If you work in construction and have worked in buildings built before 1980, there is a chance you have been exposed to asbestos. Employers are required to follow certain rules and regulations when exposing employees to asbestos. Being aware of these requirements can help you verify that your workplace is safe. Employers are required to provide special training for those working in areas containing asbestos. When working around asbestos, employees should have respirators, and the work area should be kept free from dust using specialized vacuum systems. Keeping asbestos wet is also important, because it helps prevent the deadly fibers from becoming airborne. Workers used to return home from the jobsite covered in asbestos dust, exposing their families to the fibers. To prevent this, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workers to shower after work, including washing their faces and hands. Clothes should remain at the work…
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Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Attorneys
Asbestos Workplace Safety
February 17th, 2012Drawbacks of Workers’ Comp for Mesothelioma
February 13th, 2012Turning to workers compensation is one legal option available after asbestos exposure, but it does have drawbacks. Workers compensation systems can be difficult to navigate, and some result in only modest amounts of financial help. In some states, claiming workers compensation can result in the loss of your right to file a lawsuit against your employer. This is an important factor for you to consider. Workers compensation may provide benefits including medical care, replacement income in the form of temporary or permanent disability payments and assistance finding another job. Benefits like medical payments and replacement income will have limits set by your state, and there is no guarantee the amount will be sufficient to meet your needs. Filing a lawsuit over your asbestos exposure could lead to significantly higher awards than workers compensation can provide, helping both you and your family pay for your treatments and the loss of your…
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Therapy Promises Some Help for Cancer Pain
February 9th, 2012When mesothelioma develops in a patient, the pain can typically increase over time, requiring prescription narcotics to manage it. Even with the potent drugs, pain often persists for the patients. A new report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology discusses a supplementary option in pain management for patients: psychosocial interventions. Researchers found that psychosocial interventions for patients had “medium-size effects” on both pain severity and pain interference in adults with cancer. Reviewing studies published between 1966 and 2010 of cancer patients, researchers from Columbia University in New York City found 37 papers for which measures of pain severity and pain interference could be assessed. Speaking of their findings, the authors said, “These robust findings support the systematic implementation of quality-controlled psychosocial interventions as part of a multimodal approach to the management of pain in patients with cancer.” According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, the primary psychosocial…
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The Need for a Mesothelioma Lawyer
February 7th, 2012If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, chances are you were exposed to asbestos earlier in your life. Whether you worked in manufacturing or mining, or if you simply came in contact through materials used to renovate your home, asbestos exposure can affect your health many years down the line. Many companies were aware of the hazards of asbestos long before government regulations were implemented. If you were exposed to asbestos by a party that knew of its dangers, you deserve compensation. The poor prognosis and high cost of treatment for mesothelioma makes legal representation important for some patients. Often, compensation is necessary to cover the various treatments needed for this deadly disease and to help the victim’s family after death. Higher awards generally go to victims and families represented by experienced counsel. Beyond help with medical bills, there is also the issue of justice. If you were knowingly exposed…
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