Welding is a common industrial occupation in North Carolina and across the country. The hazards of working around extreme heat and light are obvious to anyone, but a recent jury verdict in a product liability case has revealed another hazard:…
You may have heard of asbestos in the late-night law ads played on cable television. But what is asbestos and why is it so dangerous? Many of the problems attributed to asbestos are due to products produced or handled years…
Most people in North Carolina and elsewhere assume that the United States has prohibited the use of asbestos because of the extreme health risks that are associated with its use. Surprisingly, no such ban has ever been enacted at the…
In our post two weeks ago, we noted that changes in the Toxic Substances Control Act may lead the United States Environmental Protection Agency to closely examine the importation of brake lining material because of their asbestos content. A recent…
Many North Carolinians are aware that asbestos can cause several diseases that afflict the lungs, but they are often unaware of the symptoms or effects of these diseases. We have written at length in other posts about pleural mesothelioma, an…
Over the last 50 years, one of the most frequent causes of asbestos-related illnesses in North Carolina and elsewhere wasbestos fibers in brake pads and other brake components. The problem was exacerbated by the need to replace brake pads on…
This blog has frequently written about the health hazard posed by asbestos in very old industrial buildings in North Carolina and surrounding states. Most often, the hazard has been revealed by the proposed renovation or demolition of an older facility.…
The law firm representing several asbestos litigation defendants has announced a settlement plan that will affect existing and future claims by persons who suffered various asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The plan involves product liability claims against…
An enforcement action by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) against US Steel Corporation has once again demonstrated that asbestos is still a major environmental health threat. Moreover, the outcome of the investigation shows that employers are…
Many men and women in North Carolina who served in the U. S. Navy, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine, or who helped to build the country’s warships, have been denied a comfortable retirement because they were exposed to large amounts…