Industrial Workers: Among Those Most at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
During most of human history, workers' health has not been at the forefront of business leaders' minds. For potentially thousands of years, humans have recognized the dangers of asbestos, and the first asbestos-related diagnosis of a disease was one hundred years ago. Still, asbestos remained common throughout the 20th century, especially in industrial settings.
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos during work in an industrial setting, Madeksho Law could help you secure compensation for your injuries. Contact us through our website or call today at 888-910-6376 to speak to an attorney and learn more.
Why Asbestos Exposure Is So Common for Industrial Workers
Asbestos has some interesting and helpful properties, and many industries in the past took advantage of its fire-resistant and insulating nature. But it wasn't just confined to obvious materials like insulation or cement; asbestos was present in a wide array of industrial products and equipment, making it nearly unavoidable for anyone working in American factories and plants before the 1980s.
In industrial settings, asbestos could be found in:
· Insulation: Used in pipes, boilers, and other equipment to manage high heat.
· Pipe Wrappings and Cement: Common in construction and maintenance to prevent heat damage and wear.
· Flooring and Adhesives: Added to tiles and adhesives to enhance durability and fire resistance.
· Electric Motor Components and Electrical Conduits: Provided insulation to electrical systems to reduce fire risk.
· Machinery and Pumps: Used in gaskets, sealants, and coatings to prevent leaks and handle high temperatures.
· Boilers and Firebricks: Lined high-heat components to prevent overheating and fires.
· Protective Clothing: Added to heat-resistant fabrics workers use in high-temperature environments to protect against burns.
· Brake Linings: Used in industrial vehicles and equipment to reduce wear and tear under friction.
· Roofing Materials: Added to shingles and roofing sheets to increase fire resistance in industrial buildings.
Do you notice how many materials, tools, and components use asbestos for its heat-resistant quality? Asbestos was everywhere, an integral part of many plants and factories. Due to high asbestos usage, many industrial workers, including plant and refinery workers, maintenance techs, and machinery operators, were at higher risks of asbestos exposure than the rest of the population.
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
There is no such thing as safe exposure to asbestos—only lucky exposure. If asbestos enters your body, it can result in a wide range of conditions that negatively impact your health forever.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer primarily affecting the lungs, with relatively rarer effects on the abdomen and heart. Even if you encountered asbestos fibers early in life, mesothelioma is still a current risk due to long periods between inhalation of fibers and life-threatening damage. Because of this late-stage diagnosis, the survival rate of mesothelioma is not exceptionally high over a 5-year range.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure, no matter how minor, can increase the risk of lung cancer. While lung cancer can be caused by multiple factors, exposure to asbestos fibers heightens this risk, especially when combined with smoking or pre-existing lung conditions. Unlike mesothelioma, lung cancer affects the lung tissue directly, making it one of the deadliest outcomes of asbestos exposure. Every year, more Americans die due to asbestos-related lung cancer than mesothelioma.
Other Cancers
Asbestos exposure is also associated with other types of cancer, including colon, esophageal, and stomach cancer. While these cancers are less common than mesothelioma or lung cancer, they still pose an ongoing threat to industrial workers exposed to asbestos over long periods.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease resulting from asbestos fibers entering and staying within the lungs, leading to lung tissue scarring. Sufferers deal with shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and chest pain for years. Although non-cancerous, asbestosis can increase the risk of developing lung cancer and severely impact a worker's quality of life.
Madeksho Law Can Help Industrial Workers Receive Compensation
If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos in an industrial setting, you deserve compensation. The primary legal avenues for seeking compensation are:
· Personal Injury Lawsuits (Including Wrongful Death): Individuals diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness or families of those who have passed away can file lawsuits against the companies responsible for their exposure. Compensation will help cover medical costs, lost wages due to the inability to work, and damages for pain and suffering.
· Asbestos Trust Funds: Many asbestos manufacturers have established trust funds to compensate injured industrial workers. Filing a claim with these funds is often faster and doesn't require going to court.
Asbestos-related health conditions are often more deadly than other conditions because of late diagnoses, occurring decades after the initial exposure. The quicker you receive help for your conditions, the better your health outcomes. Similarly, prompt legal action is more effective at securing compensation.
If you or a family member were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, cancer, or another health condition as a result, Madeksho Law can help. We have been helping victims of asbestos exposure since 1972. Call today at 888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us on our website to schedule a consultation with Madeksho Law attorneys.
