不幸的是，接触石棉是一种常见的工作场所危害。员工在处理含有石棉的材料、拆除具有长期休眠绝缘层的建筑物，甚至在铁路或造船厂工作时，可能会面临危险。根据法律，每个雇主都有责任确保其工作场所对其员工而言尽可能安全。
Failing to meet this requirement could give rise to workers’ compensation insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits. Consulting with an attorney could help you connect your diagnosis to your employer’s failure to keep you safe. A dedicated attorney at Brayton Purcell LLP could evaluate your situation and help you better understand the dangers of asbestos and your employer’s responsibility for any illnesses you develop.
检查每个工作场所是否存在潜在暴露
雇主有责任确保每个工作场所对于他们雇用的工人执行的工作都是安全的。这包括评估因接触石棉等危险物质而可能产生的潜在危害。
These present-day concerns most often arise in the construction or demolition industries. Employers should research the building’s history to determine if asbestos has ever been used in construction or updates over the years. Additionally, if the building is of a certain age, it is reasonable to assume that asbestos will be present.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration Rules § 1926.1101, construction or demolition employers must not allow their workers to face exposure to asbestos in excess of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air over a period of eight hours. This means that employers must provide all necessary safety equipment to prevent this exposure. Similar concepts apply to OSHA regulations in other modern-day industries.
危险的石棉暴露在过去几十年里经常发生
It is unfortunate for workers that many of the modern safety rules in place under OSHA were not enforced as recently as the late 20th century. This is especially true in the case of asbestos. As late as the 1970s, there were no regularly enforced wide-ranging federal regulations concerning this dangerous substance. Employers often used it as they saw fit. However, workers often received no or minimal training concerning the safe use of asbestos or protective gear to prevent exposure.
This lack of protection occurred in many industries. Naturally, miners who worked to obtain this substance faced exposure on a daily basis. So too did workers in the construction industry using asbestos-based products.
The impact of this lack of safety is still present today. Employees in most blue-collar professions still experience exposure as a consequence of companies’ choices decades ago. An experienced attorney could help impacted parties stand up for their legal rights and explore how they may hold employers liable for their failures to keep workers safe.
石棉和雇主责任引发了许多关键问题
大量员工在工作时面临石棉暴露风险。这是导致大量间皮瘤诊断的部分原因。
Sadly, even modern-day employers may fail to keep their workers safe. Employees in most blue-collar professions such as the construction, railroad, or shipping industries may still face exposure to asbestos when dealing with old buildings or machinery. Employers must provide proper safety equipment and training to limit the chances of exposure, since there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. An attorney could help you evaluate your legal rights after asbestos exposure, whether this occurred decades ago or in the recent past. Give us a call today to get started.
