When you discover asbestos in your home or at your place of work, you need an asbestos contractor Los Angeles residents have come to trust. Asbestos has been used in many materials and in certain occupations and may be encountered on a daily basis. Over a million people in the United States per day go to work where they are exposed to large amounts of asbestos. As early as the 1930s significant health issues were found to be directly related to inhaling asbestos fibers. How do you know if you are being exposed to asbestos on a daily basis? Should your employer make you aware and take appropriate measures to protect its employees from inhaling the dangerous substance? In many cases, your employer may not know that there is an asbestos hazard in your company’s office building or you may not know that there is any possibility of risk at your own home. If you believe you may have found asbestos at your home or at work, you should consult with a trusted Los Angeles asbestos contractor from Nielsen Environmental today.
Health Issues Linked to Asbestos
The asbestos contractors in Los Angeles, California know that inhaling even small amounts of asbestos fiber can cause significant health issues including coughing, problems breathing, and shortness of breath. It can take years for the more serious symptoms to emerge. These health problems may include:
- Mesothelioma (a type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the abdomen and chest)
- Lung cancer
- Gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers
- Asbestosis (inflammation of the lungs that causes you to cough and can result in permanent lung damage)
- Calcifications in the chest cavity lining
What lines of work are more at risk of asbestos exposure
Construction and trade jobs head the list of occupations most likely to be exposed to asbestos fibers, primarily because materials such as roofing tiles, siding, floor and ceiling materials, and insulation materials all contained asbestos. These occupations include:
- Shipbuilding
- Paper mills
- HVAC technicians
- Automobile mechanics (especially those dealing with clutch and brake parts)
- Construction demolition and renovation of residential and commercial buildings
- Roofers
- Janitorial positions in areas where asbestos has been disturbed
- Manufacturers of products that contain asbestos
If you work in any of these trades and are concerned about being exposed to asbestos, speak with your employer about the safety measures the company has in place to reduce any risk of inhaling the asbestos. It is in your company’s best interest to speak with Nielsen Environmental to get a trusted Los Angeles, CA asbestos contractor out to your company’s building as soon as possible.
Depending on the specifics of your position, your employer may be legally required to provide you with information and/or protection from exposure to asbestos. A Los Angeles asbestos contractor can discuss if precautions should take place at work or if asbestos removal is the best option. Some of the precautions your employer may take are:
- Education and training to anyone working around or with asbestos
- Appropriately ventilated work areas
- Daily monitoring of workers—especially those working on asbestos removal projects
- Signage warning of asbestos areas
- Protective clothing
- Respirators
- Showers and other precautions should you come in contact with asbestos
- Physical exams for anyone exposed to higher levels of asbestos
Trust a Los Angeles Asbestos Contractor From Nielsen Environmental
You may be exposed to asbestos and not even know it. Unfortunately, the symptoms of asbestos exposure can take decades to emerge. This is why when you believe there is asbestos in your home or office you should speak with an asbestos contractor from Nielsen Environmental. For a free consultation and inspection of your home or office, contact us at Nielsen Environmental today. Call our office at 323-951-9722 to speak to us about sending out a Los Angeles asbestos contractor residents and businesses have relied on for years.