Asbestos is a generic term for several different mineral silicates, such as chrysolite, amosite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite. The exceptional thermal and electrical insulating properties of it have led to its widespread use, so that not only miners working on grinding and making asbestos products are exposed, but also faucet installers, boilermakers and other construction workers.
Furthermore, it is used in the manufacture of refractory fabrics and protective garments, as a filler for plastic materials, in the manufacture of cement and floor tiles, and in the manufacture of materials exposed to friction, such as brakes and clutches.
What damage can it cause?
Exposure to it except in limited areas, where people are exposed to only one industrial agent, such as areas with coal mines or granite quarries, the most common chronic lung diseases caused by inorganic dust is associated with asbestos fiber industries.
The main harmful health consequences caused by exposure to asbestos are pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis) and cancer of the respiratory tract and pleura, less often cancer of the peritoneum. Lung cancer, both squamous cell and adenocarcinoma, are the most common cancers associated with asbestosis. A high incidence of lung cancer in asbestos workers is observed at least 15 to 19 years after the first contact with it. People who have been exposed for a long time have an even higher risk of developing the disease.
Mesothelioma, both pleura and peritoneum, are also associated with exposure. And relatively short-term exposure, 1-2 years or even shorter, which happened some 20-25 years ago, can result in the development of Mesothelioma (which emphasizes the importance of taking a complete work history).
Ways to protect yourself
You should check your national legislation. First of all, you need to apply for asbestos immediately and read below how to do it.
The symptoms are not immediately noticeable, a person can live a very long time and that is completely normal. While on the other hand, there are changes in the body that he does not know about, and it is about the fact that it slowly disrupts the functioning of your organs, and then the symptoms begin to appear.
Since the symptoms appear in the form of cough and shortness of breath, you will go to your doctor first. Then he will probably refer you for an X-ray of the lungs, and then perform all the necessary tests (of which there are quite a few). This means that sometimes you can’t influence it, but you certainly can. As we said you can apply.
Who can make claim?
You should first have the above-mentioned symptoms and be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. The rest of the work is not so simple, considering that the person responsible for the disease cannot be determined as easily as is the case with a traffic accident and the like. In the previous part of the text, we explained how long it takes to notice the first symptoms, and that is even a few decades sometimes.
In any case, all people with symptoms have the right to submit a request, but first of all, consult your lawyer first. It would be best to choose an expert to whom you are not the first case in the field. If you don’t know where to find one, contact TheLawCenter and they will connect you to the right person to help you.
Tips on how to make claim
Exposure to asbestos is sometimes not a consequence of many years of service, it can happen to you in some other situations. Remember that every place you visit can contain it both on the surface and in the atmosphere because appropriate precautions have not been taken by the employer. This automatically exposes you to his adverse effects.
Whoever has been exposed can claim compensation.
1. Pay attention to the health of your family too
If you get sick from some of the above diseases, you will probably remember what the cause was. But you may not connect that it is the same cause if someone in your family gets sick. Claims include the family of the workers. It often happens that the whole family is exposed to dangers because asbestos stays on clothes or skin like dust. This means that by staying in the same space, it is easily transmitted to other family members.
2. Make claim no matter even if causer is no longer at the same place
Don’t worry about whether the factory or other causative agent has changed its place. You can still claim compensation from them if you contact the insurance company that was covering them at the time.
3.You don’t have to be very sick to make a claim
The severity of the injury does not have to be great to qualify. It is advisable to make a request in case the injury develops and you get more damage, do not forget that the symptoms take a long time to develop.
4. Get a medical report
You need to get a doctor’s report confirming your condition that is in line with your claim for compensation. However, you cannot get this report from any doctor, but only from a doctor who specializes in the field of respiratory diseases.
5. Conduct an investigation to have all the evidence
You need confirmation that you have been exposed to asbestos at a specific time and place. You must have very specific information about the place where you were exposed to the danger. This is not difficult to verify because this is taken care of on a daily basis by the human resources section, so it is easy to verify and do so mainly on the basis of personal or professional records.
6. Prove that it is the guilt of your superiors
It is necessary to prove that your superiors or the company are 100% responsible for your condition, that they knowingly violated the rights of employees and thus potentially endangered your life. The irresponsibility of the company refers to the fact that they did not take the basic safety measures of their employees. These are things like basic information related to the presence of asbestos in the environment and protective equipment.
Conclusion:
Stay aware of asbestos and its consequences. We hope that you have realized how harmful it is to stay near it, but we are sure that you are, given that you are aware of its terrible consequences. In any case, you have the opportunity to apply for compensation, as long as you meet its conditions.
