If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Leave the area and get to fresh air. Do not go back in to rescue someone unless you are trained and equipped to do it safely.
- 2Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, wheezing, confusion, severe headache, vomiting or if anyone passes out.
- 3If a chemical also got on your skin or in your eyes, rinse with plenty of clean water and tell the responders.
- 4Tell your supervisor what happened so the area can be secured and others warned.
- 5Write down the product or process involved, how long you were exposed, and whether ventilation or a respirator was in use.
- 6Ask for the safety data sheet for the product, or photograph the container label if it is safe to do so.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Fume exposures can come from mixing cleaning products, welding, solvents, a gas leak, a fire, or work in a tank or confined space. Report the exposure in writing even if you went home feeling fine, because symptoms such as coughing or headaches can develop later.
Your report should name the substance if known, the location, the time, how long you were there and who else was exposed. If several coworkers were affected, note their names; their reports may support the same timeline.
A claim generally starts when the employer notifies its insurer. Deadlines to report and to file vary by state, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency and your employer promptly.
Keep copies of the safety data sheet, any incident report, air monitoring results if you are given them, and all medical records.
Getting medical care
Get evaluated by a licensed clinician as soon as possible, and bring the product name or label photo with you. That information can help the clinician decide what to check. Only a clinician can decide what care is appropriate. Tell them how long you were exposed, whether you were in an enclosed space, and whether you had a respirator on.
Tell them the exposure happened at work. Some states and employers require you to start with a particular provider or occupational health clinic, so ask your employer or the adjuster. If breathing tests or imaging are recommended, ask how approvals work.
If a prescription is part of your care, ask the pharmacy and the adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Many can be filled locally or delivered to your home.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You develop ongoing breathing problems, coughing or headaches after the exposure.
- The claim is denied because the insurer says your symptoms are unrelated or pre-existing.
- An outside contractor, equipment maker or product supplier may have caused the release, raising third-party questions.
- You were exposed repeatedly over time and are told it is not a single work injury.
- You are told to return to the same area before you feel it is safe or before you are medically cleared.
- You face pushback after reporting the exposure.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Keep follow-up appointments, even if your symptoms fade. Breathing effects can come and go, and your records will show how you are doing over time. Write down any coughing, wheezing or headaches that happen after you return to work, with the date and location.
If your clinician gives restrictions, such as staying away from certain chemicals or areas, share them in writing with your employer. Ask what changes are being made to ventilation or procedures before you return to the area.
Keep the adjuster and your supervisor updated on appointments and work status. Write down any new symptoms with the date and what you were doing.
Questions to ask
- What exactly was the substance, and can I get the safety data sheet?
- Was air quality tested after the incident, and can I have the results?
- Who else was exposed, and were they checked too?
- Doctor, what symptoms should make me seek care again right away?
- Is there an occupational health clinic I should see first?
- Pharmacist or adjuster, how do I fill work-injury prescriptions, and is home delivery an option?
- Attorney, could a product supplier or contractor be part of this?
- What changes were made to ventilation or procedures before I return?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do after I inhaled toxic fumes at work?
Get to fresh air first, and call 911 for any breathing trouble, chest pain or confusion. Then get checked by a clinician and report the exposure in writing. Bring the product name or label photo to your appointment.
Can symptoms from fumes show up later?
Yes, some people notice coughing, headaches or tightness hours later. That is one reason to get evaluated and report the exposure even if you feel fine at first. Seek care right away if symptoms worsen.
Is a fume exposure covered by workers' compensation?
It may be, depending on your state and the facts. Exposures during work duties are generally the kind of event workers' comp addresses. Report it and check with your state's workers' compensation agency.
What is a safety data sheet and why does it matter?
It is a document that describes a chemical product and its hazards. Employers who use hazardous chemicals generally keep them available. Bringing it to your clinician can help them understand what you were exposed to.
What if the fumes came from a contractor's work?
Note who was working nearby and what they were doing. When an outside company may have caused an exposure, people often ask a workers' compensation attorney about third-party questions.
Should I go back to the area where I was exposed?
Only when it has been made safe and your clinician has cleared you. Ask your employer what was done to fix the problem. Write down the answer.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).