Utah
Asbestos does not occur naturally in Utah. While the state does have industries that have used products made from asbestos, Utah is considered to have a better asbestos safety record than many other states. They are not however, completely immune to asbestos contaminations and it is important to be aware of some possible exposure sites.
Asbestos Exposure in Utah
The main industry that has been found to be responsible for asbestos exposure in Utah is oil. Oil refineries have a wide variety products that were created using asbestos on site. These items include the gaskets used in the machinery, the clothing that workers wore every day and the insulation materials within the buildings.
Since asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, anytime a product that is created with asbestos cracks or breaks apart, these fibers can float into the air where they may be inhaled, or adhere to a surface. Fibers that became attached to the clothing and other personal items of employees could easily become detached later, and inhaled by people who might otherwise never have been exposed to this toxic substance.
Utah also had a large copper mines, power plants and chemical plants. All of these industries also had asbestos inside their facilities, leading to even more wide-spread exposure.
Removing Asbestos
The Environmental Network lists American Asbestos Abatement, Inc. as a professional contracting company that is certified to remove asbestos. If you have asbestos in the insulation in your home, or in any products at your office or building, contact a qualified company to remove and dispose of it properly.
Never try to remove asbestos yourself. Only someone who has been trained in the safe removal of this harmful material will understand how to do so in a way which will not endanger anyone.
Asbestos related deaths in Utah
Between the years 1979 and 1999, a major study was conducted to review the number of deaths caused by asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma (a form of lung cancer). The results of this study for Utah indicated 157 deaths over this twenty year time span, affirming that while fatalities have been minimal, exposures are very much in line with national averages when considering population densities.The counties that were shown to have the highest number of fatalities were Salt Lake County, Utah County and Weber County.
Asbestos lawsuits in Utah
While there are no current asbestos lawsuits awaiting trial, there have been many over the years. The large amount of mesothelioma cases in every state has prompted several law firms to specialize in these claims. If you have been exposed to asbestos, and have developed a disease because of this, contact a lawyer to discuss your case.
What to do if you have been exposed to asbestos
First off, seek medical treatment. You may wish to file a lawsuit if you have become sick following asbestos exposure. You will need to file before the statute of limitations runs out. In Utah, the statute of limitations for both negligence/personal injury and wrongful death is two years.
If you have been exposed to asbestos, you need the right information on what you should do. Contact us for a free information packet that explains the actions you need to take if you believe you were exposed.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
