You worked in the steel industry for many years, which is why it’s not necessarily surprising that you’ve developed mesothelioma. It took time to get a proper diagnosis, but now that you have it, you want to know what you can do to protect yourself and loved ones along with getting compensation for the asbestos exposure that led to your illness.
The interesting thing about asbestos exposure is that it still happens today. Did you know that there was an incident in 2016 where seven workers were put at risk in Pittsburgh by exposing them to asbestos? According to a document on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) website, the company, United States Steel Corp. was fined $170,000, but that won’t reverse the exposure that these workers faced.
Mesothelioma, a malignant cancer, happens inside the mesothelium, or the thin layer of tissue that covers the internal organs. It’s very aggressive, and there is no cure despite many treatments being available. Two common types of mesothelioma include pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lungs, while peritoneal occurs in the abdomen.
What’s most interesting about this cancer is that asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor. It’s a rare cancer often linked to exposure as a worker in industrial workplaces. It takes between 20 and 40 years for most victims of mesothelioma to develop the disease and present with symptoms, so people like those above may not know if they’ve been affected for many years. That could include people like you; if you’re affected, get to know your rights.