The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was held liable for the death of an asbestos worker's wife death from mesothelioma. A Federal Court in Alabama held that the the employer held that the employer had a duty to protect the wife a nuclear plant employee from take home asbestos exposure.
Showing posts with label mesothelioma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mesothelioma. Show all posts
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Sunday, May 1, 2016
US Workers Continue to be Exposed to Asbestos
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| Asbestos Insulation |
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Privacy: Court Mandates Protective Order for Workers' Compensation Discovery
Plaintiff in mesothelioma case sought production of defendant's (Union Carbide Corp) employees' workers' compensation claim records. The corporate defendant, Union Carbide Corp) sought to restrict access and limit dissemination of the records of the workers' compensation matters sought through discovery.
Confidentiality is a two sided sword. Historically asbestos litigation had its genesis in workers' compensation claims. In this instance the Corporate Defendant sought the utilization of privacy restrictions as a defense.
Confidentiality is a two sided sword. Historically asbestos litigation had its genesis in workers' compensation claims. In this instance the Corporate Defendant sought the utilization of privacy restrictions as a defense.
Friday, April 8, 2016
National Asbestos Awareness Week - US Surgeon General
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy on National Asbestos Awareness Week
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| Dr. Vivek Murthy US Surgeon General |
National Asbestos Awareness Week is April 1-7 – a good time to remind Americans about the health dangers of asbestos exposure. Asbestos, a natural mineral fiber that is found in rock and soil, was widely used as insulation and fireproofing material in homes, commercial buildings, ships and other products, such as paints and car brakes. In recent years, asbestos use has decreased dramatically after it was linked to illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Pleural mesothelioma reported in a school teacher: asbestos exposure due to DAS paste
The hazardous legacy exposures of school children and art teachers to materials containing asbestos fiber, ie. Fibro Clay, and its causal relationship to mesothelioma, has been reported in a recent medical journal. Today's post is partially shared from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
BACKGROUND:
Malignant mesothelioma cases among primary school teachers are usually linked with asbestos exposure due to the mineral contained in the building structure. Among the approximately 12,000 cases of mesothelioma described in the fourth report of the National Mesothelioma Register, 11 cases of primary school teachers are reported, in spite of the fact that the "catalogue of asbestos use" does not describe circumstances of asbestos exposure other than or different to that due to asbestos contained in the buildings. Four cases in the Brescia Provincial Mesothelioma Register are identified as teachers, without this circumstance of exposure.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Garlock reaches $480 Million settlement on asbestos claims
Garlock plans to emerge from bankruptcy and establish a trust in the amount of $480 Million to pay asbestos claimants and their families. Garlock a member of the EnPro Industries consortium had made asbestos gaskets.Asbestos is a known carcinogen and causally connected with lung cancer, mesothelioma and other malignancies as well as asbestosis.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
FACT Act Hearing US Senate Wed Feb 3, 2016 10am ET
Witness List
Hearing before the
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
On
“The Need for Transparency in the Asbestos Trusts”
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226
10:00 a.m.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Demolition of Paterson NJ Armory Highlights Present Danger of Asbestos
The emergency demolition of the decades old Paterson NJ Armory, an historic site, highlights that asbestos, a known carcinogen, remains a hazard to workers when older buildings require renovation or demolition.
asbestos remains a clear and present danger to workers. Despite the fact that asbestos may not be used as a new construction material,
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was used for years as a construction material because of its fire retardant and heat insulation properties.
The hazards of asbestos are well known. Exposure to asbestos may cause the latent development of: asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The Paterson NJ Armory caught fire several days ago and resulted in a major North Jersey fire alarm requiring the participation of firefighters to be called in from multiple jurisdictions to be be brought under control. Unable to reach and extinguish some parts of the fire, the Paterson Fire Department ordered that the historic building be demolished on an emergency basis.
Despite the knowledge of the fatal hazards of asbestos use, it has yet to be banned in the United States.
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was used for years as a construction material because of its fire retardant and heat insulation properties.
The hazards of asbestos are well known. Exposure to asbestos may cause the latent development of: asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The Paterson NJ Armory caught fire several days ago and resulted in a major North Jersey fire alarm requiring the participation of firefighters to be called in from multiple jurisdictions to be be brought under control. Unable to reach and extinguish some parts of the fire, the Paterson Fire Department ordered that the historic building be demolished on an emergency basis.
Despite the knowledge of the fatal hazards of asbestos use, it has yet to be banned in the United States.
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Asbestos in Children's Toys
It has been reported that certain children's toys contain asbestos fiber. Asbestos is a known cancer producing substance.Today's post is shared from ewr.org
"The toys, purchased at national retail chains or through online retailers, were tested by a government-certified laboratory, using state-of-the-art equipment. Samples that tested positive were retested by another government-certified laboratory to confirm the results. The results are significant because even trace exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other fatal lung disease.
