Workers' Compensation: Linda Reinstein

Showing posts with label Linda Reinstein. Show all posts

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Senate Briefing “Asbestos: The Impact on Public Health and the Environment” a Huge Success!!

Today's post is shared from adao.us.

On July 17, we were proud to continue the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization‘s efforts to protect asbestos victims’ civil rights and public health by hosting our sixth Congressional Staff Briefing this time on “Asbestos: The Impact on Public Health and the Environment.” This Senate briefing was a huge success with over 60 people attending and 28 states represented.

ADAO would like to extend a big thank you to all the senators who sent staffers.

1. Alabama – Session
2. Arkansas – Pryor
3. California – Feinstein
4. California –Boxer
5. Colorado – Bennet
6. Connecticut – Blumenthal
7. Florida – Nelson
8. Georgia – Isakson
9. Idaho – Crapo
10.Illinois – Durbin
11.Indiana – Coats
12.Indiana – Donnelly
13.Iowa – Harkin
14.Kansas – Roberts
15.Kentucky – Paul
16.Louisiana – Vitter
17.Maine – King
18.Massachusetts – Markey
19.Montana – Tester
20.New Jersey – Booker
21.New Mexico – Udall
22.Ohio – Portman
23.Oklahoma – Inhofe
24.Oregon – Merkley
25.Oregon – Wyden
26.Pennsylvania – Casey
27.Rhode Island – Reed
28.South Dakota – Johnson
29.Utah – Hatch
30.Vermont – Sanders
31.Washington – Murray
The major...
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Friday, January 3, 2014

Justice for asbestos victims

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from you.38degrees.org.uk

Dear Lord Freud The 2013 Mesothelioma Bill in its current form is unfair and punitive. It imposes arbitrary deadlines on already-vulnerable people, depriving them of vital compensation.We call on you to amend the bill to ensure that everyone who is affected by asbestos exposure get 100% of the compensation owed to them.
Anyone who is exposed to asbestos at work, and subsequently develops mesothelioma cancer, is entitled to compensation from their employer. However, many people can’t be paid compensation because they can’t track down the company who insured their employer at the time of exposure, which could have been many decades ago.The government is currently legislating to set up a scheme where they will compensate those affected if they can’t find the relevant insurer. However, they’ve imposed a cut-off date of 25th July 2012 so anyone diagnosed before that date can’t claim from the new scheme. This arbitrarily punishes people struggling with life-threatening illnesses.And they’ve capped the compensation someone can claim to 70% of the average compensation paid through the civil court system. This robs people of vital funds they need at a difficult time of their lives. This government is crippling individuals, to save themselves pennies.Sign this petition and demand fair, compassionate treatment for all asbestos-affected people.

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Monday, December 30, 2013

2014 Asbestos Awareness Conference Honorees

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org

2014 ADAO Asbestos Awareness Conference Keynote Speakers

Saturday: TBA
Sunday: Susan Vento, Widow of the late Congressman Bruce Vento
Heather Von St. James, Mesothelioma Patient

2014 ADAO Asbestos Awareness Conference Honorees
Congressman Henry Waxman will be presented with the Tribute of Hope Award for his steadfast commitment to public health and safety.
Dr. Ken Takahashi will be recognized with the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his tireless dedication to increasing awareness about asbestos to eliminate diseases and his unending support of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.
Dr. David Egilman will be recognized with the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his tireless dedication to increasing awareness about asbestos to eliminate diseases and his unending support of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.
Congressman Bruce Vento will be honored posthumously with the Warren Zevon “Keep me in Your Heart” Memorial Tribute for his countless years of public service as a legislator and public servant.
Bill Ravanesi will be presented with the Tribute of Inspiration Award for...

