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Volver al Blog de AsbestosAsbestos was used for thousands of years as a strong and durable material, especially in construction and manufacturing. Asbestos is an inexpensive and durable natural mineral with a number of advantages in which producers of various materials might be interested: it makes products strong and resistant to heat and corrosion. The mineral is lightweight, sound-absorbent, insulating, and non-soluble in water, and it binds well with other materials. However, asbestos also presents significant health risks and has fallen out of use due to stringent regulations and bans.
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Si cree que estuvo expuesto al asbesto, incluso cuando era niño, hable con un proveedor de atención médica sobre pruebas y exámenes para ayudar a diagnosticar cicatrices pulmonares y detectar enfermedades relacionadas con enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto.
History of Asbestos In Industry
In the United States in the 1920s, asbestos mining boomed as the Industrial Revolution was underway. It was used extensively in construction to make or insulate plaster, pipes, shingles, drywall, ducts, panels, sealants, and paint. Most buildings constructed before the 1980s, when the federal government placed heavy restrictions on its use, have detectable levels of asbestos, so those who come into contact with it are at risk of health complications.
¿Qué es exactamente el asbesto?
There are several different tipos de asbesto, all of which can break down into small particles that may be inhaled or swallowed. Because these microscopic fibers have no flavor or scent, people are often unaware of inhaling or ingesting them. When they enter the body, they do not break down, but rather embed themselves in body tissues, potentially causing severe respiratory and digestive problems for those who are exposed.
Due to efforts made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos was largely banned in the United States in 1989, and these days there are many non-asbestos materials that provide similar benefits. However, because so many buildings still contain the mineral, it is important to know the risks of exposure, who is at highest risk, and what the legal options exist to compensate for asbestos-related injuries.
“La evidencia general sugiere que no existe un nivel seguro de exposición al asbesto”. no hay nivel seguro de exposición al asbesto."Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)1 |
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos products were used nearly everywhere before the 1980s, especially in construction of public spaces such as schools and government buildings. Many people are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, especially those who work in occupations with high previous use of asbestos products, such as construction, manufacturing, mechanical work with vehicles, and the U.S. Armed Forces.
The risks of asbestos exposure are real.
El risks of exposure are real. Asbestos is no longer used in new products, and those who work in removal of asbestos are highly trained in proper abatement protocols. However, those who work in buildings where asbestos is present can still be exposed at levels that may be significant enough to cause health concerns.
“Algunas fibras de asbesto pueden pasar por alto... las defensas naturales de su cuerpo... y alojarse en lo profundo de sus pulmones. Esas fibras pueden permanecer en su lugar durante mucho tiempo y es posible que nunca se eliminen”.Fuente: Asociación Americana del Pulmón |
While a person may not realize they have inhaled or ingested asbestos, tiny particles make a permanent home in the body, eventually leading to scarring and internal damage that can cause chronic illness and even terminal disease. Symptoms may take up to 50 years or more to appear, but then can become malignant and non-malignant diseases, both of which can be extremely painful and incurable.
Health risks of asbestos exposure to sheet metal installers include:enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto:
| Mesotelioma: Cáncer del mesotelio, la capa delgada de tejido que rodea los órganos del cuerpo. Solo se sabe que este cáncer es causado por la exposición al asbesto. | Cáncer de pulmón |
| Cáncer de laringe: Cáncer de laringe (sección de la garganta llamada laringe) | Cáncer de ovarios |
| Cáncer de estómago | Cáncer de colón |
| Cáncer de faringe | Abestosis: una enfermedad pulmonar crónica asociada a la exposición al asbesto |
| Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (EPOC) | Atelectasia (collapsed lung) |
| Derrame pleural (acumulación de líquido alrededor de los pulmones) | Derrame pericárdico (acumulación de líquido alrededor del corazón) |
Las personas que trabajaron en estas industrias antes de mediados de la década de 1980 tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto:
| Construcción | Fábricas | Fundiciones | Refinerías | Astilleros | Minería / Molienda |
| Demolición | Aislamiento | Trabajadores del acero | Instalación de tuberías | Construcción naval | Mecánicos |
 |  |  | |||
| Techumbre | Textiles | Trabajadores del hierro | Calderas | Extinción de incendios | Reparación de frenos |
| Piso | Cemento | Electricistas | Reparación de juntas | Ferrocarril | Climatización |
Desafortunadamente también lo hacen sus familias.
Exposición secundaria al asbesto
Many industrial workers like sheet metal installers brought home asbestos on work clothing, hair, skin, tools and equipment, exposing children and household members.
One does not have to work directly with asbestos to suffer the health consequences of exposure.
In fact, studies have found that simply working around the fibers and experiencing indirect exposure is a significant health risk. Thus, anyone who works in a building constructed before 1980 should test the building before doing any structural work in order to avoid handling asbestos and causing it to break into small particles that may be inhaled or swallowed.
Sheet Metal Installers are at High Risk of Developing Asbestos-Related Diseases
While sheet metal workers typically do not handle asbestos directly, research has found that they are at significantly higher risk for asbestos-related diseases than the general population. Sheet metal workers who have been indirectly exposed to asbestos specifically have a considerably increased rate of lung disease.
Scientific research on the health dangers of asbestos for sheet metal installers:
● The American Journal of Industrial Medicine reports that sheet metal workers are seven times more likely to die from mesothelioma than the general population.
● Sheet metal workers are 52% more likely to die from all cancers than the general population.
● There is an 86% increase in mortality rate due to cáncer de pulmón among sheet metal workers.
● 31% of sheet metal workers employed before the 1980s have asbestos-related changes on radiographic studies.
Because asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, it is clear that sheet metal workers are at high risk even without handling asbestos directly.
