Asbestos Exposure and Construction Workers
Due to the significant fire-retardant properties of asbestos, it is not surprising that this material was used widely in the construction industry until the 1970s when long-overdue restrictive legislation was passed. As a result, hundreds of thousands of construction workers for decades were exposed to the material routinely as they performed their duties, and many suffered such ill-effects as mesothelioma and asbestosis. If you work in the construction industry and have experienced damage to your health from asbestos exposure, it is imperative that you work with a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney to protect your rights.
A New Jersey Asbestos Exposure Lawyer on Why Asbestos Seemed the Ideal Product for Construction
Most people in this country have likely heard reference to the dangers of asbestos use, if not had loved ones become ill, and even die from exposure. What some may not realize is that certain dangers associated with asbestos were known long before their use was largely eliminated.
One may well ask a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney why, given such knowledge, industries such as construction continued using the product for decades. The answer lies both for its use and affordability. Asbestos has amazing properties of fire resistance, resistance to heat and chemical damage, sound absorption, and more. It is derived from six different silicates which are naturally occurring and abundant, and is therefore relatively inexpensive to produce. As a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney will tell you, then, the result was that financial profit came before the health of workers for many years.
A New Jersey Asbestos Exposure Lawyer Discusses Construction Jobs Where Exposure Occurred
Asbestos was used in nearly every conceivable aspect of construction. Not only was it used in protective outfitting workers used, such as gloves, but the materials they worked with as well, including:
- Drywall and plaster
- Ceiling materials
- Roofing
- Siding
- Bricks
- Mortar
- Stucco
- Paints
- Vinyl flooring and tiles
- Pipe gaskets and insulation
- Insulation around wiring
- Duct tape
As a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney will attest, this is a mere sampling of asbestos use in an industry that already lists among the most dangerous of occupations.
A New Jersey Asbestos Exposure Attorney on Asbestos and Health Problems
Asbestos exposure leads to a range of health issues, from respiratory ailments to cancer. Asbestosis, though non-cancerous, affects the lungs by creating a build-up of scar tissue which can be fatal. Mesothelioma is perhaps the most widely mentioned disease associated with exposure, a particularly deadly cancer that can develop in the lungs, abdomen, or other organs.
One frightening aspect of the health risks associated with asbestos use is that symptoms often take years to develop, in some cases as many as 40-50. This makes the task of a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney somewhat challenging as he tries to link exposure convincingly for purposes of compensation. Another matter of great concern is that which asbestos use has largely ended construction workers continue to face dangers from exposure when working in and around existing buildings. Perhaps hundreds of thousands of older buildings throughout the country still contain this deadly material.
Call a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer for Legal Representation
If you are a construction worker and have become ill, you may be a victim of exposure to asbestos. As such, you may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost work time, pain, suffering, loss of consortium, and more. Call a New Jersey asbestos exposure attorney at Clark Law Firm, PC today to arrange a consultation: (877) 841-8855.