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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

High Court in Japan Holds Government Negligent for Asbestos

For the first time ever, a Court has held a government liable for the negligent use of asbestos. Today's post is shared from Koyoto News kyodonews.jp and from Laurie Kazan-Allen #Ibasecretariat

The Osaka High Court on Wednesday became Japan's first high court to hold the government responsible for failing to prevent workers from being exposed to harmful asbestos.
In a suit seeking 700 million yen in damages filed by 58 plaintiffs including former asbestos spinning mill workers in southern Osaka Prefecture, the court also awarded more in damages than the Osaka District Court had in an earlier ruling.
The Osaka High Court ordered the government to pay 340 million yen in damages, nearly twice the 180 million yen awarded by the district court in March 2012.
Read the complete article at http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/12/263418.html

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Friday, December 13, 2013

International Conference on Monitoring and Surveillance of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.ttl.fi

We are pleased to invite you to the International Helsinki Asbestos 2014 Conference held 11–13 February 2014, at Hanasaari Cultural Center in Finland. The goal of this Conference is to highlight problem areas in the management of surveillance of asbestos-exposed individuals, as well as to discuss sources of new exposures to asbestos.
The Twitter hashtag for the event is #asbestos2014 (for latest tweets related to the event scroll to the bottom of this page)

The asbestos epidemic is far from over. Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) are still globally among the most serious and widespread occupational health hazards. The number of annual deaths due to past asbestos exposure exceeds 100 000. Although the use of asbestos has been banned in several countries, some workers continue to be exposed in asbestos removal work. Even more importantly, asbestos is still widely used in many countries around the world. The European Parliament, UN-organizations such as WHO, and many professional non-governmental organizations have emphasized the importance of elimination of asbestos exposure and related hazards.
The Conference will deal with the most recent research results and the current views of leading experts on asbestos exposure monitoring, diagnostics and early detection of ARDs. It will provide an excellent opportunity to obtain an overview of the current state of this major occupational health hazard.
We would like to invite all occupational health and safety experts and...

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Petition Aims to Build First Federally Funded Mesothelioma Program

Helping asbestos victims may become a Federal effort. Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.asbestos.com

As the youngest person to become chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt played a major role in U.S. military history -- a war hero whose service spanned World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
It's only appropriate that the Mesothelioma Center for Excellence at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center is adopting his name.
Zumwalt died from pleural mesothelioma cancer almost 14 years ago, an ending that far too many veterans have suffered, stemming from the once-extensive use of asbestos in the armed forces.
His life was dedicated to those who bravely served their country. Now his memory will be, too.
If the efforts to become the first federally funded mesothelioma program are successful, the Elmo Zumwalt Treatment & Research Center in Los Angeles is expected to blossom and become a premier destination for veterans battling this disease.
"These (veterans) are our heroes. They've given so much of themselves. They deserve the best care we can give them, particularly with this disease," said Clare Cameron, executive director of the nearby Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. "I think it is so important to take care of them now. They have earned that right."

Help With Petition Signatures

Cameron has been gathering petition signatures supporting efforts by the West Los Angeles VA and the Zumwalt family. She will present the petition early in 2014 to Robert Petzel, M.D., Under Secretary for Health for the U.S....

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A Twist of Fate: Italian Asbestos Victims’ Investigator Finds Evidence Stephan Schmidheiny’s Avina Foundation Donated to Yale University by Linda Reinstein

Today's post was shared by Ban Asbestos Network and comes from www.gban.net

Revoke Convicted Asbestos Criminal Stephan Schmidheiny honorary Yale doctorate_edited-2