"The tests found asbestos in four of the 28 boxes of crayons tested, several marketed under the names of popular fantasy characters Mickey Mouse, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Two of the 21 crime scene fingerprint kits were tainted with asbestos.
Click here to read the entire article.
Click here to read Sen Ed Markey's Letter.
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
US FDA: Designation for CRS-207 in Mesothelioma Treatment
Today's post is shared from finance.yahoo.com/news
Aduro Biotech, Inc. today announced that the Office of Orphan Product Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to CRS-207, a novel immuno-oncology product candidate, for the treatment of mesothelioma. This designation potentially allows Aduro seven years of limited marketing exclusivity in the United States if it is the first to obtain FDA marketing approval for mesothelioma, and qualifies the company for grant funding to offset the cost of clinical testing as well as tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the Biologics License Application user fee. The FDA previously granted orphan designation to CRS-207 and GVAX Pancreas for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
“This is an important step for Aduro as we continue to develop CRS-207 for this very difficult to treat cancer,” said Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at Aduro. “We believe the combination of CRS-207 together with chemotherapy may offer the promise of a potential new therapeutic regimen for patients suffering from mesothelioma. Importantly, we plan to report additional data from the ongoing Phase 1b study later this year.”
Click here to read the entire article
Aduro Biotech, Inc. today announced that the Office of Orphan Product Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to CRS-207, a novel immuno-oncology product candidate, for the treatment of mesothelioma. This designation potentially allows Aduro seven years of limited marketing exclusivity in the United States if it is the first to obtain FDA marketing approval for mesothelioma, and qualifies the company for grant funding to offset the cost of clinical testing as well as tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the Biologics License Application user fee. The FDA previously granted orphan designation to CRS-207 and GVAX Pancreas for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
“This is an important step for Aduro as we continue to develop CRS-207 for this very difficult to treat cancer,” said Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at Aduro. “We believe the combination of CRS-207 together with chemotherapy may offer the promise of a potential new therapeutic regimen for patients suffering from mesothelioma. Importantly, we plan to report additional data from the ongoing Phase 1b study later this year.”
Click here to read the entire article
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Asbestos: The Silent Epidemic Continues
For John Nolan, the first warning signs came mid-November of last year while he was leading a tour in the Peruvian Andes.
Mr. Nolan, 67, who lives in Fort Erie in southwestern Ontario, was guiding a group through the mountains near the storied Incan city of Cuzco.
He had criss-crossed the planet for years as a tour guide, and knew what higher altitudes typically felt like. But something terrifying happened while he was hauling his luggage up some steep stone steps to his cabin.
“I’ve never been out of breath in such a panicky, horrible way,” Mr. Nolan says in a raspy voice between laboured breaths. “Normally, when you run out of breath, you know you’re going to get it back. This was different. It was as if you were hitting a stone wall, with no hope of getting air. It was like suffocating.”
The diagnosis, back at home, was swift and cruel. It was mesothelioma — an incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Mr. Nolan was initially given a few months to live.
Asbestos is the top on-the-job killer in Canada. But a Globe and Mail investigation has found that this stark fact has been obscured by the country’s longstanding economic interest in the onetime “miracle mineral.” Even though Canada’s own asbestos industry has dwindled from pre-eminence to insignificance — the country’s last two mines closed in 2011 — the federal government has dragged its feet as other nations have acknowledged asbestos’s deadly impact and moved to protect their populations from it.
The diagnosis, back at home, was swift and cruel. It was mesothelioma — an incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Mr. Nolan was initially given a few months to live.
Asbestos is the top on-the-job killer in Canada. But a Globe and Mail investigation has found that this stark fact has been obscured by the country’s longstanding economic interest in the onetime “miracle mineral.” Even though Canada’s own asbestos industry has dwindled from pre-eminence to insignificance — the country’s last two mines closed in 2011 — the federal government has dragged its feet as other nations have acknowledged asbestos’s deadly impact and moved to protect their populations from it.
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Related articles
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
IMIG 2014: Dr. Robert Weinberg speaks on Cancer Stem Cell Targeting Therapies
Dr. Weinberg focused on the importance of cancer stem cells in mesothelioma. The concept of a stem cell origin of cancer was first described over fifty years ago as a small subset of cells capable of re-initiating a clonal tumor, and there is evidence for both a stem cell origin of mesothelioma, and a stem cell population in the mesothelioma tumor microenvironment. These cells play an essential role in the invasion-metastasis cascade, they are risk to conventional chemotherapy, and are believed to underlie resistance and relapse in mesothelioma. Click here for a summary of the latest information on cancer stem cells in mesothelioma.
