Asbestos in the Workplace
It is in the handling of asbestos and the breathing of its dust and fibers that constitutes the primary risk-factor for developing an asbestos-related pathology, such as mesothelioma. However, even if one hasn’t directly handled the asbestos, one’s risk-factor for asbestos disease still increases if the air has been contaminated with asbestos fibers. As we stated in another part of this website, this type of contamination was on Navy ships, where seaman would visit or stand watch in the engine and boiler rooms of the ships.
Members of the Navy, as well as other sailors, submariners and shipbuilders were all placed at risk. Shipbuilders and those who in engine and boiler rooms were often in danger of inhaling asbestos.A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about seventy to eighty percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses. In many other cases, the exposure came from coming into contact with the clothes of the asbestos worker. This type of exposure, known as second-hand exposure, is common in the families of people who worked with asbestos. If you suffer from mesothelioma symptoms or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have legal rights that can help protect your future and family.
The corporations that manufactured and profited from the sale of asbestos-containing products knew the health hazards of asbestos exposure as early as the 1920s. During the same period, there were alternatives to asbestos available. Many of the asbestos companies went so far as to buy out the smaller competitors who were producing asbestos-free products. These corporations ignored the deadly risks and repercussions associated with asbestos and chose to sell and recklessly use it through even the 1980s.
These manufacturers did not advise veterans of the dangers of asbestos and consequently, many great Americans have unnecessarily and tragically developed Mesothelioma.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or you have lost someone to an asbestos-related illness, it is your right to seek compensation from those responsible for your situation. While monetary compensation will not alleviate your pain, it can help to ease the burden of medical bills, lost income and continued support for loved ones. It may aid your situation in many other ways as well. To learn more about your legal options, contact Belluck and Fox.