Posted on December 9, 2013
Corporate Crime Reporter: Italian Asbestos Victims Call on Yale To Revoke Honorary Degree to Schmidheiny @CorpCrimeReport
The Courant: Asbestos Victims Ask Yale To Revoke Honorary Degree Of Former Factory Owner @hartfordcourant
Yale Daily News: A Toxic Legacy @yaledailynews
ADAO BLOG: ADAO Supports AFEVA’s Plea to Yale University to Revoke Schmidheiny’s Honorary Doctorate
On October 30, 2013, an Italian asbestos victims’ group, Associazione Famigliari Vittime Amianto (AFeVA) has sent a letter and petition to Dr. Salovery asking Yale to revoke asbestos criminal, Stephan Schmidheiny’s, honorary doctorate.
Yale University awarded billionaire Schmidheiny an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 1996, ten years after the Eternit plant in Casale was closed, leaving behind an environment disaster. The Italian court noted that Schmidheiny’s actual knowledge of the deadly hazards of asbestos dated back at least as far as 1976 when he attended an Eternit managers conference and was involved in key decision-making about the company’s asbestos business.
Yale University asserted in the October 30^,2013 letter that neither Schmidheiny, Eternit nor Schmidheiny’s Avina Foundation ever contributed gifts or grants to Yale. Wrong! In an interesting twist, however,...

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

ADAO Resource: How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility Specializing in Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Diseases

Seeking information about medical treatment concerning mesothelioma? The information made available by the ADAO makes the process less difficult, Especially during challenging moments.Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org

Posted on December 4, 2013*Note: From the very founding of our organization, ADAO has abstained from providing any medical or legal referrals. ADAO remains an independent organization that is not influenced by outside sources, such as drug companies, law firms, or companies that manufacture or use asbestos.

Many of us can think back to the heartbreaking time when we first heard the news that a loved one had an asbestos-caused disease. “Mesothelioma – can’t pronounce it, can’t cure it,” was my devastated, personal reaction. It took me many weeks to even begin to understand the diagnosis my husband had received and find the very limited treatment options available to him.

My learning curve was steep and Alan was diagnosed before the advancement of the smart phone.

Navigating the health care system maze is complex – but it shouldn’t be. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is committed to replacing those feelings of fear, loneliness and confusion with the knowledge that there are others who share your experience and want to support you.

We want you to have easy access to information about medical resources for asbestos-caused diseases. The National Cancer Institute has an excellent page, in English and Spanish, to answer your questions on “How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility...

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Friday, November 22, 2013

Overlooked Lymph Nodes in Rib Cage Have Prognostic Power for Mesothelioma Patients

A potential tool to diagnosis and treatment mesothelioma has been reported.

For the first time, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have shown the predictive power of a group of overlooked lymph nodes--known as the posterior intercostal lymph nodes--that could serve as a better tool to stage and ultimately treat patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The findings were presented October 28 at the 15th World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Physicians look to lymph nodes to stage essentially all cancers, including mesothelioma. The presence or absence of metastatic cancer cells in lymph nodes affects prognosis and also typically dictates the optimal treatment strategy. But posterior intercostal lymph nodes, which are located between the ribs near the spine, have not been previously used to stage or guide treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma or any other cancer.

South Lanarkshire Council asbestos ruling 'ends uncertainty'

The complexity of assessing liability in a latent occupational disease claim, Such as asbestos related disease, is challenging. Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from m.bbc.co.uk

A council has been held liable over the death of a man it never employed in a ruling which lawyers say removes a "black hole" around asbestos claims.
David Bavaird died in 2008 - 12 years after South Lanarkshire Council assumed the liabilities of his ex-employer, the East Kilbride Development Corporation.
The council's case that it was not liable as he was not ill in 1996 was rejected at the Court of Session.
His family's lawyers said defeat may have meant other claims failed too.
The court heard that Mr Bavaird was exposed to asbestos during his employment with the corporation in the 1960s.
Liability transfer
The corporation was wound up in 1996 and its legal liabilities were transferred to South Lanarkshire Council.
Mr Bavaird, who was from East Kilbride, died of the asbestos-related lung disease, mesothelioma, in 2008.
His family subsequently raised an action against the council and other bodies.

This was a highly complex case, as was reflected by Lord Brailsford's earlier ruling that the council could not be held liable

A previous ruling at the outer house of the Court of Session in October last year upheld the council's case that it was not liable.
This ruling has now been overturned by the inner house judges, Lady Paton sitting with Lord Drummond Young and Lord Marnoch.
Following the ruling, Laura Blane, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represented Mr Bavaird's family, said: "Had the Court of Session not...

