Asbestos

What are the Signs of Asbestos Exposure?

December 9, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos was once widely used in the United States of America. This material is not yet banned in the U.S., but its use has drastically reduced over the years. When asbestos is contained, it is generally not harmful. On the other hand, if asbestos is damaged or disturbed, it can pose serious health risks. If asbestos is disturbed, asbestos fibers can become airborne. When asbestos fibers become airborne, people can inhale them and develop serious health conditions.

Who is Most Likely to Get Exposed to Asbestos?

Long ago, asbestos was widely used in several industries across the United States. The people who worked in industries that frequently used asbestos were at the greatest risk of being directly exposed to asbestos. If, for example, a person worked as a shipyard worker, construction worker, demolition worker, carpenter, or painter, they might have been at a greater risk of being directly exposed to asbestos. Even today, people working in certain industries are at great risk of being directly exposed to asbestos.

Workers’ Compensation for Mesothelioma

November 16, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Occupational asbestos exposure is quite common. Some of the high-risk jobs include construction, firefighting, engineering, sheet metal fabrication, and roofing. After a worker develops mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation if they suffered asbestos exposure while on the job. However, before selecting workers’ compensation as the compensation option, it is crucial that a mesothelioma patient fully understands all their legal options. There are many other ways of seeking compensation after developing mesothelioma due to occupational asbestos exposure. Before filing a workers’ compensation claim, a mesothelioma patient should speak to a qualified lawyer. There may be another way to recover more compensation.

Workers’ Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance employers are required to have. This form of insurance compensates employees who are injured or who develop illnesses because of their job. However, when a person files a workers’ compensation claim, they usually lose the right to file a lawsuit against their employer. People who get exposed to asbestos while at work and who end up developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses may be eligible for workers’ compensation.

Why is it Hard to Diagnose Mesothelioma?

October 14, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops after a person is exposed to asbestos. There is no cure for mesothelioma. The good news, however, is that there are several treatment options available for mesothelioma patients. But, to have a good chance of fighting the disease, mesothelioma patients need to be diagnosed early before the disease has reached its later stages. Treating mesothelioma when it has reached its later stages is usually difficult. Unfortunately, most people who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis will also be told their prognosis is not good. Many people are getting diagnosed with mesothelioma when the disease has reached its later stages.

So, what makes it hard to diagnose mesothelioma? The following are five reasons why diagnosing mesothelioma is difficult.

People Assume Asbestos is Banned

Four Things to Do if You Have Been Exposed to Asbestos

October 7, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in soil and rocks. Asbestos was widely used before the 1980s in, among other things, building materials. It was in the 1980s that the dangerous effects of this mineral became widely known. However, although asbestos is not commonly used today, it is still used in some products. Also, asbestos can be found in old buildings. This means that asbestos exposure remains a problem. Asbestos can cause various deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

The following are four steps that should be taken after someone gets exposed to asbestos or if someone has a history of asbestos exposure.

Consult a Doctor Early

Common and Uncommon Places You Could Find Asbestos

September 12, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally in soil and rock. It is made up of heat-resistant fibers. Apart from being resistant to heat, asbestos is also resistant to rot and rust. Because of its properties, asbestos is considered a very versatile product. However, as much as asbestos might sound harmless, the truth is that asbestos exposure can lead to the development of aggressive and deadly diseases like mesothelioma. Being exposed to asbestos once is enough to lead to the development of an illness.

Unfortunately, there is still no widespread ban on asbestos in the United States of America. In the U.S., asbestos continues to be used in different products. And even if a ban is put in place, many industries used asbestos in the past for various purposes. It is still possible for asbestos-contaminated products to exist even with an asbestos ban in place.

Asbestos can be found in many places. This dangerous mineral can also be found in places one would not expect. Below is a look at some common and uncommon places where you could find asbestos.

What are Employers Required to Do to Reduce the Hazards of Asbestos at Work?

July 22, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos exposure can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma. Unfortunately, if you work with asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials, you are at an increased risk of asbestos exposure. In fact, occupational asbestos exposure is among the most common types of exposure.

If you work with asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials, OSHA requires your employer to take certain steps to reduce the hazards of asbestos at work. Indeed, the exact steps your employer must take depend on the industry. However, there are some basic requirements that all employers are required to meet.

What are the Hazards of Asbestos?

Study Highlights the Importance of Banning Asbestos

July 11, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a mineral that causes mesothelioma, a rare and deadly type of cancer. In fact, asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. In an attempt to reduce mesothelioma cases, many countries worldwide have banned asbestos. However, asbestos has not been banned in the United States of America.

Do asbestos bans really help? Does banning asbestos reduce the incidence of mesothelioma? A recent study shows that asbestos bans can reduce mesothelioma cases, although not immediately. The findings of this study might affect asbestos rules in America.

Data From Study Indicates Asbestos Bans Can Reduce Mesothelioma Cases

Which Type of Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma?

June 18, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Most people, if not everyone, knows that asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. However, it might not be clear to most people which type of asbestos causes mesothelioma. If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, you might be wondering if the type of asbestos you or your loved one was exposed to was the cause of the disease. So, which kind of asbestos can cause mesothelioma? Read on to find out.

Defining Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral that was commonly used for many commercial uses in the 20th century because of its properties. Asbestos is, among other things, resistant to water, resistant to chemicals, and resistant to electricity.

The Environmental Protection Agency Proposes Stricter Asbestos Reporting

June 11, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that causes life-threatening diseases such as mesothelioma. Because of this, there are individuals and organizations out there dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through advocacy, education, and community. One of these organizations is the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). In 2020, the organization won the Right to Know Lawsuit. Afterward, ADAO won a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to ADAO and its partners, the agreement would make sure the EPA conducts its work on asbestos with enough information. Recently, the agency published a related proposal. Here is more information about this proposal.

EPA’s Proposal

The EPA recently proposed a rule that would require importers, manufacturers, and processors of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated products to report all asbestos uses for the last four years. According to the proposed rule, manufacturers or processors of asbestos-contaminated products would need to share information about all asbestos uses, the quantity of asbestos used, and where exposure has occurred. Currently, much of this information is not a requirement. The proposal also covers articles with unintended impurities like asbestos-contaminated talc products.

Top Five Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Mesothelioma Case

May 13, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs due to asbestos exposure. It is a fatal type of cancer that still has no known cure. Fortunately, if you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can recover compensation from the negligent party that led to the asbestos exposure. However, if you want to recover the compensation you deserve in a mesothelioma case, it is crucial that you do not make, among many others, the following mistakes:

Mistake #1: Not Considering All the Places You or Your Loved One May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos

Before you can recover compensation in a mesothelioma case, you must identify where the asbestos exposure occurred. One big mistake people make in mesothelioma cases is dismissing possible places where asbestos exposure may have occurred. Often, people assume that asbestos exposure can only happen in the workplace when the truth is that asbestos exposure can occur anywhere, including at home. It is crucial that you consider all the possible places where you or your loved one might have been exposed to asbestos during your/their lifetime. Remember, mesothelioma can take up to fifty years to develop after initial exposure.