Mesothelioma Expected To Rise Greatly

With today’s time and age, everything is faster. Technology, manufacturing, and even expectations have become faster, and more diligent than ever. However, something that is increasing a rapidly dangerous rate is case that involves asbestos, which leads to mesothelioma.

Asbestos, once used for many products that we use on a daily basis, such as housing materials, has recently been banned and refused by many. The substance has been known to cause the deadly disease mesothelioma, which affects the pleural lining and cavity within an individual, to occur. This disease can easily lead to the severe illness, and eventual death of the victim. However, the diagnoses of such as disease can only actual are available up to forty years after the person has actually been exposed to the substance. This is due to the disease lying dormant within a person.

In Oak Ridge, Tennessee, recently, a postal service building was reported to have the substance asbestos within floor tiles, as well as particles within the air. The federal reports state that everyday over forty employees pass through the building picking up their mail loads, as well as individuals that are not even associated with the post office, coming to simply drop off a package and mail something. Also, the particular postal office is where all of the Oak Ridge mail comes from, which means that if even a tiny bit of airborne substances occurring from the asbestos could easily get onto the envelopes of citizens.

In May 2011, a public citation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was issued. It stated that the postal service employees of the Oak Ridge location as well as some citizens could be exposed to the asbestos, which inevitably could be the later cause of severe illness, or death. The claim that the post office had no knowledge of such occurrences taking place has been supported by the OSHA, and their penalty was reduced from $1,500 to $750.

Although the post office had no knowledge of the instance-taking place, shouldn’t they know? It is their right to, as a public entity, be a place of a safe manner that people can rely on to do their daily tasks without risking their health, well-being, and future lives in any way, shape, or form. Hopefully with this instance occurring, many more government run programs will be inspected properly to insure safety to all.