Recent medical studies on Ohio asbestos disease victims has shown that almost all of them worked for industries relating to just three things: boilermakers, pipe-fitters and electricians. The asbestos exposure rate is a cause for alarm to Ohio doctors and citizens alike. If you are in one of these three professions, you should be even more concerned.
I've been reading some material written by Jesse Herman, one of the editors with the Mesothelioma Cancer Center and much of this blog comes directly from him and his sources through
Asbestos.com.
Homes built before 1980 are likely to have asbestos insulation in them and when homeowners remodel they can easily expose themselves to asbestos, which could lead to the deadly cancer called mesothelioma. The good news is that there are ways to safely insulate your home and in the bitter winter weeks we just went through, now is a good time to take a look at the topic.
Ohio depends headvily on industrial giants like BP Amoco, Sunoco, Shell Oil and American Ship-Building shipyard, and in its early years asbestos became one of the most sought after building materials due to its resistance to many deteriorating conditions and easy usability. Problem is, people just didn't know what they were getting into.
Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers has caused many citizens, workers and military veterans to contract a severe form of asbestos-cancer known as mesothelioma. Between 1979 and 2001, the number of deaths due to asbestos disease in Ohio ranked Ohio fifth in the U.S. Regarding the percentage of mesothelioma deaths, Ohio ranked the highest in the country.
Mesothelioma treatment is unfortunately limited due to an intense latency period that can last 20 to 50 years when the disease is already in its later stages. If you have worked in areas of possible asbestos exposure, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Ohio is ranked fifth in the United States for mesothelioma cases filed. Its state legislature enacted the Victim Fairness bill in 2004 because more than 23 Ohio companies with 80 facilities filed for bankruptcy protection, pointing to asbestos liability. Studies showed that asbestos liability was held responsible for the loss of over 60,000 jobs.
Consumer protection was given a boost when Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio legislator, proposed a dramatic shift to Medicare coverage laws which may help victims who, by the time they are diagnosed, are too late to file lawsuits to recover their damages. If you have worked in areas of possible exposure and suffer from an asbestos-related illness, you should find a
mesothelioma lawyer who can protect your individual rights.
We don't do that kind of work at Burdge Law Office but if you've been exposed to asbestos, you need to know three things. First, it can cause cancer so see a doctor right away. Second, it's dangerous so don't try to remove asbestos yourself. And third, asbestos exposure has its own unique legal issues, so see an experienced attorney who deals with cases of this kind as soon as possible too.
The Ohio Department of Health offers
an asbestos program which assists citizens in finding certified asbestos "abatement" contractors (people who safely remove or contain asbestos materials). These contractors will inspect and remove the toxic material from the designated location. It is strongly recommended that you NOT remove or disturb the asbestos yourself because that can actually cause you to be exposed to this cancer-causing material. These professionals are specifically trained in handling these hazardous materials. So, how do you get rid of asbestos? You call a professional.
Burdge Law Office
Helping consumers protect themselves since 1978.
