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 elevator brakes and elevator shafts.
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 worked on elevators may have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure on the jobsite.
Naturally occurring asbestos minerals were used in a wide variety of products because the affordable mineral was a good insulator, and resistant to heat and flame. Unfortunately, asbestos that was heavily used throughout the United States until it became publically known to cause mesothelioma cancer and other diseases.
Elevator workers who worked to repair and construct elevators that were built prior to asbestos regulation are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer from their asbestos exposure. Because of the friction caused by elevators is brake shoes slowed the elevator car, asbestos was often used in elevator equipment such as elevator brake shoes and equipment panels.
Those constructing elevators handled asbestos containing products putting them at risk of exposure, but it's those repairing damaged or worn elevator parts that are at the greatest risk of inhaling airborne asbestos dust. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled it can become lodged in internal tissues putting elevator workers and repairmen at increased risk of developing peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, or pericardial mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases.
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 other asbestos-related injury, and wish to consult an attorney about your legal rights to compensation, CLICK HERE for a free consultation.