The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited Arizona school districts Apache Junction, St. John's, Florence, Vernon, McNary and Round Valley for asbestos products which contributed to a potentially harmful and toxic work environment for both teachers and students. After such a citation, all of the school districts have taken measures to bring their schools under compliance with existing asbestos management programs to minimize work injury.
Asbestos Could Cause Work Injuries
Asbestos used to be a popular component of building materials prior to the 70's and was included in nearly every wall and ceiling of structures built at the time. However, over time, we found out that asbestos could be extremely dangerous after inhaling it over an extended period of time. The following work injuries could result in asbestos exposure:
- blood in the lungs
- shortness of breath
- anemia
- blood clots that could lead to heart attack or stroke
- asbestosis, marked by scarring of the lungs
- lung cancer
- esophagial cancer
- mesothelioma cancer
- death
Prolonged exposure to asbestos can produce work injuries that are extremely severe, requiring extended medical care. For this reason, when asbestos is discovered in a work environment, employers take it seriously. Generally, employers take great pains to clean up the environment of all asbestos products in order to prevent work injuries that could lead to cancer and death.
If you have been exposed to asbestos at work and developed a work injury, you could be entitled to compensation for your work injury. You should alert your work to your injury as well as call a skilled work injury attorney. Don't go up against the workers' compensation insurance boards alone. Contact a skilled work injury attorney in order to get the compensation you need to repair your health.
