Many people who worked around asbestos now suffer from mesothelioma and related conditions. How can you determine if you or a loved one were in a high-risk occupation? Some of the highest risk jobs for asbestos exposure are:
- Mechanics: Brake systems used to contain asbestos as a heat-shielding material. Those who work or who have worked on older cars and even on airplanes are at risk.
- Boilermakers and bricklayers: These are only two examples of workers who labored around high heat. As a popular insulation material, asbestos was often used in operations where materials had to be heated to high levels.
- Navy yard workers: The Navy used more asbestos in its construction efforts than any branch of the U.S. military. Those who served on Navy vessels decades ago may only now be experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma.
- Demolition crews: Anyone involved in the destruction of old buildings, including crane operators and laborers, are susceptible to asbestos exposure. As the old building materials are destroyed, dangerous levels of asbestos are released into the air.
- September 11th emergency personnel: Asbestos was used in the construction of New York’s Twin Towers. While much of it was removed prior to 9-11, some remained, only to be released into the air as the towers fell. This is only one example, of course. Firefighters and emergency personnel anywhere can fall at risk when coming to the rescue of an old building.
While these are a few examples of the most high-risk occupations for asbestos exposure, there are many others. You don’t even have to have worked around asbestos to be at risk. Many suffer today due to second-hand exposure.
The next step may be legal help
However you came into contact, you should know your rights and speak with an experienced asbestos litigation attorney if you have contracted mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. Whether your exposure was recent or deep in the past, you may be entitled to compensation for the many losses you have suffered.