Job Site Asbestos Exposure Lawyer
During the second half of the 20th century, companies became fully aware of the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos, but unconscionably, they chose to hide it from workers, consumers, and the general public. As a result, anyone involved in the process of mining, manufacturing or simply using asbestos and asbestos-containing products were put at risk for developing lethal cancers like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other related diseases.
Military And Shipyards
Navy
Asbestos containing materials have been heavily used by our military, causing our servicemen to unwittingly work with and be exposed to this deadly mineral. Navy veterans, tasked with the frequent service and maintenance of their ships’ spaces, were confronted with daily occupational asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used liberally throughout Navy vessels as an insulation for piping and equipment found throughout the ship’s engine and boiler spaces. This work was often referred to as “lagging.” Asbestos was also found in other products, such as gaskets and packing, which were used regularly in the course of maintenance and repair of the ship’s equipment. Unfortunately, US Navy Ships have become notorious sites for asbestos materials exposure, causing our Navy veterans to be increasingly vulnerable to asbestos related disease – including diagnoses of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers.
Asbestos Exposure
Shipyards
Our Navy veterans were not the only victims of the asbestos used on board ship; civilian shipyard workers faced the same circumstances as their servicemen counterparts, only they encountered asbestos while the ships were in dry dock. Shipyard construction workers performing maintenance on old ships or taking apart decommissioned vessels experienced significant exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Their duties aboard ship brought them in contact with insulated piping and equipment in confined spaces. The removal and replacement of these materials resulted in high concentrations of asbestos in the air that they breathed.
Air Force
Asbestos was also frequently used on military bases, especially in the Air Force, where it was also used to control heat and fireproof planes. Airplanes are incredibly complicated pieces of machinery, and many of the parts used on airplanes were made with asbestos. Furthermore, the families of our service men and women who lived on military bases as a family may have also come into contact with asbestos just by virtue of living in base housing.
Based on all of this, it is not surprising that roughly 33% of mesothelioma cases are our veterans. Men and women who served our country bravely faced risks above and beyond the enemy they were trained to fight, and may now develop a grave illness from the silent killer asbestos. It is important to note that The Meso Law Firm does not hold the military responsible or pursue the United States in these kinds of cases. These cases are against the product manufacturers who profited from the sale of materials to the US Government.
Industry
Asbestos was widely used in manufacturing and energy plants due to its chemical and heat-resistant properties. Asbestos could be found in a variety of products, such as cement, insulation, gaskets, packing, and protective clothing intended to prevent fires and control chemical reactions.
The use of asbestos was ubiquitous at powerhouses, oil refineries, chemical plants, and steel mills, where asbestos was used to insulate all of the high heat-generating equipment.
Its ability to resist corrosion made it particularly popular at aluminum plants, where more than 2 million workers were ultimately exposed to its dangers.
Asbestos had dual uses in brewing and distilling companies, where it was necessary for insulating equipment, and also to filter beer, wine, and other forms of alcohol.
Residential, Automotive, Schools & Hospitals
Perhaps most frightening among the list of potential ways and places to have been exposed to asbestos are the more civilian locations such as hospitals, schools, homes, and automobiles. Mechanics and car enthusiasts are at an increased risk of developing asbestos related diseases from their work with brakes, clutches and gaskets, all of which, at one time, contained asbestos. It is uncontroverted that the replacement and repair of these parts would have caused mechanics to breathe in asbestos laden dust.
Asbestos permeated home improvement and home building products, such as floor and ceiling tiles, joint compounds, caulks, roofing and siding materials, which were all heavily used on home construction job sites. This left both contractors and homeowners at risk during construction and thereafter, when repairs were made. Moreover, these products were not limited to the confines of residences, they were used widely in school settings too, thereby jeopardizing students and teachers at more than 40,000 old school buildings around America. Similarly, hospitals are recognized as asbestos hot spots, and many nurses and doctors have developed asbestos cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses from going in and out of areas where renovations were occurring.
Asbestos has been incorporated into almost every facet of our lives; it is found at sites where we live, work and study. If you or a loved one exhibit any symptoms of asbestos related conditions or have been diagnosed with a cancer that you suspect is related to asbestos exposure, it’s important to seek legal counsel. With an experienced asbestos attorney by your side, The Meso Law Firm can help you connect the dots, determine whether there is a connection, and pursue justice and a potential workers compensation claim on your behalf.
We’re proud of our attorney/client relationship – you can expect a caring and compassionate approach when we provide legal advice – but we turn into aggressive asbestos lawyers when we stand up to businesses and corporations on behalf of Mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illness victims.