Asbestos Jobsites
For more than three-quarters of the twentieth century, thousands of jobsites made widespread use of asbestos, known for its incredible insulating properties. Each day, workers toiled at these sites, unaware that the asbestos they encountered on a daily basis was wreaking havoc with their health, causing lung irritation that could later turn into serious diseases like asbestosis and the cancer known as mesothelioma.
Indeed, asbestos was everywhere during that time…in factories and homes, auto plants and shipyards. It was found in household appliances, insulated the wires in electrical plants, was used in protective clothing for those who worked with high temperatures, and even lurked in the floor and ceiling tiles found in many of the nation’s schools.
Those who worked in factories that made asbestos-containing products or those who installed asbestos were at the highest risk for developing related diseases, and many did. The result of this rampant asbestos use was hundreds upon hundreds of tradespeople who eventually wound up with serious illnesses that would severely compromise their quality of life and, for many, result in an early death.
Sadly, many individuals who were in a position of power knew just how toxic asbestos was yet continued allowing employees to work with the mineral. In many cases, records have only recently been released that exhibit the negligence of these individuals who allowed those entrusted to their employ to work with a material that could shorten their lives substantially. Thanks to the hard work of the legal community, some of those companies are finally being brought to justice.