Attorney Joseph Belluck says greater awareness of ongoing asbestos hazard is needed.
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 7, 2009 -- Asbestos was widely used in building materials in the United States during much of the 20th century, but the risk of asbestos remains very much a 21st century problem, New York attorney Joseph Belluck said.
Belluck, an attorney who focuses his practice on helping victims of asbestos-related diseases, says a public awareness campaign in the U.S. to educate workers about the ongoing risk of asbestos exposure -- similar to a plan used in other countries -- could help save lives.
“This isn’t just your father’s disease,” Belluck said. “Asbestos exposure and related diseases remain a serious problem today in the U.S, as well as in other countries.”
About 2,000 to 3,000 people die each year in the U.S. of mesothelioma, a cancer associated with the asbestos exposure, and the numbers have been trending upward. Employees in certain occupations such as construction workers, sheet metal workers, plumbers, shipyard workers and miners have a higher incidence of mesothelioma than the overall population, studies show.
During November, Britain’s agency that regulates workplace health and safety, the Health and Safety Executive, is promoting an information campaign entitled “Asbestos: The Hidden Killer.” The British campaign highlights the risk of asbestos to the nation’s 1.8 million trades and maintenance workers, noting it’s the greatest cause of work-related deaths in the United Kingdom. The agency said that tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians and insulation installers often mistakenly think that asbestos is a historical problem and that they are no longer at risk.
About 20 tradesmen die each week in Britain of asbestos-related diseases, and they account for about one-fourth of the 4,000 people who die each year in Britain from asbestos-related diseases.
In the United States, a recent report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said that an estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers face significant exposure to asbestos on the job. With tighter regulations on airborne asbestos in manufacturing, the exposure typically occurs during maintenance activities that stir up dust and during removal of insulated duct work and asbestos from buildings, if not handled properly.
“Tens of thousands of houses, schools and commercial buildings still contain asbestos materials,” Belluck said. “Eventually that asbestos will be disturbed during remodeling or removal. We could use a well-focused campaign in U.S. underscoring the hazard. The health risk can’t be emphasized enough.”
About Belluck & Fox, LLP
Belluck & Fox LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm has won more than $200 million in compensation for its clients and their families.
Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s Largest Verdict of the Year.
Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $12 million.
For more information, contact the firm at 877-695-2909 or through the online contact form.
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