Working in the construction industry can be a dangerous job, as the number of fatalities and injuries continue to rise and are accounting for one-third of all employment fatalities, according to the most recent 2007/2008 Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) statistics. However, one of the most dangerous and hidden killers of construction industry employees may actually be the development of mesothelioma cancer, according to an October 2008 issue of Contract Journal.

The journal reported that of the several reasons construction workers die on the job include the following:

• falls from height
• moving or falling objects
• moving machinery
• slips and trips
• asbestos exposure

Of the mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths, the HSE reports that, "in 2006 there were 111 deaths from asbestosis and 2,056 from mesothelioma and the HSE expects deaths from mesothelioma to peak at some point between current levels and 2,450 at some time before 2015." An additional report from the HSE found that in the United Kingdom alone, there were approximately 4,000 deaths from mesothelioma each year, with a large portion of this number likely deriving from employees within the construction industry.

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and asbestos dust. Asbestos, which was derived from a mineral known as vermiculite, was heavily mined and valued within the construction industry for its fire-retardant qualities as well as its inexpensive costs for mass production. The Occupation and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) describes asbestos in the construction industry as a "a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat, chemicals and electricity." It was used, according to OSHA, as part of the following products within the construction industry:

• sprayed-on fireproofing
• pipe insulation
• drywall joint compounds
• roofing felts and shingles
• ceiling tiles
• fire-resistant drywall
• acoustical products
• cement pipe and sheet
• floor tiles

Asbestos and Construction

While OSHA has developed standards for the construction industry as per the Occupational Standards Safety Act of 1970, the industry remains unregulated to a degree. For example, a recent report from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) found that a standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) check in Florida revealed thousands of falsified documents for individuals employed to remove asbestos. It is a legal requirement that individuals who are in charge of asbestos removal receive authentic certification for their employment. However, thousands of documents had been forged with false or illegally obtained social security numbers.

Developing Mesothelioma Litigation

Individuals who have suffered from the debilitating condition of mesothelioma cancer could potentially qualify for a return of monetary compensation with the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit. If costly medical bills become too much for an individual who is suffering from this rare and painful condition, they may be able to discuss litigation with a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney.