If you are a maritime worker, Jones Act rights may entitle you to compensation if you were injured while on the job.
To learn what legal options may be available for a work injury, contact a maritime law attorney based in Louisiana who handles cases throughout the United States.
Exposure to Asbestos
The use of asbestos in a variety of industries may put maritime workers at risk. It may be used to insulate hot water pipes, steam pipes or boilers on boats and ships. Adverse health effects can be experienced when someone is exposed to asbestos. The longer the exposure to asbestos, the more at risk an individual is of suffering serious or even life-threatening illness.
Asbestos fibers can be breathed into the lungs. With time it can lead to inflammation and scarring. This can impact an individual’s ability to breathe. Similar to tobacco, it is classified as a human carcinogen, which means that it can lead to cancer.
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to the following types of cancer:
Although some of these cancers are not conclusively associated with asbestos exposure, lung cancer and mesothelioma are.
Maritime Workers at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Those who work in the shipping industry are at an increased risk of exposure. Low levels generally aren’t dangerous. However, exposure on a regular basis can become a serious health hazard.
Not only are maritime workers at risk but their family may be as well. There has been some evidence that those who are heavily exposed have unknowingly carried fibers home with them. These fibers can be found on clothing, hair and skin. This could potentially put the family at risk of breathing in particles of asbestos.
Consult with a maritime law attorney who understands Jones Act rights if you have been injured from exposure to asbestos.
