Suspiciously high rates of certain cancers spur asbestos health study
Earlier reports on the elevated numbers on the Iron Range suggested the asbestos exposure came from workers who dealt with commercial asbestos, such as insulation on pipes, furnaces and boilers. But others have speculated that asbestos-like fibers within taconite rock released during processing may be causing the mesothelioma — speculation that spurred the $4.9 million health study approved
by state lawmakers in 2008.
While great strides have been made, there is still a lot of asbestos exposure in renovation projects. If you feel you have been injured due to asbestos exposure please contact our office for a free evaluation.
Cicero based AMD Industries, Inc. was fined $1.2 million after employees were allegedly required to remove asbestos containing materials without proper training and respiratory protection. The asbestos containing materials at AMD were located on piping, boilers and HVAC systems within the facility located at 4620 W. 19th Street in Cicero, Illinois.
“Asbestos exposure can be deadly,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “AMD Industries knew it was assigning workers to asbestos removal work and failed to take the most basic safety precautions. This employer did not provide protective respirators or even warn the workers of the risk to their health from removing the material.”
“AMD failed in its duty to protect the health and safety of its workers,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Such disregard will not be tolerated by the Labor Department. No one should risk serious illness or death to earn a paycheck.”
Unfortunately, AMD is the not the only employer or manufacturer of asbestos containing products who failed to warn their employees and consumers of the dangers of asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can lead to debilitating and often fatal lung conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. In the United States alone there are an estimated 10,000 deaths related to asbestos exposure each year.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with any of these illnesses contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gravlin at 866-995-4888 for a free consultation.
Asbestos-Related Illness investigation at Ipsen Industries – Cherry Valley and Rockford, Illinois
The Law Offices of Michael J. Gravlin is now investigating an increase of reported asbestos related illness in employees of Ipsen Industries in Cherry Valley, Illinois.
Ipsen is a leading manufacturer of furnaces and other heat treating equipment. Materials that contain asbestos, including but not limited to block insulation, fiberboard, packing, and gaskets may have been used in conjunction with Ipsen equipment.
If your or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, asbestosis or pulmonary fibrosis a cause of action may be available against the manufactures of asbestos containing products used in conjunction with Ipsen furnaces and heat treating equipment.
If you worked at Ipsen or worked rebuilding Ipsen equipment in the field contact the Law Offices of Michael Gravlin for a free case evaluation at 866-995-4888.
Posted Friday, March 4th, 2011
The Victimization of the Mentally Disabled
Unfortunately abuse of the mentally disabled is much more common than most people think. In my practice I have encountered numerous cases like this where a mentally disabled person is victimized either sexually or financially. This sort of abuse is rarely reported due to the victim’s inability to appreciate and report the abuse. If you know somebody who has been a victim of abuse contact our office for a free evaluation of their rights.
Asbestos has been classified as a cancer causing agent, a carcinogen, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The illnesses caused by asbestos have long latency periods, meaning that the illnesses do not present themselves for 10 to 40 years after the initial exposure.
Mesothelioma is the signal cancer for asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the pleura, the thin lining of the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity.
There is no other more generally accepted cause of Mesothelioma than exposure to asbestos.
Millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. The rate of diagnosis of Mesothelioma in males over the age of 65 who served in the Navy, worked in the construction trades or have any history of occupational exposure to asbestos is on the rise.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma generally do not present themselves until an advance state, when shortness of breath, chest pain or abdominal swelling and weight loss become noticeable.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was well suited for many uses because of its ability to resist heat, fire, electricity and chemicals while serving as a binding agent.
Between 1940 and the late 1970s asbestos was used in the United States in over 3000 different commercial applications. Some of those products and applications include:
insulation, including pipe covering, block and cement
fireproofing
refractory
cloth, including drapes, blankets & fire curtains
electrical products including panels, arc chutes, relays & motors
gaskets
packing
drywall & sheet rock
joint compound
plaster
floor tile
ceiling tile
caulk, spackle, mastics & sealants
brakes
clutches
siding and roofing materials including paper, felt, flashing and shingles
cement pipe & transite
paper products
phenolic resins & molded products
What we weren’t told was that asbestos, when airborne, is dangerous and often fatal.
People working in industries that manufacture or use asbestos containing products are exposed to the highest levels of airborne asbestos. Between 1940 and the late 1970s an estimated 27 million workers in the United States were exposed to asbestos fibers. These individuals and their families are at the highest risk of developing asbestos related illnesses.
Asbestos fibers are at their most dangerous when they are friable or airborne. The cutting, mixing, sanding, grinding or scraping of the products listed above can lead to high levels of airborne asbestos.
Inhaling asbestos fibers is the primary route of exposure that leads to illness but ingestion is possible from swallowing fibers cleared from the lung. Asbestos exposure mainly affects the lungs and the membrane surrounding the lungs. It is also known to affect the cardiovascular and digestive or gastrointestinal systems.
If you have been diagnosed with any of the following illnesses contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gravlin to learn your rights:
MESOTHELIOMA
LUNG CANCER
ASBESTOSIS
PLEURAL PLAQUES or PULMONARY FIBROSIS
LARYNGEAL CANCER
COLORECTAL CANCER
The companies that manufactured, sold and distributed these products knew that asbestos was dangerous but allowed you and your loved ones to be exposed.
Michael J. Gravlin is an established Chicago workers compensation attorney. He recently shared his expertise with Lawline.com to help them provide continuing education online to other Illinois workers compensation lawyers. Below is a short video highlighting some of the points made during his recent instructional video for Lawline.com.
