Even though it is no longer mined in the United States, it is still imported, and is still present in many buildings. Eventually the asbestos currently in buildings will have to be removed either during remediation or demolition. According to the CDC, an estimated 1.5 million construction and general industry workers are being exposed to asbestos daily.
In 2011, OSHA fined the Goodyear plant in Danville, VA a total of $3,975 for a health violation involving asbestos. That was just 5 years ago.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is just simply a name given to minerals that are resistant to heat, fire and corrosion. They are also known for having sound-absorption properties. It is widely available and inexpensive. These minerals are naturally occurring and were once mined in the United States.
Asbestos is used for insulation, particularly pipes, floor tiles, construction materials, in vehicle brakes and clutches. Workers are most often exposed during ship repair, building demolition or renovation, and the manufacture of asbestos containing products.
What is Harmful About Asbestos?
Asbestos fibers are too small to be seen with the naked eye, yet become airborne very easily, leaving the worker at risk for inhaling the dangerous mineral directly into the lungs. These fibers cause a build up of scar tissue into the lungs that results in the loss of lung function leading to disability and sometimes death. These fibers can also cause a cancer in the lungs called Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can cause cancerous tumors in the lungs or stomach. Mesothelioma has no cure and is fatal. The first documented case was in 1924. The woman, named Nellie Kershaw, worked at Turner Brothers Asbestos in Manchester, England. It was her job to spin asbestos fiber into yarn. She died at age 33.
Nellie Kershaw died in 1924, almost 100 years ago. Why are people still dying from this?
Sadly, the only answer I have to that question is that safer alternatives are oftentimes more expensive. Manufacturers and the US Government were both guilty of concealing life-saving information and continuing to expose workers to the dangers of Asbestos for an additional 70 years after Nellie Kershaw’s death-all in the name of profit.
If you have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, or other type of lung disease, call The Thomson Law Firm for a free case evaluation today. (540) 777-4900.
