High Risk Jobs
The American Lung Association states that lung cancer has killed more than 150,000 people each year. More often than not, people are suffering from diseases which they acquired from their line of work or their high risk jobs. An alarming increase of lung cancer has been documented. In most cases, these people have been exposed to second hand smoke at the workplace, or they have inhaled dangerous chemicals and substances they should have been warned about. Lethal among the substances is asbestos. The government has taken steps to protect both worker and employer in high risk jobs as asbestos litigation spirals upward. The damage to life is irreplaceable and billions of dollars have been spent to pay victims and their families
Many of those suffering from lung cancer are associated with high risk jobs as shipbuilders, pipe fitters, insulation installers, tile workers, welders, refinery workers, and sanders. These are considered high risk jobs for the consequence in later years. Wondering why? Shipbuilders are always in contact with insulation material called fiberglass. Fiberglass has been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Fiberglass is a carcinogenic substance, and this has been known for more than 20 years before companies decided to do something about it. More than just fiberglass, though, Shipbuilders are most likely to be contaminated with asbestos as many materials for shipbuilding have asbestos as a component in varying amounts - therefore shipbuilding is a high risk job.
Pipe fitting is another high risk job. Pipe fitters are more exposed to asbestos as this dangerous mineral is the basic component of pipes and similar materials. Pipe fitters unknowingly inhale the fibers which become lodged in their lungs. Contamination from asbestos is always lethal. Although asbestos is seldom used in today's industries, it was used widely between 1940 and 1980. Aside from asbestos, pipe fitters are also at risk for contact with benzene - another carcinogenic that causes lung cancer.
Those who install insulation flirt with death and disease through their high risk job. This is another job that has caused lung cancer among the workers. Asbestos is present in insulation materials, and any laborer who has worked as an insulation installer is 92 times more likely to get sick. Another high risk job is working with tiles. They are likely to inhale interminable quantities of asbestos in almost all the materials they work around with - on ceilings, floors, and wall. As they work on the tiles they whiff in the dust which always carry asbestos which will give them mesothelioma cancer or asbestosis. Sanders, unknowingly, are in high risk jobs. Even they have protective gear, they are still susceptible to dust inhalation which may contain toxic fumes from asbestos, benzene and other carcinogenics.
Welding is another high risk job. The metal parts they work with contain a high number of cancer-causing pollutants which they inhale. The pollutants are embedded in the lungs and become a cause for deadly diseases. Meanwhile, equipments in oil refineries contain asbestos. These pieces of equipment include ovens, driers, furnaces, pumps, and heat exchangers. By just being near these pieces of equipment, workers are exposed to the untold risks of lung diseases and mesothelioma cancer.
All laborers in high risk jobs should seek legal advice should they suspect symptoms caused by exposure to asbestos. They all have the right to claim compensation for the undue suffering they are going through.