Tamara Burns  |  July 1, 2016

Category: Consumer News

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asbestos-lungCarpet installers working in an office suite in a building referred to as the PERA building in Santa Fe, New Mexico recently found that some of the carpet tiles that they were removing and replacing contained asbestos.

As a result of their finding, the room was professionally sealed off and an asbestos abatement project just started on the location.

According to a spokesman for the state General Services department, Estevan Luján, the authorities said that the old carpet tiles contained what was deemed “a very small amount” of asbestos.

The PERA building is called such because it was originally owned by the state’s Public Employees Retirement Association, but the state purchased the building ten years ago to house some of its departments.

The area with asbestos exposure housed the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance. Other nearby offices occupying the building include the Public Relation Commission and the Children of Youth and Families Department. More than one hundred employees work in the building.

“In order for [the state Facilities Management Division] to continue with the project, the tile must be tested and all safety parameters must be in place to begin abatement,” Luján stated.

He continued, “This includes segregating the entire area with negative pressure filtration that meets [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] standards” and isolates asbestos particles that have become airborne.

No additional work will be allowed to continue in the work area, such as painting and other work, until the abatement is complete, to  “ensure there is no risk to anyone entering the area after abatement,” Luján said.

The abatement was scheduled to take place on a weekend while no other employees would be in the building until the risk of exposure has passed.

“All precautions are being taken to ensure the utmost safety for all employees and individuals working on the construction,” Luján said in a statement.

Risks of Asbestos Exposure

As one of the softest minerals found, asbestos was mined for its unique insulative and fire retardant properties and was heavily used in building materials routinely before its adverse health effects were widely known.

If asbestos is left undisturbed, it typically does not cause any problems. However, once disturbed, mostly through renovation projects, the fibers may become airborne and inhaled.

Asbestos is classified as a known carcinogen according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Asbestos cancer typically caused by asbestos exposure includes mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestos cancer cells typically take a long time to develop following asbestos exposure. Asbestos cancer is typically not diagnosed until decades after first being exposed to asbestos.

Both mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer are very difficult to treat, and many patients who develop the cancer after decades have a poor prognosis.

Asbestos Cancer Lawsuits

Individuals who have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer often feel that they were not made aware of the dangers of the potential asbestos exposure through their course of employment.

Many have gone on to file lawsuits against their employers and/or the manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials for failure to warn about the risks of asbestos cancer and for failing to protect their health and safety.

If  you have developed cancer following asbestos exposure, an experienced attorney will review your case for free and can help you understand your legal options.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual asbestos lawsuit or asbestos class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, asbestos lung cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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