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Friday, November 15, 2013

White House rejects asbestos bill

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.politico.com

President Barack Obama’s administration came out against a key piece of asbestos legislation Tuesday just days after headlining a fundraiser at the homes of two of the top asbestos litigators in the country.
In a swing through Texas last week, two of the country’s top asbestos attorneys, Russell Budd and Peter Kraus, hosted fundraisers that brought in an expected $1 million-plus for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee over the course of three hours at their Dallas-area homes.
Continue Reading

On Tuesday evening the White House put out a statement opposing a piece of legislation aimed at regulating asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Budd and Kraus both sit on the boards of several of these trusts.

The White House and the Office of Management and Budget did not respond to a request for comment.
The trusts allow companies with significant liabilities to secure protection for future claims, but often have advisory committees made up of people from the same law firms that represent the asbestos clients.
The Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act — backed by business interests such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — would require the trusts to disclose additional information about the claims the pay to victims, in order prevent false or inflated claims.
In a statement Tuesday evening, the White House warned that the legislation would make publicly available the personal information of individuals who had filed asbestos-related injuries. Additionally,...

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Blowing the Whistle on the Chamber of Commerce

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.forbes.com

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform recently released a report on the False Claims Act (FCA)—the primary whistleblower legislation utilized by the federal government. Unfortunately, its analysis presents a fundamentally defective approach to addressing fraud in business.
In short, the Chamber’s report concludes the following: there is a lot of fraud in American commerce, particularly the kind of fraud (much of it in healthcare) that costs American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars annually (in excess of $70 billion according to the Government Accountability Office). In fact, fraud is such a big problem that Congress needs to amend the FCA and reduce protections and rewards available for those who risk their careers to report that fraud.
The reality is that the FCA is an example of how the government works at its best and most efficient. In fact, another recent study by the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund concludes that the government actually recovers $20 for every $1 it invests in fraud investigations pursuant to the FCA.
And there is a reason for it. It is because it may be the one area where government appropriately harnesses the private sector profit motive. It is the one area where government outsources ordinary people, driven by their own morality, conscience, and, yes, desire for money, to help do government’s work and provide a public good in the process. In fact, some...

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment (PDQ®)

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.cancer.gov

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the chest or abdomen.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). This summary is about malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.

Respiratory anatomy; drawing shows right lung with upper, middle, and lower lobes; left lung with upper and lower lobes; and the trachea, bronchi, lymph nodes, and diaphragm. Inset shows bronchioles, alveoli, artery, and vein.

Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of malignant mesothelioma.

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. Talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk.

Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for malignant mesothelioma to form. Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include the following:

Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage.

Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect around the lung or in the abdomen. These symptoms may...

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The Chemical Safety Improvement Act Falls Short: Open Letter to Congress

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from www.huffingtonpost.com

2013-11-13-karunajaggar.jpg

To: Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
I am writing to express serious concerns about the Chemical Safety Improvement Act, in advance of tomorrow's hearing, S. 1009 Chemical Safety Improvement Act.
Breast Cancer Action is a national, feminist grassroots education and advocacy organization that works to address and end the breast cancer epidemic. Breast Cancer Action is committed to reducing involuntary exposures to toxins that are linked to increased risk for breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Action recognizes that the current congressional interest in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) represents an important opportunity to pass landmark cancer prevention legislation. After years of work, along with our partners, for strong regulation of toxic chemicals we are heartened to see widespread agreement that TSCA is a top priority for the current Congress.
However, we recognize that some proposed changes to current law do not adequately protect public health. We believe that the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA) as it is currently written falls short of the reforms that are needed to stop breast cancer before it starts. This bill in its current form not only lacks key requirements to protect people and our planet from toxic chemicals, but if implemented, could actually weaken the few strong toxic chemical regulations that currently exist.
In short, Breast Cancer...