Click here to watch Dr. Weinberg’s Presentation
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
IMIG 2014: Mesothelioma: Cancer stem cells by defactinib, a novel inhibitor of FAK
Paul Baas summarizes evidence from studies showing specific targeting of cancer stem cells by defactinib, a novel inhibitor of FAK.
IMIG 2014: Dr. Ravi Salgia presents “From Chaos to Mitochondrial Functionality”
Click here to watch Dr. Salgia’s Presentation
Monday, October 27, 2014
IMIG 2014: New Molecules and New Therapies – Advancing Mesothelioma Carehttp://imig.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/fennell.jpg
Click here to watch Dean Fennell
IMIG: Dr. Constantine Alifrangis Speaks on Next Generation Sequencing in Mesothelioma
Saturday, August 30, 2014
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Knowing Endangerment by Release of Asbestos
United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Scott William Farmer, age 37, of Anderson, South Carolina was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for Knowing Endangerment by Release of Asbestos, a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(5). United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis of Spartanburg sentenced Farmer to 41 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that between November 2012 and April 2013, Farmer and others working for Farmer demolished portions of Haynsworth Mill, located at 2115 McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC, in order to sell scrap metal from the building. The materials in the building contained hazardous levels of asbestos. Farmer was repeatedly warned by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to stop his demolition efforts because of the danger. Farmer continued tearing down the building and failed to take required precautions to safeguard his workers, individuals to whom he sold the metal from the Mill, and the public. On March 14, 2013, an Emergency Order was issued against Farmer to cease all activities on the site due to the hazardous levels of asbestos. In April of 2013, DHEC inspectors again located Farmer and another conducting demolition work on the contaminated site.
"Exposure to asbestos can cause serious health problems and in some cases may prove fatal,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in South Carolina. “The defendant’s actions threatened not only the environment but the safety of his workers and the surrounding community. EPA and its law enforcement counterparts take seriously our obligation to investigate these violations and prosecute to protect the public's well-being." United States Bill Nettles stated, "The United States Attorney's Office is committed to protecting the citizens of South Carolina and our natural resources from hazardous pollutants such as asbestos. Our office will continue to prioritize the environmental work we do with both federal and state agencies, to ensure that our state is protected and others are deterred from breaking the law.."
The case was investigated by agents of the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that between November 2012 and April 2013, Farmer and others working for Farmer demolished portions of Haynsworth Mill, located at 2115 McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC, in order to sell scrap metal from the building. The materials in the building contained hazardous levels of asbestos. Farmer was repeatedly warned by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to stop his demolition efforts because of the danger. Farmer continued tearing down the building and failed to take required precautions to safeguard his workers, individuals to whom he sold the metal from the Mill, and the public. On March 14, 2013, an Emergency Order was issued against Farmer to cease all activities on the site due to the hazardous levels of asbestos. In April of 2013, DHEC inspectors again located Farmer and another conducting demolition work on the contaminated site.
"Exposure to asbestos can cause serious health problems and in some cases may prove fatal,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in South Carolina. “The defendant’s actions threatened not only the environment but the safety of his workers and the surrounding community. EPA and its law enforcement counterparts take seriously our obligation to investigate these violations and prosecute to protect the public's well-being." United States Bill Nettles stated, "The United States Attorney's Office is committed to protecting the citizens of South Carolina and our natural resources from hazardous pollutants such as asbestos. Our office will continue to prioritize the environmental work we do with both federal and state agencies, to ensure that our state is protected and others are deterred from breaking the law.."
The case was investigated by agents of the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Banning Asbestos - WHO European Region Sets Plans
Today's post is shared from euro.who.int
Asbestos is one of the most severe and widespread environmental health hazards in the WHO European Region, and is responsible for half of fatal cancers linked to exposure at work. To discuss activities to put an end to asbestos-related diseases, representatives from 16 Member States in the WHO European Region and experts in occupational health and cancer registries met in Bonn, Germany, on 10–11 June 2014.
They evaluated progress made since the 2010 Parma Declaration and emphasized the need for WHO support to develop national programmes on asbestos elimination. The Parma Declaration commits governments in the European Region to take action on a range of environmental issues affecting health. This includes commitments to act on the identified risks of exposure to carcinogens, including asbestos, and to develop national programmes for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases by 2015, in collaboration with WHO and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Asbestos: a silent killer
More than 107 000 people worldwide die every year from asbestos exposure at work. This insidious killer generates fatal diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis several decades after exposure.
In the European Region 37 countries have banned the use of all forms of asbestos, following WHO and ILO recommendations. Nevertheless, an estimated 300 million people are still exposed to asbestos at work, as well as out of work. In some countries asbestos is still produced, traded and used.
