High levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil around those who work in construction or with old houses. The majority of those exposed to asbestos at some time during their careers do not develop mesothelioma from their exposure. Asbestos related diseases usually occur in people who work directly with the material or who for some other reason are exposed to it on a regular prolonged or substantial basis. Historically, asbestos exposure has been of greatest concern to those involved in:
- Mining and milling of raw material
- Construction trade workers
- HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
- Firefighters
- Plumbers
- Painters
- Electricians
- Shipyard Workers
Workers engaged in manufacturing or using products containing asbestos can get secondary exposure. This occurs when people who do not work directly with asbestos but are inadvertently exposed to fibers as a result of sharing workspaces where others handled asbestos. For example, electricians who worked in shipyards can be exposed if asbestos was used to coat the ship’s pipes and hulls. In addition to people who worked with asbestos either directly or indirectly, workers families and other household contacts are also at risk. In the past, before strict industrial hygiene rules were put in place asbestos workers went home covered in asbestos dust family and household members were then exposed via inhalation of the dust from workers skin, hair, and clothing. During laundering of contaminated work clothes, recent studies have shown increased rates of asbestos-related illnesses and deaths. An estimated 1.3 million construction workers, as well as workers in building and equipment maintenance, are potentially at risk for developing mesothelioma.
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We have been fighting for victims just like you for years and work aggressively to get our clients the financial compensation they deserve for the losses their injuries have caused like lost wages and medical expenses. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you believe it was at the negligence of another individual, please do not hesitate to reach out. Mesothelioma and other lung diseases are characterized by symptoms such as weight loss, cough, profuse sweating, fever, sore throat, swelling in the face and arms, difficulty when breathing and swallowing, fatigue, and pain in the chest. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a very serious form of mesothelioma and signs include all of the above listed symptoms as well as vomiting, pain in the stomach region, nausea, swollen abdomen, constipation, and weight loss. Although it is now known that asbestos is very dangerous to one’s health, many workers who are exposed to it are completely unaware of its symptoms. If you or a loved one has worked in a field where exposure to asbestos was disturbed or created, you should immediately get screened by a doctor to make sure you did not contract any illness related to it. These cases tend to occur at construction sites, in the event you are the victim of an injury contact a Construction Accident Lawyers Shorewood WI trusts for legal advice and guidance.
Thank you to the attorneys at Hickey & Turim SC for providing insight on occupations that are risk for mesothelioma.
