ASBESTOS TILE REMOVAL

The health dangers associated with asbestos tile removal prompted Congress and the EPA to act in 1986

September 24, 2010 – Asbestos tile removal is an occupation long known to cause work-site asbestos exposure, disease and early death among professional floor and ceiling asbestos tile setters.

Asbestos is so toxic, it kills 90,000 people worldwide every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Besides tile setters, there are many other asbestos-intensive jobs in this country that contribute to approximately 3,000 cases of fatal mesothelioma being diagnosed in the United States every year.

Asbestos floor tile contains up to 30 percent asbestos, so when old tiles are ripped up and new ones are cut and glued in, the chance of asbestos fibers being released into the air is great.

But the most dangerous work phase for any professional installer of asbestos floor and ceiling tile is the end-of-the-day cleanup session. The daily routine of sweeping up asbestos dust and debris from broken or trimmed-to-fit tile is known to cause job-related asbestos exposure and fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Congress recognizes asbestos dangers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees enforcement of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Congress passed the act in 1986 to protect workers in all trades from occupational asbestos exposure.

According to the EPA, asbestos tile removal is often not the best course of action for reducing concerns about asbestos exposure. Often, it is best to leave the floor tile in place, and build over it, because ripping it up can release toxic fibers into the air and create dangerous health hazards that can lead to exposure and disease.

When considering asbestos tile removal of any kind, the EPA advises hiring a qualified asbestos abatement contractor to inspect the building prior to any renovation or demolition work. In some cases, asbestos tile may not have to be removed if it is in good condition. It is usually preferable to build over it, rather than rip it up. Tile adhesives also contained asbestos, and can be dangerous to work with if the old material is dry and brittle.

Workers are still vulnerable to asbestos disease

Before AHERA rules were enacted in 1986, linoleum and floor tile installers were uninformed of the serious health threat they faced at work – often going about their business without health warnings from their contractors who hired them or the vinyl asbestos tile manufacturers who produced the products.

Though government regulations today require floor tile installers to use respirators, respirators were rarely used before the 1980s. And these cases are only now being diagnosed in retired workers due to the long latency period associated with asbestos-related diseases.

Legal options for asbestos tile workers

Asbestos tile workers diagnosed with an occupational illness may be eligible for huge financial awards under the law.

Weitz & Luxenberg is a national legal force in the asbestos litigation field and long recognized for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements for asbestos tile workers injured by occupational asbestos diseases.

For a free legal consultation, please use the form on this page to provide some details about your situation and a representative from our firm will be in touch shortly.