Mih527 Environmental Health Slp 3

Asbestos is a universal name for those natural occurring minerals that have features such as flexibility, resistance to heat and strength. Additionally, asbestos is a fiber that is commonly used in building construction materials as a fire-retardant and insulation and can also be used to produce fabrics. Due to its heat resistant qualities and fiber strength, it is mostly used in manufactured goods like building materials such as floor tiles, paper products, heat resistant fabrics, coatings and packaging. When materials containing asbestos are damaged by any demolition activities or disturbed by repair, the minute fibers can usually become airborne and are when a person inhales these particles, they can cause major health problems. Craighead (2008) states that the greater the exposures to asbestos people are, there is a greater the risk of contracting a lethal asbestos related disease.

Most common sources of Asbestos exposure

Workplace exposure to workers who work in industries or mines that use or make products that contain asbestos or the ones living near industries such as :

* Construction industries

* Industries that manufacture asbestos

Furthermore, exposure to asbestos at the work place can lead to serious injuries like the risk of lung cancer, asthma, respiratory complications, mesothelioma and other health complications. Many employees who work in industries are usually subjected to very risky workplace exposure.

Workplace exposure laws

The state and federal governments have acknowledged the serious health risks that are posed by the exposure at the workplace by lethal asbestos fibers and they have established the necessary regulations and laws accordingly. For instance, the occupational and safety health administration (OSHA) is the federal agency that is responsible for enforcing workplace exposure laws that are aimed at protecting employees who work at industries. These laws stipulate the permitted exposure level at the workplace at one fiber of asbestos per cubic centimeter per every thirty minutes and 0.1 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter for an eight-hour work period. Additionally, exposure to asbestos at the work place require the employers to provide the workers with protective clothes and effective respiratory equipment, routine medical checks, adequate hygiene facilities to clean off any clinging asbestos fibers as well as training them to safely work with the asbestos (Hughes & Ferret, 2007).

Legal rights of employees working in asbestos-prone areas

A worker who has developed a serious illness or disease because of an exposure to asbestos has a legal right to pursue an asbestos lawsuit to seek reimbursement for any suffering or losses. Asbestos related diseases usually have a long latency period and may take