A documented link between workplace asbestos exposure and various forms of cancer has been around for decades. One of the most common cancers linked to asbestos is mesothelioma.

Even though workplace asbestos exposure has been a known cause of certain cancers for years, many people still don’t know about this serious risk. This means that many employees who are currently subjected to workplace asbestos exposure may not know the dangers associated with it. In some cases, employers may not be providing proper protective equipment to prevent workplace asbestos exposure or following other regulations to keep their employees safe.

Lack of knowledge about asbestos risks can also mean that it can be difficult for people to connect their mesothelioma or other kinds of cancer to earlier workplace asbestos exposure, even from decades previously.

As more and more people become more aware about the risk of mesothelioma and other cancers linked with asbestos, a growing number are filing lawsuits over workplace asbestos exposure. Especially for those involved in construction work, which often involve consistent workplace asbestos exposure, the risks can be severe. These lawsuits allege that employers failed to adequately warn employees about the risk of workplace asbestos exposure and, in some cases, provide proper protection equipment.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos exposure can cause several critical health problems like mesothelioma.

Because the products that contain asbestos are often used for construction, a large portion of those who file mesothelioma lawsuits are construction workers. Indeed, construction work involves being routinely surrounded by products made with asbestos. Sawing and cutting products during construction makes asbestos fibers even more likely to be released into the air and into a worker’s lungs.

It can be hard to make the connection between workplace asbestos exposure from decades previous with a current cancer diagnosis. How do you know if your cancer diagnosis is related to asbestos exposure? Asbestos cancer takes years or even decades to surface in recognizable symptoms, so the latency period will be ten years or more. The other indicator of asbestos cancer is a higher than normal amount of asbestos fiber found in the lung tissue, which indicates asbestosis.

While it can take decades for mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos to develop, but once it does, it can spread rapidly all across the body. The long latency period and rapid rate of development often means that mesothelioma often goes undiagnosed until it has reached a later and more dangerous stage.

Filing a Workplace Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from mesothelioma caused by workplace asbestos exposure, you may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of cancer diagnosis, it can help to alleviate the financial burden cause by medical expenses and lost wages.