Asbestos Products

Insulation Jacketing

Asbestos was used very widely in the twentieth century in manufacturing industries and in industries such as construction and ship-building. The physical properties of asbestos, such as its high strength, durability, insulating properties, and fire resistance, made it ideal for a wide range of industrial purposes. The use of asbestos was particularly widespread in the manufacture of construction products, including in almost all kinds of insulation. Even insulation jacketing - the small sheath-like objects that insulate valves and joints - contained as much as 80% asbestos.

The widespread use of asbestos over most of the twentieth century has come at a high cost to many thousands of workers in America and world-wide. Asbestos is now widely known as a highly dangerous substance that can cause serious and lethal diseases in people who are repeatedly exposed to it. However, even though asbestos was a known health hazard as early as the 1930s, it was not until 1977 that the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of this substance in most construction products. Even then, existing supplies of asbestos-containing construction materials continued to be used well into the 1980s.

If you suspect your home may have been built using asbestos-containing construction materials (and this is quite likely if your home was built in or before the 1980s), it is important to know that the presence of asbestos is not necessarily a cause for worry. Materials that are in good condition, in areas of the home that are untrafficked, do not usually pose a significant health risk. In these cases there is little chance of asbestos fibers becoming airborne. However, any disturbances to asbestos-containing materials may pose a health risk, as it is then that fibers may become airborne and inhaled. In any situation where there is doubt as to the safety of your home, contact a professional to determine whether any asbestos-containing materials should be removed to ensure your safety.

While the risk of exposure in the home is minimal in most cases, anyone who worked in manufacturing industries and construction or ship-building in the twentieth century may potentially have been exposed to large amounts of airborne asbestos fibers. Working in such industries posed considerable risk, simply because many companies failed to provide their workers with safety equipment to protect them from asbestos exposure and inhalation. The failure of such companies to protect their employees constitutes an enormous act of negligence, and this has led to a tragically high number of asbestos-related deaths in the past several decades.

Over the last decade, the increasing incidence of mesothelioma cases has led to a rapid increase in the number of lawsuits and settlements decided in the favor of people who have developed asbestos-related diseases due to company negligence.

If you have received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, don't delay in contacting a mesothelioma lawyer who can help you determine the best course of action in taking legal action against the company responsible for exposing you to asbestos. It's important to obtain legal advice quickly, however, as the statute of limitations in such cases is two or three years from the date of diagnosis.

Obtaining financial compensation helps to ensure your financial stability in what is sure to be a very distressing time. Compensation can pay for medical expenses, replace lost income, and provide recompense for emotional suffering. Just as important, the company responsible for exposing you to deadly asbestos is held accountable for their negligence.

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