Where you work and how long you have been with a particular company may have a significant impact on your health — especially if your job is physically demanding or dangerous, or is high-risk for hazards, such as exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is microscopic, but its effects on the human body can be deadly. There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure, so if you think you or a loved one may have dealt with exposure, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention and keep track of your health.
There are certain types of employment that pose a much greater asbestos risk than others. The more you know about such issues, the better able you are to be proactive in keeping yourself as safe as possible on the job, as well as at home. In many cases where asbestos causes serious injury, it prompts litigation because employers are often liable for their workers’ injuries.
U.S. military service men and women at risk
If you or an immediate family member in your household has served in the military, asbestos injury risk may be high. Especially for those who were in the Navy during World War II, many ships and submarines contained asbestos in the insulation that lined the vessels. Those in the military, as well as civilians, are also at risk if they work in construction.
Auto and aircraft mechanics are also high-risk jobs
Before 1981, many U.S. aircraft had engine insulation that contained asbestos. Aeronautic engineers often suffer asbestos injuries due to microscopic fibers contained in the retrofitters of various aircraft. Nowadays, aircraft vessels in the United States have banned asbestos.
Banning doesn’t necessarily solve the problem
While it’s true that asbestos is no longer in new aircraft manufacturing, if you had an exposure to asbestos 10 or 20 years ago, you may still suffer mesothelioma or other adverse health conditions due to exposure. Asbestos illness symptoms often stay hidden for years, so just because you feel okay doesn’t necessarily mean you are.
This is why it’s critical that, if you feel any chest pain, have a lingering cough or experience other adverse health issues, you seek immediate medical attention and let attending physicians know that you likely had exposure to asbestos. Even though many years may have passed between onset and symptom development, Pennsylvania asbestos illness victims can still file a legal claim if they believe their conditions were the result of employer negligence.