Cases of Mesothelioma Caused from Exposure to Asbestos

•    The first case of compensation liability for asbestosis was filed by a foreman working in an asbestos textile plant in Massachusetts. This happened in 1927.
•    Cases of secondary exposure are on the rise, as children whose fathers worked as construction site foremen are reporting cases of mesothelioma.
•    A foreman with a lead smelter in the US developed lung cancer from asbestos exposure which leads to death, and a $80000 compensation.
•    Barry Welch, aged 27, is considered to be the youngest victim of mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos dust sticking to his father’s overalls.

Exposure to Asbestos

Construction foremen on building sites are exposed to large quantities of asbestos dust when they perform reclamation or maintenance work. According to Grant Kutcher, a foreman with a leading company in the UK, “many times, we are working at a site, and people don’t even know that there was asbestos dust in the air and we’re dragging it home to our kids”. Grant should know since he has been in the building industry for nearly 30 years now.

History Behind Using Asbestos

Construction in the early 1900s was heavily dependent on asbestos for thermal insulation. Asbestos was used in flooring, roofing, boilers, pipes, and just about anything that needed protection from fire. After the 1980s, the use of asbestos was banned. However, 25 years after the ban, foremen and other regular employees in the construction industry are still being exposed to heavy asbestos exposure when they tear down old and dilapidated structures built before the 1980s.

When Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos used in building material and insulation are safe so long as they are enclosed within binding materials. However, maintenance and abatement work releases flaky, chalky asbestos dust. On-the-job exposure to asbestos dust is a surefire cause for many lung-related diseases. Occupational disease fatalities related to asbestos are often diagnosed many years after exposure. So, it is quite difficult to predict the exact source and time of exposure. This enables large companies that are responsible for the damage to get away.