Does Secondary Asbestos Exposure Affect Family Members?
Individuals who handle asbestos at work are at risk of occupational exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. This is known as primary or first-hand asbestos exposure. But what happens when these individuals bring asbestos fibers home with them – could they expose others to asbestos? You may be surprised that the answer is yes, and it’s called “secondary” exposure. Here’s how it works, who it affects, and whether you can claim damages as a secondary exposure victim.
What Is Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
First-hand asbestos exposure affects those who handle asbestos directly. Secondary asbestos exposure is when an individual is exposed to asbestos indirectly. This means that the person does not work with or handle asbestos but is exposed to asbestos fibers by someone who does.
How Does Secondary Asbestos Exposure Occur?
Secondary exposure typically occurs when a person who handles asbestos brings asbestos fibers into the home or another location. These fibers are lodged in their clothing, belongings, and hair. For example, a person may be exposed to asbestos by washing clothes contaminated with asbestos or even by simply sharing a workspace with someone carrying asbestos fibers.
Who Is Affected by Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Secondary asbestos exposure can affect anyone, including work colleagues, family members, friends, and even commuters, depending on how a person who handles asbestos travels to and from work.
The main point is that secondary asbestos exposure is not limited to close contacts. It can, theoretically, affect anyone who breathes in asbestos fibers, albeit they didn’t handle asbestos directly.
Is Secondary Asbestos Exposure Harmful?
Yes. Secondary exposure puts victims at risk of the same harms as those exposed on the job, including asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and even mesothelioma. It can take a long time – sometimes years – for symptoms to develop, so the difficulty often lies in identifying where exposure occurred.
Can Family Members Claim Damages for Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Yes, they can. Should you be a victim of secondary asbestos exposure, you have the same rights to claim damages as anyone exposed at work. This includes filing a claim or suing for medical bills, lost income, and other related losses. And this is where the team at Madeksho Law can help.
Our compassionate and experienced lawyers will review your case, help determine how the exposure occurred, and explain your rights. Should you have a claim, we will help you fully pursue justice. Call now at 888-910-6376 or complete our online contact form for a free, no-obligation case review. We have been helping victims of asbestos exposure since 1972 and have recovered over $400 million in compensation for our clients and achieved settlements against over 100 companies.
