Asbestos In Your Area

Asbestos in the State of Rhode Island

Asbestos Exposure in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, but it still has big asbestos problems. Asbestos is a natural substance, but causes a number of health problems like mesothelioma and asbestos. In addition to an asbestos mine located in the northern part of the state, Rhode Island, like all other states in the United States, has a number of structures built using materials containing asbestos. If you've dealt with medical problems due to asbestos exposure in Rhode Island, talk to a lawyer about your case today.

At-Risk Occupations and Locations in Rhode Island

During the industrial revolution, Rhode Island was highly involved with the manufacturing of textiles. Although textiles contained asbestos in some cases, Rhode Island's textiles plants were mostly asbestos-free. Therefore, most of Rhode Island's manufacturing plant workers escaped the health problems caused by asbestos that others in the Northeastern United States experienced.

However, Rhode Island is home to a number of power plants. Although this state is small, it house power production companies in all areas of the state. Often asbestos was used in power plants, putting Rhode Island employees at risk in this capacity. Asbestos was used as insulation for larger machines that operate at very high temperatures. While this decreased the risk of fire, as the machines experienced wear and tear, asbestos was released into the air, which it could be breathed in by employees.

Being a coastal state, asbestos also enter Rhode Island in the naval and cargo shipping industries. Asbestos was commonly used in these industries for shipbuilding because of its high-resistant qualities. In addition, asbestos is lightweight, flexible, durable, and strong, making it a perfect, cost-effective building material for ships. Working in a port in Rhode Island put people at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases.

Ports and power plants are the only dangerous locations in this state, however. Asbestos exposure in Rhode Island isn't limited to employment. Because asbestos was a cheap building material, it was also used in products such as insulation, drywall, tiling, roofing, and so forth in residential building projects. Many older homes built prior to 1980 contain asbestos, and while there is no immediate danger in many cases, as the house deteriorates over time, asbestos could be re-released into the air. Unfortunately, in addition to residential houses, commercial office buildings, churches, schools, and all other kinds of structures in Rhode Island are also affected by the use of asbestos in building materials.

Asbestos-related Deaths in Rhode Island

At first glance, Rhode Island's statistics regarding asbestos-related deaths seems insignificant. Fourteen people died from mesothelioma in 1999, and the state ranks just 39th in the entire country for mesothelioma cases. That's not so bad, right?

Don't forget, however, that Rhode Island is a very small state, with a low population. Rhode Island ranks fourth overall in the county, with 17.74 mesothelioma deaths per million. Even worse, there are also many cases of asbestosis diagnosed in Rhode Island every day.

Legal Resources for Rhode Island Residents

Although Rhode Island has a low number of mesothelioma cases (in part due to the state's lower number in population), this state has been key in asbestos legislation and in legal cases brought before the court. These cases have been both employer-related and residential building-related. For example, in Fleet National Bank, Trustee vs. 175 Post Road, LLC, two parties argued about the disclosure of asbestos in the sale of real estate. Another important case in this state occurred in 2001. In Edward and Barbara Perusse vs. AC and S, Inc., the Perusses brought a personal injury case up against a major corporation.

Rhode Island has a statute of limitations law that says that personal injury and wrongful death cases must be filed with the court within three years of discovery. That means you have three years in which to talk to a lawyer in order to have your case tried.

Today, the Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Asbestos Control regulate when and how asbestos can be used. All corporations using this substance, even in very small quantities, must abide by these laws. These include the requirement that employers must attend asbestos certification and licensure training courses, provide specific details as to the procedures for handling asbestos, submit detailed outlines of who asbestos will be used safely.

To learn more about Rhode Island asbestos laws, you can also check out the Rhode Island Asbestos Act. This law regulates all use of asbestos in the workplace and in public places. Some of the regulations set forth by this act include safe posting and labeling, sale of asbestos and products containing asbestos, and required health department inspections.

If you've worked or lived in a dangerous environment due to exposure to asbestos, it is important that you talk to a lawyer right away. Rhode Island has had its share of asbestos-related problems, and by talking to an attorney, you can ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

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