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Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Three Known Causes of Death: Lead Paint, Asbestos, and PowerPoints!

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from switchandshift.com

Three known causes of premature human death are exposure to lead paint, asbestos, and PowerPoint presentations. The frightening reality is only two of these have been forcefully removed from our everyday lives. Many organizations still use PowerPoint presentations to communicate strategies with the hope of building understanding, while developing ownership and commitment. Some leaders even have the outlandish hope of creating enthusiasm and excitement. This is a flawed expectation, given the reality that people will tolerate the conclusions of their leaders, but will only act on their own. If people don’t change their conclusions about the business and their role in it, they will not change their actions to bring the new ideas to life. Dressing up the conclusions of leaders in a colorful deck does little to mobilize people to change.

People will tolerate the conclusions of their leaders, but will only act on their own

The key is creating a way for people to think together about the strategic imperatives for the business and challenging their current assumptions and beliefs about what will make it successful in the future. The role and goal is not to communicate new strategic acronyms, but to translate the strategic business buzzwords into shared meaning through dialogue, inquiry, and synthesis. Here are three tips that can help in avoiding the death-by-PowerPoint approach to strategy execution through people.

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Friday, November 1, 2013

Former Winchester, Idaho hotel owner settles with EPA for asbestos demolition violations

Today's post was shared by US EPA News and comes from yosemite.epa.gov

(Seattle – October 28, 2013) BBA Winchester LLC, the owner of a former hotel located in Winchester, Idaho has settled with EPA and agreed to pay a $21,000 fine for asbestos safety and environmental violations from improper demolition of the hotel.

“This is an unfortunate example that when asbestos is not properly removed before demolition, the entire debris pile becomes contaminated, putting people at risk, and greatly increasing disposal costs,” said Scott Downey, Manager of the Air and Hazardous Waste Compliance Unit at the EPA Seattle office.

“Because this owner failed to check for asbestos before demolition, their $2,000 demolition project ballooned into a $55,000 asbestos waste cleanup and disposal problem.”In response to public complaints, EPA inspected the demolition site of the former hotel in 2012.

BBA Winchester LLC demolished the 100-year-old hotel in late 2011 or early 2012, without first inspecting the building for asbestos, removing asbestos materials, or notifying EPA, as required by law.

The demolition was in a residential neighborhood and the contaminated debris was unsecured for more than a year, prompting community concerns about asbestos health risks. EPA inspectors collected samples from the site that showed the demolition debris contained regulated asbestos waste. After confirming the debris was...

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Copyright

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Senate Briefing “Asbestos: The Impact on Public Health and the Environment” a Huge Success!!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Justice for asbestos victims

Monday, December 30, 2013

2014 Asbestos Awareness Conference Honorees

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

High Court in Japan Holds Government Negligent for Asbestos

Friday, December 13, 2013

International Conference on Monitoring and Surveillance of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Petition Aims to Build First Federally Funded Mesothelioma Program

Help With Petition Signatures

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A Twist of Fate: Italian Asbestos Victims’ Investigator Finds Evidence Stephan Schmidheiny’s Avina Foundation Donated to Yale University by Linda Reinstein

Thursday, December 5, 2013

ADAO Resource: How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility Specializing in Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Diseases

Friday, November 22, 2013

Overlooked Lymph Nodes in Rib Cage Have Prognostic Power for Mesothelioma Patients

Thursday, November 21, 2013

South Lanarkshire Council asbestos ruling 'ends uncertainty'

Friday, November 15, 2013

White House rejects asbestos bill

Blowing the Whistle on the Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment (PDQ®)

The Chemical Safety Improvement Act Falls Short: Open Letter to Congress

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Three Known Causes of Death: Lead Paint, Asbestos, and PowerPoints!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Former Winchester, Idaho hotel owner settles with EPA for asbestos demolition violations

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