Because asbestos-related diseases can take decades to manifest, some workers exposed to asbestos on the job in the 1960s and 1970s are only now developing illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
If you were diagnosed with a medical condition caused by asbestos exposure at your job site, contact Belluck Law, PLLC. We can determine your legal options for seeking justice and compensation for the harm you have suffered. Founding attorney Joseph W. Belluck is nationally recognized for providing excellent legal representation to victims of asbestos exposure and securing the money they deserve. To date, he has recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for his clients.
Find out what he can do for you when you contact us today for a free consultation.
What Occupations Put Workers Most at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
Many workers in a variety of industries were and remain at risk for asbestos exposure. Occupations that frequently use asbestos-containing materials, tools and equipment put workers most at risk for asbestos exposure. Those jobs include:
- U.S. Navy sailors
- Merchant seamen
- Construction workers
- Factory workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Boilermakers and powerplant workers
- Mechanics
- Machinists
- Shipbuilders
- Shipyard and dockyard workers
- Metalworkers
- Firefighters
Today, much on-the-job asbestos exposure occurs in the construction and equipment maintenance industries, since workers in these jobs are frequently involved in the repair, maintenance, renovation or removal of asbestos-containing products and materials.
Where Has There Been Asbestos in New York?
Because asbestos-containing materials were widely used for decades in various locations and job sites throughout New York, many people were put at risk of asbestos exposure. Today, some structures and sites still pose a threat due to lingering asbestos-containing materials. Examples of products, tools, equipment and machinery that have contained asbestos include:
- Insulation
- Gaskets and packing
- Lab equipment
- Automotive brakes and transmission clutches
- Floor tiles
- Ceiling spray-on coatings
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Plaster, putty, caulk and cement
- Boilers, valves, pumps and turbines
When asbestos-containing products are cut, milled, sanded or scraped, asbestos fibers and particles break off and float in the air as dust. Family members of workers exposed to asbestos may have been at risk as well because of the asbestos dust that came home embedded in their clothes and equipment.
Did Employers Know About the Risks of Asbestos Exposure?
There is evidence that many New York employers knew about the risks of asbestos exposure and failed to warn workers about the risk or take steps to protect workers from exposure. In addition, lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos-containing products have revealed that some of these manufacturers knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure for decades and, in many cases, failed to promptly communicate these risks to businesses that used the manufacturers’ products.
