Manufacturing is a critical component of Georgia’s economy. The state is home to numerous industrial facilities operated by large, successful companies that employ thousands of blue-collar workers.
Most of these organizations are fastidious in their adherence to environmental protection and worker safety regulations. Unfortunately, some of them, including companies that may no longer have current operations within the state, may have violated safety standards in a manner that unnecessarily endangered their workers.
Professionals working at companies that make vehicle components, chemicals and home-building materials are among those who may theoretically be at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos use was once widespread
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen with connections to mesothelioma, lung cancer and reproductive cancers. The carcinogenic properties of asbestos are so strong that many successful industries have now phased out reliance on asbestos to ensure compliance with increasingly strict regulations.
However, decades ago, safety standards were not as strict. Workers may have handled asbestos or asbestos-containing materials without respirators and other safety equipment. They may not have had access to on-site sanitation facilities to ensure they did not carry asbestos home with them.
Decades later, those professionals and their family members could face mesothelioma and its devastating medical consequences. Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, but once it does, it can become a catastrophic medical issue within a few years.
Blue-collar employees across Georgia may be able to file lawsuits or claims for compensation against asbestos trusts created by dissolved or bankrupt employers to cover their expenses. Reviewing a diagnosis and work history with a mesothelioma attorney can help workers understand their options.