Asbestos and Health Risks at Job Sites

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People employed in certain jobs run a higher risk of developing cancer, such as mesothelioma, from asbestos exposure in Pittsburgh, PA. As the small mineral fibers lodge into the body, anyone who has contact with asbestos products can show symptoms decades after exposure.

Jobs at risk for mesothelioma in Pittsburgh, PA, can include any task where an individual has had contact with asbestos. This includes houses and factories where asbestos insulation or other products were made or used.

Mesothelioma is a serious condition that can have permanent, life-changing consequences, including lung damage and trouble breathing. If you believe that you or a loved one may have been negligently exposed to asbestos at a job site, you may be entitled to significant financial assistance for your losses.

The attorneys at D’Amico Law Firm are experienced in investigating mesothelioma and job-related asbestos claims. Contact us at (412) 652-9300 for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine your legal rights and options.

Asbestos and Health Risks By Job

The chances of getting mesothelioma from asbestos exposure can increase with certain types of jobs. Those in the following areas of employment are particularly at risk for asbestos in Pittsburgh, PA:

  • Boilermakers
  • Metal Workers
  • Plumbers and Pipefitters
  • Bricklayers
  • Steamfitters
  • Electricians
  • Laborers
  • Carpenters
  • Mechanics

In addition to workers at such sites being exposed, their families and loved ones can often be at risk. This usually happens when asbestos is transported into their home due to asbestos fibers or dust clinging to their work clothes. From there, family members may inhale the asbestos and suffer medical conditions as a result. 

What Do Damages in an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit Cover?

Damages in an asbestos exposure lawsuit can help the victims receive proper treatment and compensation. While no amount of damages can fully undo the harm, such financial assistance can help them regain some sense of normalcy in their lives. Damages can cover:

  • Medical bills and expenses, including medication
  • Costs of ongoing treatment and therapy 
  • Various losses, including lost wages and a loss of the ability to generate income
  • Medical care and assistance not normally covered by insurance
  • Pain and suffering
  • Wrongful death expenses, in cases where a family has lost a loved one

Determining the cause of mesothelioma and calculating the corresponding damages is a highly complex matter that requires a person with legal expertise. Fortunately, the attorneys at D’Amico Law Firm have specific experience in handling these types of cases. Our team knows how to build legal strategies that will lead to maximum compensation for victims and their families.

How Do You Get Exposed to Asbestos at Job Sites?

Asbestos exposure at work can happen in many different ways, depending on the type of job involved. For the most part, asbestos and health risk concerns involve the handling of materials and products that are constructed or treated with asbestos.

Various occupations that might involve a risk of asbestos exposure include:

Boilermakers

Boiler rooms often involve high temperatures, and are common places where asbestos was used for insulation and other purposes. In fact, some boiler room insulation products contained as much as 15% asbestos. Such insulation is often broken down due to frequent repairs. As a result, millions of ship workers and military veterans may have been exposed to asbestos over decades while working on ships.

In addition, these workers were often outfitted with protective clothing made of asbestos. Such clothing can create asbestos dust due to wear and tear. 

Metal Workers

Metal workers include iron and steel workers, welders, foundry employees, sheet metal workers, metal craftsmen, and other related trades. For metalworkers, cutting or sawing products or materials treated with asbestos can release the fibers into the air. Actually, activities such as drilling or installing metal studs, welding metal sheets, or even removing metal items can disturb asbestos particles. 

Metal workers can be exposed both in the private sector as well as the military, especially for those who work on Navy ships and in shipyards.

Plumbers

Plumbers are often at risk of asbestos exposure due to products such as cement pipes, pipe insulation, and joint compound, which may contain asbestos. When plumbers cut or sand insulation, drill into materials, or join pipes, asbestos fibers may be released into the air, where they can be inhaled.

The asbestos fibers can then accumulate in the body and cause inflammation and scarring, and may ultimately lead to mesothelioma cancer. Plumbers can also face exposure when working with pumps, gaskets, or valves that contain asbestos. 

Bricklayers

Bricklayers may be called upon to work in refineries, steel mills, automobile plants, and other industrial sites where asbestos is present. They may be responsible for installing walls, chimneys, furnace lining, and other structures; they may also work directly with the high-heat machinery and other equipment at the job site.

These types of job locations and equipment can place bricklayers at high risk for asbestos inhalation, especially if they are removing or handling such items.

Steamfitters

Steamfitters work to install and repair pipes that carry liquids and/or gases from one room to the next in industrial buildings, factories, ships, and other settings. Such pipes may be carrying hot water or steam, or other gases. Asbestos was often used to insulate such pipes, as it is resistant to heat and corrosion.

When steamfitters remove or dismantle such pipes (and other fittings), the asbestos can be released. Workers could then inhale the microscopic fibers that become dislodged.

Shouldering the Burden of Proof: How Can an Asbestos Lawyer Help Me?

Proving you are a victim of asbestos exposure in a Pittsburgh, PA, workplace is a time-consuming task that can require thousands of documents and hundreds of hours of research. Due to symptoms not showing up until decades later, there are a significant number of old records to locate.

Count on our lawyers at D’Amico Law Offices, LLC to know precisely where to look and how to put together a convincing case. You can rest assured knowing that our attorneys will be the ones to shoulder the burden of such research, not you. 

Our law firm has extensive experience in claims related to asbestos in Pittsburgh, PA. We research to come up with the necessary details. It is our job to ensure that your situation is thoroughly supported, and we will work hard to prove your case.

Contact an Asbestos Exposure Lawyer

We believe in your right to fair compensation from the negligence of companies that knowingly exposed their workers to mesothelioma in Pittsburgh, PA. Asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma are serious and can have drastic effects on the lives of the victim and their families. Our attorneys do not accept excuses and work to hold companies responsible for the harm they have done. Reach out to D’Amico Law Offices, LLC today to schedule your free consultation.

Contact us today at (412) 652-9300 if you or a loved one were injured due to job-related asbestos exposure. We proudly serve clients in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Asbestos Job Site FAQs

Various parties can be held liable for asbestos-related injuries. For instance, an employer can be found liable if they knew about dangerous work conditions involving asbestos, but failed to take appropriate safety measures.

Other parties such as product manufacturers might be held liable as well, depending on the circumstances.

Under whistleblower protection laws, your employer cannot fire you or otherwise punish you for reporting health or safety hazards at your workplace. In fact, filing a report is one way that work environments and safety standards improve.

You should contact a lawyer if you believe your rights were violated after filing a report. 

It may be an indication that you’ve been exposed to asbestos at work if you:

  • Handled asbestos-treated products or materials
  • Worked with old pipes or metals, or at older locations
  • Were not provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) or adequate ventilation
  • Notice other health and safety violations at work

You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a diagnosis, or after you suspect you’ve been exposed to asbestos. As mentioned, the process of determining liability can be extensive, so it’s best to start the process as soon as possible. 

Also, there will be filing deadlines that apply to your case, so it’s in your best interest to contact a lawyer sooner rather than later.

Client Testimonials

“Mike handled a mesothelioma case for a family member and did a wonderful job. He was patient, caring, and accommodating, which was crucial as our family was dealing with the deterioration and ultimate passing of our loved one. Mike shielded the family from the majority of the stress of the case and was always available via phone to answer our questions, patiently making sure we understood what was happening.”

– Gary G.

“Professionalism, integrity and personal attention are clearly what make this law firm successful. From my first meeting with the team, I was treated as a person that needed assistance and not merely a client. Every option was explained clearly without jargon and the emphasis was on what was best for me.”

– Stan J.