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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction workers are exposed to a wide range of occupational hazards, including getting struck by falling objects, falls from elevated surfaces, and getting caught between a heavy piece of equipment and the ground or a wall, making it one of the most dangerous professions. Asbestos is a less obvious but potentially life-threatening hazard that construction workers are exposed to on construction sites. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned new asbestos-containing products in 1989, they did not require building owners to remove existing asbestos materials. As a result, construction workers are at an increased risk of prolonged asbestos exposure, which can cause mesothelioma, a rare and incurable form of cancer. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma after prolonged exposure to asbestos at a construction site, you may be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced asbestos lawyer can assist you with a mesothelioma claim and help you recover the damages you deserve.
Any work site with asbestos present can expose workers to dangerous asbestos dust. However, if a job involves disrupting older, asbestos-containing materials, asbestos fibers, and dust can be released into the air and inhaled. Whether the construction project is a major project or a smaller-scale job, like a renovation or a repair, construction workers can be exposed to asbestos. The following are construction jobs with the greatest risk of asbestos exposure:
Unfortunately, asbestos dust can spread around a construction site quickly, exposing many workers to it in a relatively short period. In addition, because the asbestos dust tends to cling to clothing, hair, and tools, family members can also be exposed when workers unknowingly carry this toxic dust into the home. This is known as secondary exposure, which can also develop into mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
For most of the 20th century, asbestos was widely used in various commercial, industrial, and residential construction materials for its heat and fire-resistant properties. While asbestos is rarely used today, it poses a serious health risk to construction workers who renovate or demolish older buildings. According to the EPA, the majority of this country’s roughly 733,000 public and commercial buildings. Approximately 1.3 million construction workers are still at risk of developing mesothelioma due to occupational asbestos exposure from the following products:
Although the risk of asbestos exposure is much less now than before the 1990s, construction workers are still at risk of being exposed to toxic asbestos fibers released into the air when certain asbestos-containing materials are disturbed. All construction workers should be made aware of the risks of exposure in the workplace and that they have a right to a safe work environment. OSHA enforces safety regulations and protocols and ensures the following protections for construction workers:
If you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma, you may seek financial compensation by pursuing the following options:
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma or another type of asbestos-related disease after being exposed to asbestos at a construction site, do not hesitate to contact our Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Call us at 215-569-4000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we serve clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.