Giving Victims A Voice

A Proven Ally For Workers Suffering From Exposure To Plating Chemicals

The plating industry has known for decades about the hazards of the various chemicals its workers are exposed to. Rather than inform the workers, the plating industry has instead secreted this knowledge from workers and customers and fought efforts by OSHA and the federal government to put greater controls on plating emissions.

At Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, we are ready to challenge employers whose negligence has damaged their workers’ health and long-term welfare. Each of our lawyers is a skilled litigator and experienced in protecting and pursuing our clients’ rights in courts throughout Illinois. You can rely on us to leverage our decades of trial experience when we represent your toxic exposure claim.

What Is Plating?

Plating is a surface-covering technique used to deposit metal on a conductive surface to limit corrosion and increase wearability. Commonly plated metals include gold, silver, copper, palladium, chrome, nickel and zinc.

There are generally two plating methods:

    • Electroplating: describes the process where a chemical solution which contains the ionic form of a metal is negatively charged (by a cathode) to produce a film of non-ionic metal that binds or plates itself to the positively charged (anode) surface.
    • Electroless plating: describes a plating method that involves several simultaneous reactions in an aqueous solution without electrical power. Essentially, through the use of hydrogen, sodium hypophosphites and other chemical reactions, the material is oxidized onto the surface to be plated.

How Can The Chemicals Used In This Process Harm The Body?

Use of these aqueous solutions causes the metals to alter their form and become inhaled, absorbed or ingested into the human body. Use of electroless plating can also cause fumes and dust to be released into the environment.

The various nickel-based fumes and dust from plating are carcinogenic when inhaled, absorbed or ingested in humans. Similarly, the hydrochloric acids, sulfuric acids and other solutions used in the chemical reactions of plating can lead to advanced respiratory problems.

Our Legal Background Can Give You An Advantage

Few attorneys have the depth of experience required to handle a complex claim of this nature. Our Bloomington firm concentrates on asbestos and toxic exposure cases, so we are intimately familiar with the steps necessary to build a strong argument that gets results.

Consult With Us For Free

We invite you to complete our online form or call us at 309-828-5099 to learn your legal options. We are eager to help because we care about injured workers and their family members. Please contact us today.