One Washington Worker’s Story:

“Jim” is a sawmill worker in his early thirties. He developed symptoms of shortness of breath and itching about one year after he started working in a mill that processed Western Red Cedar. At first, his symptoms were mild and sporadic and would clear over the weekends. His symptoms worsened over the next two years and he finally decided to seek treatment.

Jim’s physician conducted several tests and diagnosed him with allergies and asthma caused by Western Red Cedar. Due to his sensitization to a chemical called plicatic acid in the wood’s dust, his physician believed it would be in Jim’s best interest to remove him from the workplace.

Jim was off work for an extended period of time while he underwent vocational retraining to gain employment in another trade. The total workers’ compensation costs for this claim, including reimbursement for medical expenses and lost time from work, exceeded $63,000.