The Risk of Asbestos Exposure at Work in New Jersey

This is an advertisement for electrical wiring insulation from the ‘40s. Asbestos was used in insulation to help protect wires from heat, fumes, oil, grease, and flames. Sounds great, right? Wrong.

What people didn’t know then is that asbestos exposure can actually lead to a cancer called mesothelioma.

Between 1940 and 1979, about 230,000 people died from mesothelioma. This number is so large because asbestos insulation was found in nearly every home, office building, and warehouse.

Although asbestos isn’t used in today’s electrical wiring insulation, it is still out there. Nearly 10,000 people die each year from asbestos exposure – many of them workers. You are particularly at risk if you work in older buildings or at construction sites.

After being exposed to asbestos at work, it may take 20 to 50 years before you start noticing the symptoms of mesothelioma. Some common symptoms include fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pains.

If a lot of time has passed since the asbestos exposure, you may think that you are unable to apply for New Jersey Workers’ Compensation benefits. However, New Jersey Workers’ Compensation claims aren’t just for sudden, on-the-job injuries. Your job may cause you to develop a disease or health condition over time. In New Jersey, you can file an Occupational Disease Claim within two years from the date you realized the condition was work-related. You may be entitled to compensation that covers your medical bills, pays for lost wages, or monetarily compensates you for your injuries.

Free Consultation With a Qualified New Jersey Workers Compensation Attorney

If you or someone you love has developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at work, don’t hesitate to call an experienced Morristown workers’ comp lawyer at Manfred F. Ricciardelli, Jr., LLC. You need someone on your side to give you legal advice and help you make the right decisions. Manfred Ricciardelli has been through this before; he will protect your rights as an injured worker and fight for the benefits you and your family need. Set up a free consultation today – just call 973-285-1100 or fill out our online contact form.