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INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REPRESENTATIVES
DEER PARK MANUFACTURING COMPLEX P. J. SNYDER
MARTINEZ MANUFACTURING COMPLEX M. FOX, JR. G. A. HERMENS
NORCO MANUFACTURING COMPLEX G. N. MATTHEWS A. K. MENARD
WILMINGTON MANUFACTURING COMPLEX L. S. COTTON
WOOD RIVER MANUFACTURING COMPLEX W. M. CUNNINGHAM
DENVER CHEMICAL PLANT A. C. DREIER
GEISMAR CHEMICAL PLANT M. T. BARCLAY
MARIETTA CHEMICAL PLANT M. B. KOVACEVICH
MOBILE CHEMICAL PLANT D. E. EITEL
WOODBURY CHEMICAL PLANT F. GORSKI
EASTERN REGION INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OFFICE A. F. SCHMIT
WESTERN REGION INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OFFICE R. K. JONES
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PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT SH-1235
LAM 001184
DPMC-16883
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Court rejects asbestosis claim
A medical examination revealed that Shemanski had contracted asbestosis, a lung disease caused by excessive inhalation of asbestos dust particles. Shemanski's job re quired cutting ceiling panels with a circular saw, which raised a great deal of dust, including asbestos particles.
Shemanski filed for occupational disease benefits, claiming that his lung disease resulted from his workplace exposure to the asbestos dust. His employer contested the
claim.
( The case was heard before the Pennsylvania Workers'
Compensation Bureau. At the hearing, Shemanski's em
ployer presented records of the asbestos levels at Sheman
ski's plant. This evidence showed that the asbestos levels
were far below the ceiling limits ofOSHA and the Pennsyl
vania Department of Environmental Resources. The rec
ords proved that Shemanski had not been exposed to a
hazardous quantity of asbestos dust at work, the employer
contended. Therefore, there was no causal link between
Shemanski's disease and his working environment.
The Bureau agreed. In its ruling, the Bureau cited a
State statute which provides: "A claimant must prove an
exposure to an occupational disease in the course of his
employment." Finding that Shemanski had failed to do so,
the Bureau rejected his claim for compensation benefits.
On appeal to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
(Henry Shemanski y. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Workmens Compensation Appeal Board et al.), She
manski was again the loser. Upholding the Bureau's ver
dict, the court concluded that "the denial of benefits was
justified on the grounds that the claimant had failed to
establish a compensable exposure to an occupational haz
ard."
Benefits denied.
:
LAM 001185
DPMC-16884