Judy F. Barnett v. Nn Ball & Roller, Inc. and Wasau Insurance Companies

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The appeal has been perfected by the employee, Judy F. Barnett, from the action of the trial court in awarding her 65% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. On appeal the employee insists the award of disability is not sufficient and that her disability should be fixed at 1%. Mrs. Barnett was 43 years of age and is a high school graduate. She had taken a drafting course but never used it. She said she had also taken a basic computer concepts course and a typing course. Her prior work experience was in a sewing factory and a grocery store. She began work for defendant, NN Ball & Roller, Inc., in 1984 and at the time in question, she was employed as an inspector of steel bearings. In 199-91 she testified she had an allergy reaction after being out in the sun (not work- related) for some period of time and it had been diagnosed as photodermatitis. The inspector position required her to examine steel bearings on an assembly line passing in front of her. She said that prior to this inspection, the production process involved cleaning the bearings with kerosene in order to cut off grease and that after a ball wash, the bearings were dipped in pack oil. She said that as the process operated there was a strong odor which settled in her hair and clothing. She testified she began having problems in 1993 and that it continued throughout her employment. Her problems were shortness of breath, swollen eyes, sores in her nose, ears peeling, earaches, upset stomach and headaches. She worked until June 2, 1997 and stopped working on her doctor's advise. During the course of her employment, the employer attempted to accommodate her medical problems by improving the ventilation, changing her job and other efforts which did not greatly improve her condition and she was eventually terminated on January 8, 1998 because the company could not comply with her medical restrictions. Causation of injury is not an issue. Material Safety Data Sheets were introduced into evidence. The manufacturer of the pack oil warned it could cause 2