| Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that was used quite extensively in the insulation of buildings and for fireproofing. Asbestosis is a form of lung disease that results in scarring of the lung tissue by the inhalation of asbestos, which is made up of microscopic glass-like particles. Those individuals suffering from the disease are at an increased risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestosis usually takes at least ten years, and up to thirty years, to manifest. Symptoms of the illness include loss of appetite, shortness of breath, chronic coughing (oftentimes with spasms), and chest pain. Asbestosis has no cure. Even if the individual is no longer exposed to the asbestos, the disease will still advance. Continued exposure will increase the rate of advancement.
Asbestosis is most prominent among people who work directly with asbestos products in their employment. Construction workers rank among the highest for exposure. Other occupations that are at great risk include shipyard workers, automotive mechanics, and miners. Asbestos can be encountered in the repair, refurbishment, and demolition of older buildings including homes, factories, schools, restaurants, and hotels. Therefore, even though the use of asbestos has been significantly limited, past use of the material still presents a substantial risk to construction workers.
Workers' compensation is provided to employees whose illness results from their employment. The worker must prove the causal connection between the illness and his employment. In the case of asbestosis, medical tests and a detailed historical account of the asbestos exposure throughout the years are key. Given the nature of asbestosis as a progressive disease, the level of impairment will increase over time thus affecting the amount of benefits received. Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |