A Brooklyn medical center has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for exposing workers to asbestos. According to a July 3, 2011 OSHA report, Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn has been slapped with 14 violations related to workplace health and safety standards. The violations include a failure to provide adequate asbestos training to employees.
All companies whose workers are exposed to asbestos or asbestos-containing material must provide information and training regarding the dangers of asbestos. According to the report, the engineering department, which performs demolition and renovation, was not informed about the presence of asbestos in the building or the dangers of asbestos exposure. The hospital faces up to $48,000 in government fines.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is used as a fire-retardant and as insulation for building materials. Asbestos can be found in many different manufactured goods such as roofing shingles, ceiling tiles and asbestos cement products. When these products are damaged or disturbed, the microscopic fibers may become airborne and inhaled. Individuals in New York who are at risk for asbestos inhalation typically include workers in older buildings and construction workers hired to repair or demolish buildings that contain asbestos.
Health issues related to asbestos exposure include asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is a long-term non-cancerous disease that affects the lungs. Lung cancer is the number one cause of death related to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can result from asbestos exposure years after the exposure has occurred.
New York workers who are around asbestos and New York construction workers who have to remove asbestos from buildings are at a greater risk of serious injuries and illnesses. New Yorkers injured by asbestos exposure may be able to seek workers compensation benefits for damages that include, but are not limited to past and future pain and suffering, lost wages and benefits, and medical expenses incurred.
The reputable construction accident attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm have years of experience handling asbestos-related injury cases. If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing health problems, please do not hesitate to call our offices at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) for a free and comprehensive consultation. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.work4youlaw.com
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration