Asbestos is a natural mineral that is a mixture of construction materials. This natural fiber is widely used in construction products because of its high strength and insulation capacity. Asbestos materials in some countries are widely found, ranging from corrugated cement roofs, cement pipes, ceiling tile insulation, and others. If the asbestos fibers are not disturbed, then there is no health risk. But the forces of nature can cause significant damage to a building and if the asbestos material contained in a product is disturbed, then the material becomes dangerous. Asbestos particles can be released into the air due to strong impact and can be easily inhaled and cause health problems, like mesothelioma cancer. You may call a mesothelioma lawyers firm if you suffer from this condition due to someone else’s negligence.
Although it is heat and fire-resistant, asbestos can be exposed during a fire. Smoke and ashes from fires may be contaminated with asbestos fibers. Strong wind pressure and water current might bring various small objects. While water retains asbestos fibers, after drying, the remnants of debris can become contaminated with asbestos. Earthquakes and hurricanes can disrupt asbestos by damaging buildings. Tornados in particular can carry asbestos fibers over long distances, scattering them as they travel.
During post-disaster clean-up operations, there is a risk of releasing large amounts of asbestos fibers, especially if heavy equipment such as excavators is used to destroy damaged structures and load the debris into vehicles.
Know Where the Asbestos is before a Disaster Happens
We never know when disaster strikes, but preparation can help keep our families safe. Every family should have an emergency plan, evacuation route, and emergency supplies. To protect our families from asbestos, it is important to know its location and how likely it is to cause contamination problems.
If we have identified asbestos in our environment, then provide a barrier in the right way so that it is not at risk, so that it can help if the house is damaged, and reduce the risk to our family or others. Building materials such as aged asbestos may be safe under normal circumstances; however, these materials can be damaged during a disaster, increasing the risk of hazardous exposure. This exposure might also cause people to suffer from mesothelioma cancer. If this happened to you in your workplace, we recommend you hire the lawyers for mesothelioma.
Beware of Asbestos Exposure in Disaster Locations
Existing and damaged asbestos products during disasters pose a major health threat. In various places, asbestos has been banned, and they have strict procedures involving specialists with specialized safety equipment and controlled disposal sites. In developing countries, which still legalize the use of asbestos, the cleaning process due to disasters is mostly carried out by the affected communities.
Communities and participating volunteers are at risk of cleaning up due to lack of awareness, limited time, absence of specialists, equipment, and facilities. Identification of asbestos and the application of appropriate handling procedures is not possible in some countries. Adequate disposal facilities are often not available in poor and remote regions.
Transitional settlement and reconstruction specialists in the field will be faced with or deal with asbestos in natural disaster locations. They too may have to work with teams of unskilled workers who have little or no awareness of the risks associated with working with faulty asbestos products.