In addition, risk for many types of cancers, specifically lung cancer and esophageal cancer, increase even when workers are only intermittently or indirectly exposed to the mineral.
Unfortunately, in decades past, many sheet metal and construction workers were not informed about the risks of asbestos exposure and were often told that it was safe if they did raise concerns.
Millions of people worked with asbestos without any protective gear, putting their health at risk. In addition, those workers unknowingly carried asbestos particles home on their clothes and in their vehicles, causing potential exposición de segunda mano to their families, including their children.
Decades later, health professionals are seeing the outcomes of primary and secondary asbestos exposure in their patients, and new workers continue to be indirectly exposed to the material.
Asbestos is not all banned, and still poses a public health problem for former sheet metal installers and others.
While the United States has placed significant restrictions on the use of asbestos, it has not banned it outright. Sheet Metal Workers Unions have been instrumental in preventing any loosening of current restrictions and are helping to press for a ban to further protect their members. However, those who have already been impacted by asbestos-related illnesses will need to seek compensation through legal channels.
“Por lo general, quienes desarrollan enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto no muestran signos de enfermedad durante mucho tiempo después de la exposición”.Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)2 |
Legal Options for Sheet Metal Workers with Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Sheet metal workers who have been directly or indirectly exposed to asbestos and suffer health consequences, and their families, have legal options to obtain compensation. While early lawsuits against the industry were largely unsuccessful, mounting medical evidence and research have clearly demonstrated the health risks of asbestos exposure. Today, there are a number of legal options for those suffering from asbestos-related illnesses and families who have lost loved ones to related diseases.
¿Califica usted para una compensación?
Descubra rápida y fácilmente cómo estuvo expuesto buscando en WARD, la base de datos de asbesto más grande del planeta.
BÚSQUEDA GRATUITA >What are asbestos trusts? (Compensation without a lawsuit.)
Fideicomisos de asbesto were founded after decades of litigation against asbestos companies and expensive settlements which caused them to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The courts ordered them to establish trusts to compensate victims of asbestos exposure and related illnesses.
Close to $30 billion dollars were placed in various trusts, and 40% of those funds are still unclaimed.
Each trust has criteria that must be met for a person to gain compensation, typically including information about work or exposure history, medical history, and any other relevant information. Workers exposed to asbestos before 1982 may make a claim.
Más de $ 30 mil millones todavía están disponibles (sin demandas. Sin tarifas a menos que reciba dinero. Sin riesgos). Haga su reclamo.  |
Every case is different, but Asbestos Trusts are generally the fastest and easiest way to receive compensation.
Making a claim against a trust is typically much faster than filing a traditional lawsuit because they eliminate the time required for court proceedings. In addition to a number of trusts for general construction workers which may have eligibility for sheet metal installers, there are specific asbestos trusts for which sheet metal workers definitely qualify, including the following:
People suffering from exposición de segunda mano and related illnesses, such as the families of sheet metal workers, are also eligible for compensation from these trusts.
While trusts are usually the fastest and easiest way to gain compensation for asbestos-related illnesses, there are other options, as well. These may be options for those exposed after 1982 or exposed indirectly. Some options include traditional litigation, Worker’s Compensation, Veteran’s benefits, FELA Claims for railroad workers, Maritime Claims for seamen and offshore workers, SSDI and SSI.
If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness, contact an experienced asbestos attorney today. Receiving compensation may help eliminate some of the emotional and financial burden associated with these life-threatening diagnoses.
AsbestosClaims.Law
En AsbestosClaims.Law, nuestra misión de asegurar una compensación para las víctimas del asbesto es más que profesional;es personal.
Nuestro fundador, Justinian C. Lane, conoce de primera mano los efectos devastadores del asbesto.
Tanto sus abuelos como su padre, todos trabajadores del asbesto, fallecieron de cánceres inducidos por el asbesto sin darse cuenta de su elegibilidad para juicios por asbesto u otras formas de compensación.
Nuestro objetivo es evitar tales trágicos descuidos informando y guiando a las víctimas y sus familias a través de sus opciones legales.
Si usted o sus seres queridos han sufrido como resultado de la exposición al asbesto, podría ser elegible para una compensación considerable. Estos fondos podrían cubrir tratamientos médicos, servicios de remoción de asbestos y salvaguardar su salud.
Además, los fideicomisos de asbesto ofrecen una compensación sin necesidad de un juicio, brindando un camino más rápido y sencillo hacia la justicia.
Comuníquese con nosotros en [email protected] o (206) 455-9190 para obtener ayuda con su reclamo. Ofrecemos escucha compasiva, explicaciones claras y no cobramos un centavo a menos que ganemos su caso.
Más allá de las demandas legales, también asesoramos sobre discapacidad de veteranos, seguridad social y protección laboral como compensación de trabajadores, FELA, y La ley de Jones para trabajadores marítimos.
No hay riesgo ni costo para conectarse con nuestro equipo experimentado sobre sus derechos. Nuestro compromiso con su bienestar significa que no cobramos honorarios a menos que reciba una compensación.
| Para más consultas o inquietudes sobre el asbesto, explore nuestro sitio web y página de YouTube, con infografías, videos y respuestas a preguntas comunes sobre temas relacionados con el asbesto. |
También presentamos WARD, la base de datos de investigación mundial sobre el asbesto. Es el recurso más completo de información relacionada con el asbesto.
WARD ayuda a identificar posibles escenarios de exposición, productos que contienen asbesto y puede indicar los tipos y posibles montos de compensación que puede tener derecho a recibir.
No te demores — ponerse en contacto Con nosotras hoy!
1 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH) Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.
2 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH), Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.
