read and understood.
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