In North Carolina, construction for many projects and buildings is booming, which is why employers must do anything in their nature to protect their workers from harm. Over the years, many people have realized the true harm that toxic substances and chemicals can have on our bodies in the workplace, which is why laws have been enacted to protect people from harm. In fact, in 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was signed into law, which gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ability to regulate certain substances and ensure that workers were safe from harm. Five of the most harmful chemicals we know about today in many American workplaces include Asbestos, Formaldehyde, Di-isocyanates, Flame retardants, and Silica.
Though Asbestos was supposed to be banned in 1989, the ban was overturned and today many people suffer harm due to this toxic chemical. Asbestos can be found in many building products, making it very popular in the construction industry. These products include joint compound, floor tiles, pipes, shingles, and more. Every year, about 15,000 people lose their lives due to illnesses relating to Asbestos exposure.
Protecting Workers From Exposure
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration works to protect the rights of workers, which means offering protections to those who have been or could potentially be exposed to Asbestos in the construction workplace. There are many fatal diseases at risk for those who have been exposed, from asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer. You have probably heard of Mesothelioma before, which is a cancerous tumor that spreads rapidly through the lungs and other organs in your body. Though somebody who has been exposed could very easily be at risk, they may not realize the symptoms until decades later when their health starts to take a direct hit.
How to Hold Your Employer Liable
If you have fallen ill due to your Asbestos exposure many years down the road, you may wonder where to turn for the help you deserve as you get back on your feet. Employers have a duty to protect their workers from harm in the construction workplace, where injuries are more likely than any other industry. If a worker has not helped prevent asbestos exposure in the workplace, it could most certainly lead to a breach of duty.
This is especially prevalent in cases where an employer did not do everything in their nature to equip workers to the best of their ability. There is equipment available in the workplace today that helps filter asbestos out of the air and respiration equipment that can help prevent exposure. When ventilation services are not used, asbestos is not monitored in the air, or a worker does not place time limits on workers exposed to asbestos, they could be found negligent and liable for the illness that results.
If you have fallen ill due to asbestos in the workplace and you wonder how to recover, you may be eligible for compensation through workers’ compensation benefits. This means that you may be entitled to damages for aspects like medical expenses, lost wages, emotional suffering, and so much more. We want to stand by your side in your time of need and help you gain the compensation you deserve after you have fallen ill. Call us for more information at the Nye Law Group to find out how we can help you, at 855-636-9277.
Sources:
https://www.whirlwindsteel.com/blog/5-most-toxic-and-hazardous-construction-chemicals
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3096/3096.html
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