Vital information for Vermont residents about asbestos mines, workplace exposure, and ways to get all of your medical bills covered

Some names in this article have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

At times, electricians spend entire days down in this three foot high, low-lit, filthy space. What he fails to mention in his video, however, is that any one of the many pipes that hang down fully exposed in this space may contain asbestos. Prior to the 1970s, asbestos was used heavily to insulate school walls and pipes.

Zee and his assistant crawl through a three foot high space underneath a school. There is no floor, only aged mud, rusted pipes, and two industrial lights. It is not clear whether he works for United Electrical Works in Burlington, Vermont, or whether he is affiliated with a different union outside of the state. Regardless, he films a video as he speaks about the daily life of an electrician (YouTube).

“It’s powdery,” says Jim, a plumber from South Dakota. “I had the chance to see it once…It looks like white powder.” Jim describes his experience finding pipes wrapped with asbestos, and how easily the substance can come loose. Inhaling just one pinch of that white powder can cause the excoriatingly painful and fatal disease mesothelioma, as well as other sicknesses.

Zee need only to bump into an asbestos covered pipe slightly and the dust could flake off into the air around his nose or mouth.

Fortunately, Zee knows now about the dangers of asbestos, but in 1965, while someone such as yourself was crawling through one of these spaces watching out for loose wires and rats, you were never told that asbestos was something you should protect yourself against. The contractors never said anything about asbestos being bad for you. Now, while you should be enjoying a good retirement, you are searching the internet for treatment or legal options for your disease.

Asbestos companies had always known that asbestos made people sick, and that is why so many people are pursuing legal action against them. With the help of our law firm, you could receive financial compensation that can take care of all your medical expenses, and make sure you and your family are provided with long-lasting monetary stability.

Contact Weitz & Luxenberg today for more information, and read on to find out more about asbestos in the state of Vermont.

The asbestos mines of Vermont

The New England Asbestos Mining and Milling Company began mining he very first asbestos mine in 1899. One mine was located on Belvidere Mountain, and others were in towns of Eden and Lowell. All mines were eventually shut down in 1993. By then, the world knew that asbestos was highly toxic, but the companies in charge of mining the asbestos had known since they started (UVM.edu).

By the late 1970s the mines produced over 30,000 tons of asbestos (UVM.edu). Asbestos is especially dangerous when disturbed. It is the tiny fibers that when breathed in or ingested cause damage. Asbestos miners are at especially high risks of developing diseases such as mesothelioma cancer (ATSDR).

Nowadays, people are still figuring out how to contain the noxious dust. Hannah McHardy from Sterling College in Vermont is one of many looking to make the area safe.

“I explored how the 30 million tons of asbestos tailings could be cleaned up. A professor and I have been researching native fungal species that break down the asbestos. Our hope is to render it nontoxic.” (CommonVoice)

Many different occupations are at risk of asbestos exposure

Auto mechanics
Painters
Boiler makers
Plumbers
Bricklayers
Building inspectors
Carpenters
Demolition workers
Drywallers
Veterans
Electricians
Floor covering workers
Furnace workers

Are just some of the occupations that the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) lists as high risk asbestos exposure jobs. Fortunately, much of Vermont’s economy relies on agriculture (NetState), which is a relatively low-risk industry for asbestos – although, heavy machinery such as tractors may have contained asbestos prior to the 1970s.

The Vermont Cancer Center

“I cannot think of [a disease more painful than mesothelioma]”

Dr. Daniel DuPont, a pulmonary specialist at several hospitals in the Philadelphia area.

Mesothelioma is a horrific disease with a short life expectancy period. If diagnosed with this disease or any of the other cancers asbestos is known to cause, seek out centers of excellence in the field of cancer treatment. The Vermont Cancer Center is an exceptional instate center for cancer treatment.

The address and contact information is:

University of Vermont College of Medicine

The Courtyard at Given

4th Floor North

89 Beaumont Avenue

Burlington, VT 05405

Phone: 802.656.4414

How to get compensated and bring those responsible to justice

You have the ability to receive financial compensation and hold the negligent companies responsible for your illness at the same time – Weitz & Luxenberg can help. Asbestos corporations had prior knowledge that asbestos was killing people, and they chose to keep that information a secret in order to maintain high profits (EWG). Weitz & Luxenberg believes that this is an outrageous offense to you, the state of Vermont, and the whole country.

Fight back by pursuing legal action against these companies. Through legal action you could receive compensation that can cover all costs of your treatment, travel expenses (should you decide to pursue treatment out of state), and make sure you and your family have the financial support you need.

Contact our firm by filling out the form on this page. We work on contingency so you pay nothing until a successful verdict or settlement is reached in your favor.

Sources

UVM.edu: http://www.uvm.edu/~envprog/formslinks/Vermont%20Mining/Asbestos.html

CommonVoice: http://voice.sterlingcollege.edu/post/977610257/
the-inactive-asbestos-mine-on-belvidere-mountain

ATSDR: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/risk2.html

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9doE-8ko3QQ&NR=1

NetState: http://www.netstate.com/economy/vt_economy.htm

The Vermont Cancer Center: http://www.vermontcancer.org/

EWG: http://www.ewg.org/sites/asbestos/facts/fact3.php