What should I do if my boss caused me to get asbestos in my lungs?

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What should I do if my boss caused me to get asbestos in my lungs?

My boss told me to sweep up in a bathroom at the highschool I am working for this summer. The walls were peeling and I started sweeping when a co-worker who has worked for 2 years or so informed me that I was sweeping up asbestos. I had no protective materials, today I used 2 vacuums to try to clean it up, 1 had no bag and 1 had a hole in the bag, resulting in even more asbestos in my lungs. What should I do? Would legal action be an advisable approach to this.

Asked on August 4, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Montana

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

Speak to a personal injury attorney, preferably one with experience with toxic torts or asbestos litigation. If your employer exposed you to a dangerous chemical or substance, the employer can be liable for your injuries and medical costs. If, as we hope, you  have not been hurt by this, then they'd likely only be liable for the costs of medical monitoring in the future to make sure you stay ok; but any costs or injuries you suffer are things they can be responsible for. Since many attorneys will provide a free initial consultation to evaluate a case (you can ask about and confirm this before making an appointment), it would be well worth your while to speak with a lawyer to understand what this case might be worth, how strong it is, and what it would cost to pursue it.


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