Asbestos was, and to a lesser extent continues to be, a common component found in many manufactured and commercial products. Anyone who worked with or around asbestos products or who lived with someone who had exposure to asbestos is at a significantly higher risk for asbestos exposure.
Jobs at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Simply put, any job or worksite that forces workers to handle asbestos materials is a potentially hazardous environment that could lead to asbestos cancer. Luckily, the EPA and OSHA have passed numerous regulations that now protect workers from excessive long-term asbestos exposure.
Unfortunately, these laws did not begin to pass into law until the 1970s. This means that entire generations of workers were exposed to unmonitored levels of asbestos for extended periods of time. Because asbestos cancer frequently takes 20 to 50 years to manifest following exposure, the impacts of unregulated asbestos jobsites continue to impact thousands of Americans each year.
Your Legal Rights for Jobsite-Related Asbestos Cancer
Sadly, the vast majority of job-related asbestos cancer could have been easily avoided. Asbestos manufacturers have known for almost a century that asbestos causes significant lung problems, including mesothelioma. Despite this knowledge, many companies knowingly placed employees in hazardous working environments.
Due to the negligence and greed of these employers, countless individuals now suffer from asbestos cancer. Though these cases may go back decades, individuals who were exposed to asbestos while on the job may be eligible for substantial legal compensation.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer or suffer any lung problems that resulted from working with asbestos-containing products, then it may be beneficial to contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact us for a reference to one of our mesothelioma attorneys.