Asbestos in the Workplace
Asbestos in the workplace can pose a significant health threat to individuals. While asbestos can be found in homes and schools, asbestos in the workplace presents one of the biggest health threats. Exposure to asbestos in the workplace can lead to serious injury and illness, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and more.
High Risk Occupations
While virtually all places of employment may present the risk of exposure to asbestos (since this material is so pervasive), certain professionals and workers are at a much greater risk of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Theses include workers in the following industries and professions:
- Firefighting
- Shipyard and shipping work
- Construction work
- Janitor and maintenance personnel
- Telephone workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Automobile and airplane mechanics
- Those who work in contaminated schools, offices and other buildings
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
In addition to employee exposure to asbestos in the workplace, family members of workers are also at risk for asbestos exposure because workers can bring toxic fibers home on their bodies, clothes, bags, and equipment.
Workplace Asbestos Regulations
In an effort to reduce exposure to asbestos in the workplace, OHSA has established exposure limits for various industries and has imposed regulations on workplace safety and proper handling of asbestos materials. In some cases, however, employers fail to take proper safety precautions or fail to prevent exposure to asbestos in the workplace. In these cases, the employer can be held liable when an employee or family member develops a serious asbestos related illness.
Asbestos Diseases
Asbestos becomes a threat when its tiny, colorless and odorless fibers become compromised and enter the air, at which point people can inhale or ingest the fibers. This type of exposure to asbestos in large quantities and/or over a long period of time can lead to severe and life-threatening health problems. Often health problems caused by exposure to asbestos in the workplace can take 20 to 30 years to develop.
Learn more about asbestos in the workplace by contacting us today.
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