ASBESTOS ROOF REMOVAL

Information on pre-demolition asbestos roof removal procedures and the law

Despite its convenient building construction properties, asbestos kills. Nearly 10,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases in this country, and 90,000 die worldwide, every year. By law, asbestos roof removal projects should be supervised by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

ASBESTOS ROOF REMOVAL

June 30, 2010 – If roofing materials contain asbestos, licensed abatement contractors may be required to do the removal, under state and federal guidelines. It is a job to be performed professionally, and not by the homeowner alone.

Asbestos roofing shingles were widely used in residential and commercial building construction up to the mid-1970s, when laws were enacted to regulate the use of asbestos, recognized today as a carcinogenic material to be avoided. Asbestos roofing shingles contained up to 30 percent toxic asbestos fibers.

Transite asbestos tile is the most common type of asbestos roofing shingle. It was made with Portland cement and asbestos. The asbestos helped make the shingles fireproof and resistant to outdoor corrosion and rot. Roofs covered with asbestos (or transite) shingles, if maintained properly, will last up to 100 years – and are best left alone if they are not degrading.

Workers who regularly conduct asbestos roof removal projects risk developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.

U.S. courts recognize liability of product manufacturers

Before regulations governing the professional removal of asbestos materials were enacted 30 years ago, asbestos roof removal contractors were, for the most part, unaware of the health threat posed by asbestos because roof product manufacturers did not issue consumer warnings and employers rarely provided protective gear.

U.S. courts recognize this neglect and frequently assign liability to these parties in support of the thousands of asbestos claims filed by dying roofing contractors and the families they leave behind.

Today, the removal of asbestos-based roofing material must be conducted in accordance with strict federal and state government regulations.

Law firm champion to the American worker

The New York law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg specializes in asbestos-injury litigation and is known in the legal community for obtaining record-setting compensations for roof repair workers who have fallen ill from on-the-job asbestos exposure.

If you were involved in asbestos roof removal in the past, and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for financial restitution.

Protect your family’s financial future today. Use the communication form here to contact an asbestos cancer attorney at Weitz & Luxenberg for a free appraisal of your asbestos claim and to determine your eligibility to receive compensation.