You don’t have to look too far to find someone remodeling a home, whether it’s just down your street or on the numerous home renovation shows on TV. Especially now that spring is here, people all over Minnesota are starting to think about their own home construction projects.
This is a good time to remind homeowners about the risks of asbestos exposure during home construction and demolition projects. In fact, the first week of April was designated as Asbestos Awareness Week in the U.S. and in countries across the globe. With all this in mind, we urge homeowners to think carefully about how they can protect themselves from asbestos exposure in the coming weeks and months.
- Know where asbestos may be lurking. Asbestos was often used in older homes and can commonly be found in materials like insulation, floor tiles, plumbing and roof shingles. If your home is older and your projects involve any of these areas, testing for asbestos can be wise.
- If you have asbestos, deal with it responsibly. In some cases, leaving asbestos undisturbed and just covering it up is the safest option. In other cases, removing it becomes necessary. If it needs to be removed, hiring a certified abatement company can protect you and your family from harmful exposure.
- Know your legal options if you have already been exposed to asbestos in your home due to negligence. For instance, you may have grounds to seek compensation if you lease your home and your landlord did not warn you about the presence of exposure, if a previous home owner knew about but failed to disclose information regarding asbestos, or if products containing asbestos in your home did not have adequate warnings regarding the risks of asbestos exposure.
Renovating a home can be exciting, but it can be dangerous if there is asbestos involved. We urge every homeowner to be safe and take seriously any threats of toxic exposure. If you have questions or concerns about asbestos exposure in your home and your legal options, it can be crucial that you consult an attorney sooner, rather than later.
