There are many types of injuries that can happen in the workplace. For workers who are at a construction site, there is the danger of being struck by falling debris. For those who work in a chemical plant, there is a risk of the hazardous materials catching on fire and exploding.
Workers can also suffer from injuries that result from dangerous toxins in the air, such as asbestos. In certain cases, asbestos exposure can also lead to more permanent injuries to the lungs and even cause lung cancer. Workers who have suffered these types of work injuries may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that can help a worker financially.
If a worker is inhaling asbestos on a daily basis, it can be deadly. In some situations, a worker may not even be aware that he or she is at risk of developing a lung injury.
A Colorado man was recently sentenced after being convicted of violating the Clean Air Act. The man is the owner of a company that handles asbestos and removes it from properties.
The Clean Air Act requires that asbestos must be disposed of properly; there are designated disposal sites. Instead, the man’s employees had been storing asbestos at a public storage facility at his direction. There is no indication as to the length of time that the asbestos was being stored at the facility.
There are a number of individuals involved who could have been seriously injured because of the improper storage. The man’s own employees may have been at risk to develop certain lung problems. In addition, employees at the public storage site may also have been exposed to the harmful particles.
Though no reports of any injuries have been reported at this point, if one of the man’s employees had suffered an injury because of the man’s actions, that employee can make a claim for workers’ compensation.
Source: Denver Post online, “Denver man sentenced for asbestos violations,” 09 February 2011
