These are just some of the local companies that have used asbestos and exposed workers. It’s not all in the distant past. In 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel $170,000 for exposing workers to asbestos that year. Workers filed a complaint, which led to the identification of ten related violations.
Also at risk are people who live or work in older buildings. Many public and government buildings in the city are old enough to still contain asbestos materials. If those materials, such as insulation, become damaged or wear down over time, they can cause exposure.
A recent lawsuit against the Pittsburgh School District highlights the risks, even decades later, of asbestos in old city buildings. A teacher who worked at South High School in the 1950s developed mesothelioma later in life and then passed away.
Her family began a lawsuit against the district and other defendants. The school district tried to get out of the lawsuit, but a judge ruled against it. The judge stated that employers have a duty to provide a reasonably safe work environment.
Who Is at Risk for Mesothelioma in Pittsburgh?
With so many industrial workers in and around the city over the years and decades, thousands of people are at risk. If you worked in a factory or manufacturing plant, a steel mill, a power plant or refinery, on construction sites, or in older buildings, you could be at risk for asbestos-related illnesses.
Pittsburgh also has a lot of older homes. While most exposure occurs on the job, these old houses often contain asbestos. If you find decaying asbestos materials or renovate without checking for asbestos in an older home, you could be at risk.
How Do I Hire and Work With a Pittsburgh Mesothelioma Attorney?
Look for a firm or a lawyer licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and focused on asbestos and mesothelioma cases. A mesothelioma lawsuit is too important and specialized to trust to a lawyer with another area of practice. Only someone who spends most or all of their time with mesothelioma clients can provide expert advice and guidance.
Get a free initial consultation so you can ask lawyers important questions before hiring someone to help you or your family. They should be able to show you evidence of past wins for similar clients, years of experience working on asbestos cases, and resources and time to devote to your case.
Dave Halpern is an experienced Pittsburgh mesothelioma lawyer with over 30 years of experience helping people like you. Use our contact form to get in touch and set up a free consultation if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and gotten sick.
Sources
- http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/pa/
- https://www.stargazette.com/story/money/2014/10/08/corning-watch-corning-news/16906753/
- https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2002/02/11/daily40.html
- https://www.wtae.com/article/us-steel-fined-170-000-after-investigation-finds-workers-exposed-to-asbestos/7481474
- https://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/01/school_district_cant_escape_la.html
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