The most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all forms of asbestos because:
Asbestos is one of the most severe and widespread environmental health hazards in the WHO European Region, and is responsible for half of fatal cancers linked to exposure at work. To discuss activities to put an end to asbestos-related diseases, representatives from 16 Member States in the WHO European Region and experts in occupational health and cancer registries met in Bonn, Germany, on 10–11 June 2014.
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| Photo Credit: WHO Participants at a meeting on asbestos elimination in Bonn, Germany, on 10-11 June 2014 |
They evaluated progress made since the 2010 Parma Declaration and emphasized the need for WHO support to develop national programmes on asbestos elimination. The Parma Declaration commits governments in the European Region to take action on a range of environmental issues affecting health. This includes commitments to act on the identified risks of exposure to carcinogens, including asbestos, and to develop national programmes for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases by 2015, in collaboration with WHO and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Asbestos: a silent killer
More than 107 000 people worldwide die every year from asbestos exposure at work. This insidious killer generates fatal diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis several decades after exposure.
In the European Region 37 countries have banned the use of all forms of asbestos, following WHO and ILO recommendations. Nevertheless, an estimated 300 million people are still exposed to asbestos at work, as well as out of work. In some countries asbestos is still produced, traded and used.
The most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all forms of asbestos because:
- there is no safe level of asbestos exposure
- cancer risks are increased even with very low-level exposures
- all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans
- asbestos can be substituted with safer materials.
Asbestos-free zone – the way forward
During the meeting participants highlighted the need to establish proper national registers on occupational diseases and on cancers, in order to:
Training for health care practitioners in detecting and reporting asbestos-related diseases should be introduced or strengthened to track the link between exposure and disease and to gather proper data.
Issues related to asbestos removal were also discussed; this led Member States to ask for support to develop waste management strategies and to identify asbestos substitutes.
The meeting was hosted by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
During the meeting participants highlighted the need to establish proper national registers on occupational diseases and on cancers, in order to:
- assess national situations
- promote action and take appropriate measures
- raise awareness on the issues among policy-makers and the general population.
Training for health care practitioners in detecting and reporting asbestos-related diseases should be introduced or strengthened to track the link between exposure and disease and to gather proper data.
Issues related to asbestos removal were also discussed; this led Member States to ask for support to develop waste management strategies and to identify asbestos substitutes.
The meeting was hosted by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
County Building Set for Demolition Contains Asbestos
 Todays post is shared from emissourian.com An asbestos review on a county-owned building that will be torn down found some of the substance in the structure. The building, which is just south of the Franklin County Government Center in Union, will be torn down to create more county employee parking. The goal is to keep county employees from parking on the street in downtown Union, where there is said to be a parking shortage. Keeping the county employees from parking on the street will open up more parking for the public and patrons of downtown businesses, First District County Commissioner Tim Brinker noted. He did not know how many employees are parking on the street in downtown Union, but he said there are “quite a few.” Brinker said this week that asbestos has been found in some of the caulking around a door. Cochran Engineering of Union, which did the asbestos and lead survey on the building, recommended that the contractor chosen for the demolition include in its work proper disposal of the asbestos. The county commission may vote next week to seek bids on the demolition of the building, which resembles a Quonset hut. Lung cancer has been associated with asbestos exposure, according to the EPA. Brinker said tearing down the building also honors an agreement that was made between the city of Union and a prior commission. The current county commission has to fulfill the agreement since it was not done before, he said. The agreement involved the city of Union vacating a street so the county could... |
Mechanic can sue Ford for further damages in asbestos case
| The state Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a former Bay Area service station owner to seek additional damages from Ford Motor Co. for exposing him to brake-lining asbestos that has afflicted him with terminal cancer. A jury awarded Patrick Scott $1.5 million in damages and legal costs against Ford in November 2012. Wednesday's order allows him to ask another jury for punitive damages. Scott and his wife, Sharon, have settled claims against other automakers for undisclosed amounts. Scott worked in a Navy shipyard, where he was also exposed to asbestos, before opening his first service station in Sausalito in 1965. He leased an Atlantic Richfield station in San Francisco in 1970, then moved his business to a Beacon station in St. Helena in 1977. He stopped working in 2011 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable form of lung cancer that is caused by asbestos but typically does not show up until decades after exposure. Asbestos has long been used in the linings of motor vehicle brakes and clutches and is still used in brake pads, though it is banned in some other products. Scientists had established its connection to cancer by the mid-1950s, but the federal government did not regulate workplace asbestos exposure until 1971. According to court records, Ford mentioned asbestos in one of its publications in 1975 but did not put warnings on brake cartons until at least 1980. A Ford internal investigation cited by Scott's lawyers found mesothelioma among company... |
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