It is not uncommon for families to store items in the attic. From clothes to books to holiday decorations, it makes sense to squirrel away boxes of things that might only be used once or twice a year. Unfortunately, these storage areas as well as the products themselves might present numerous hidden hazards to an unsuspecting family.
Mesothelioma: Should Minnesota teachers be concerned?
In Minnesota and across the country, there are undoubtedly some jobs that are more dangerous than others. Teaching in a local elementary or high school would not typically be considered a profession that includes a high risk for personal injury. As made evident by a teacher's current health condition in another state, however, it appears mesothelioma and other asbestos exposure injuries are of great concern.
Many school buildings in this state were erected long ago. The ceiling tiles, insulation and flooring in such buildings often contain asbestos. There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure.
Workers in another state worried about asbestos exposure
In Minnesota and beyond, there is a lot of misinformation regarding asbestos. Some people mistakenly believe it is no longer used in products in the United States, which is untrue. Others understand there is a risk of asbestos exposure on their jobs or at school or home, but they are at a loss as to how to protect themselves.
A group of workers in another state have filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency. They fear they may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace due to a suspected contractor using unlicensed workers to perform abatement in a pre-construction project at the old building where they are employed. This particular building houses the local police department, and pre-construction work was done last month.
Dealing with the after-effect of an asbestosis diagnosis
Sitting in a chair in front of a doctor's desk and hearing him or her tell you that you have a terminal lung disease is a devastating and life-changing experience. Perhaps, you could not name your illness as asbestosis, but you knew something was not right because you haven't been feeling well for a long time. Like many others in Minnesota with similar illnesses, it may have been a lingering cough or chest pain that ultimately prompted you to seek a medical diagnosis of your condition.
Asbestosis is typically contracted by inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibers. The problem is that particles that are microscopic cannot be seen without a microscope, so you can be regularly exposed to them and not know it. This is why it is so important for employers, for instance, to immediately inform their employees if they are aware of an asbestos problem in the workplace.
Do home mechanics need to worry about asbestos?
Performing auto maintenance and repairs at home can save you money, if you have the skills to complete your tasks properly. However, there can also be risks that home mechanics may not consider.
One commonly overlooked risk is the possibility of becoming exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that is known for its insulative and fire-resistant properties. Because of these properties, it was regularly added to a variety of products, including some car parts. However, researchers have been able to link asbestos to the cause of serious health conditions, such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, which could develop decades after asbestos enters someone’s body.
What Minnesota residents should know about asbestos exposure
In Minnesota and most other states throughout the country, there are hidden dangers lurking in people's homes, in schools, factories and other community locations. Asbestos exposure remains problematic in many regions. One of the biggest problems is that the fibers that are so dangerous to human health are microscopic. This is why it pays to learn as much as possible about asbestos and what to do or not do if it is discovered in a particular area.
One of the worst things that a person can do if he or she believes asbestos has been located in home materials or elsewhere is to try to remove it. In fact, the more a product or material containing asbestos is touched or disturbed, the greater the risk that particles will be released into the air and ingested or inhaled by unsuspecting people. There are certified abatement workers who know exactly what to do and how to keep danger risks as low as possible when clearing an area of asbestos.
When asbestos exposure causes loss during the holidays
Many Minnesota families will be forced to cope with the loss of a loved one before 2019 comes to an end. In some instances, a family's grief may be intensified by knowing that the illness that caused a loved one's death was preventable. For instance, when asbestos exposure is a causal factor, it is often employer negligence that was ultimately responsible for a particular worker's adverse health condition. Coping with sudden loss during the holidays is not easy, but it is often more tolerable when the family in question has a strong support network.
Each grieves in its own way. Some decide they want to carry on with holiday customs and tradition, though perhaps in a more low-key manner. Lighting a candle at holiday gatherings in memory of a loved one is one way to help families honor those who have died. Traveling to a location that held holiday significance to the spouse, son or daughter who has died is another way to honor his or her memory.
Are you worried about asbestos exposure?
Anytime someone in Minnesota or another state is injured due to another's party's negligence, legal recourse may be available through the civil justice system. A plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit must prove in civil court that the party sued was negligent in a manner that caused the plaintiff's injuries and which resulted in monetary damages. When a case has to do with asbestos exposure, things can get complicated in court.
There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure. Many people work or live in areas where they are at risk for ingesting or inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers. It is no secret that doing so can wreak havoc on a person's health.
Teacher believes asbestos exposure caused her cancer
When a Minnesota teacher or employee in another industry reports to work each day, he or she has a right to reasonably assume that employers are doing what they are supposed to do to maintain a safe working environment. Workers may certainly expect that, if there is a known hazard in the workplace, employers would inform them, as well as take precautions by offering proper training and safety equipment to help employees avoid injury. A school teacher in another state has begun the process of filing a lawsuit against her school district because she believes she suffered long-term asbestos exposure on the job and that it has caused her to contract mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that typically affects the lungs and abdomen. A doctor who spoke about the school teacher's condition said this particular terminal disease is almost always caused by long-term exposure to asbestos. The woman has taught in the same school district for 30 years. She said she had no idea that there was a dangerous, microscopic substance in the wrapping around the steam pipes in her classroom.
Is your home renovation putting you at risk of mesothelioma?
A home improvement project can be exciting. But whether it’s an interior renovation or a siding replacement, these projects can have unforeseen consequences.
