If you work around asbestos or with asbestos products, you should be concerned about first and second-hand exposure. Not only does your risk for developing an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma increase–so does your family’s.
If your employer has not followed the strict Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines regarding asbestos exposure at work, there is always a chance that asbestos fibers are following you home, every day. Here is how:
In Your Hair: Asbestos fibers cannot be seen by the human eye. It is only when thousands or millions of fibers become airborne together that humans will visibly see asbestos in the air. Individual fibers can become trapped in your hair, making close hugs after work a deadly routine for your family members.
On Your Clothes: Asbestos fibers can become caught on the clothes of workers. Whoever is doing the laundry and handling your garments at your home are at risk for breathing in fibers during the chore.
In Your Car: If you drive the same car to and from work everyday, family members who also ride in the vehicle can breathe in the present asbestos fibers. Over time, this inhalation can lead to a fatal, asbestos-related disease.
Employers are required to keep employees safe from toxic exposure at work, such as from asbestos. If the OSHA rules and regulations are not adhered by, the company you work for can be held accountable in different ways, such as with fines.
If you or one of your family members have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, your place of work may be responsible. Do not hesitate to contact Brayton Purcell to find out if you are entitled to compensation for your condition.