Asbestos and the Construction Worksite

Advice from Our Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC Injury Attorneys

Insulation products made with asbestos were widely used in construction and building materials prior to 1974, when state and federal governments passed legislation requiring stricter limits on asbestos use. After years of research revealing the adverse effects of asbestos on people’s health, manufacturers largely phased out building materials containing asbestos. Nonetheless, construction workers may still encounter unhealthy levels of asbestos in the context of a building demolition, renovation or addition. Because of past widespread usage of asbestos in building materials, construction workers are at a high risk for asbestos exposure and its accompanying health effects, which can be very serious and even fatal.

Asbestos and the Health of Construction Workers

The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC construction accident lawyers at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. have seen the damage asbestos exposure can do to construction workers. When asbestos fibers become airborne and construction workers inhale or ingest it at certain levels, the workers risk contracting asbestos diseases such as:

• Asbestosis. Asbestosis is not a cancerous disease, but does involve the progressive buildup of scar tissue in the lungs over time, which can lead to disability or death.
• Asbestos-Induced Lung Cancer. Asbestos exposure has been linked to various forms of cancer, especially lung cancer, particularly among workers who smoked cigarettes. Many of these cancers are treatable, especially if detected early.
• Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer that affects the linings of the lungs, stomach or heart.

A construction worker exposed to unhealthy levels of asbestos may not develop these conditions, or even any symptoms, for decades after his or her exposure. In the short term, however, a construction worker might develop shortness of breath, chronic coughing, weight loss and nausea.

Laws Regulating Asbestos at Construction Worksites

Approximately 1.3 million construction workers per year suffer asbestos exposure. The federal government has enacted laws and regulations specifically designed to protect construction workers from potentially damaging asbestos exposure. For instance, workers at construction sites typically must monitor asbestos levels on a daily basis throughout a particular project. Workers must wear certain protective clothing and use specific equipment in order to guard against excessive asbestos exposure. Employers must provide decontamination areas for employees exposed to asbestos, and if routine exposure has occurred, provide medical examinations to the workers as well. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which are both federal government agencies, issue many regulations and rules that require employers to provide certain protection to constructions workers who may encounter high levels of asbestos exposure in the course of their jobs.

How to Protect Your Rights

Your employer must abide by certain regulations related to keep you safe from excessive asbestos exposure. If your employer has failed to do so and asbestos has adversely affected your health, you may have a claim for compensation against your employer. If you have developed a health condition or disease that you believe is related to asbestos exposure on a construction site, or if you have a loved one who suffers from mesothelioma or has died from it, please contact the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC construction accident attorneys at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. to discuss your options.

Asbestos victims, particularly those suffering from cancer and mesothelioma, require extensive medical care, which is very costly. Worker’s compensation claims, as well as claims against the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products, can provide the financial compensation needed to pay for this treatment.