Throughout the 20th century, tons of asbestos were mined in our country and put in thousands of everyday products. Asbestos was very inexpensive and was used as filler in many different products throughout many different industries. For example, asbestos was widely used in insulation, boilers, pipes, and electrical insulation.
There are a number of different jobs where workers were exposed to a large amount of asbestos on a very frequent basis. People who have served in the United States Coast Guard may have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure on the jobsite.
Asbestos products were widely used aboard United States Coast Guard ships and in shipyards. Asbestos was a desirable material aboard these ships because its mineral properties make it strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion, heat, and flames. It was also a very affordable material that could be added as filler to nearly any product.
Among the products used on ships, asbestos was commonly found in wall insulation, boilers, boiler equipment, pumps, pipes, plumbing, and electrical insulation to combat the threat of fire. Due to the widespread use of these asbestos products, the close quarters, and the lack of ventilation aboard Coast Guard ships, both civilians constructing the vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guardsmen are at high risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.
Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Generally, it takes 10 to 60 years from the time of asbestos exposure until symptoms appear or mesothelioma is diagnosed.
Many of the companies have established trust funds to pay compensation to persons injured by asbestos.
If you have mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related injury, and wish to consult an attorney about your legal rights to compensation, CLICK HERE for a free consultation.