Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Long_Cast on July 24, 2009, 08:11:54 PM
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Although this isn't about fishing, I just want to let you members know that I ended inhaling asbestos years ago and I wasn't even working with construction and maintenance work. At my workplace which was an office environment, people were removing asbestos and my supervisors didn't tell anyone about it and people who were removing it didn't tell us about it and there were no signs about it or anything. I ended up walking past the hallway where they were removing it and I inhaled the dust. Just this year, I had a x-ray and CT scan which confirmed that I was exposed and the damage has been done.
I just want to say that I'm really scared and I'm taking life one day at a time. Sometimes in life, you never know what's will happen and life is unpredictable. FYI, I'm a young guy and I couldn't believe something could happen to me like this.
Lastly, my employer tried to cover this incident up because they did not inform all other coworkers that it actually happened but I did tell a few coworkers that it did happen. No emails or letters were sent or posted about the incident from my employer. My employer sent a letter to me telling me that the air was safe and there was absolutely no risk because they were following WCB asbestos removal guidelines. Now, after the x-rays and CT scans, they truly have proof that it did happen.
Can someone here give me advice? I already spoke to WCB and I spoke with my occupation and health and safety advisor. What else should I do and should I be really worried?
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1 i would talk to a few doctor's to get the real scoop.you got to know if you are in trouble.
2 i would not work for a company that holds their employees in such high regard.
3 if it is warranted you may be able to talk to an ambulance chaser and get some kind of compensation.
4 tell you boss he's a retard for putting people into that kind of position.if the employees were not told about it he didn't play by the rules.
what made you suspect that it was asbestos?
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brood dude,
It was asbestos because my employer confirmed that they were removing it. Also, one of the guys removing it was wearing a full body suit with a respirator tank.
What do you mean by ambulance chaser?
I screamed at my supervisor for over an hour about the asbestos incident and she was laughing at my face. Her actual words, "Oh, well, you'll just have 30 more years to live!" My supervisor at the that time was a total idiot! Her daughter was hit by a car when she was 13 and her daughter almost died and she was laughing about the incident when she told me the story. She has no heart at all.
I already spoke with WCB and I'm still waiting for news about my claim. I spoke with one doctor in emergency and he told me not to worry people who work in asbestos mines without mask should worry - pretty lame eh? My family doctor sounded really shocked when he found out my results because it was only one big exposure.
I'm still working with the employer but at a different site. I have regular full time job and I can't imagine quiting unless I'm really really sick and I can't breath and dying.
I'm not about money, I just want to let others know that life is short, unpredictable, and be safe when you're at work or anywhere!
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Did you tell the doctor before the scan and X-Ray that you have been exposed to asbestos?
The reason I ask is because I have an inherent distrust of doctor. Just recently after getting a lot of blood in my lungs from a severe nosebleed I told one doctor that I smoke but did not tell him about the bleeding. His verdict, "You have large shadows in your lungs and I can hear wheezing and rattling sounds. I urge you to quit smoking immediately." He was so concerned that he wanted to perform cancer tests.
By the next doctor I said nothing about smoking, because I do not smoke, but told him about the nosebleed. His verdict. "The shadows in your lungs and the sounds are caused by the large volumes of blood in your lungs." Four weeks later I went back for a check up. All the shadows were gone and so are the sounds. "Your lungs are in perfect condition." he said.
Sometimes if you tell a doctor about things that are considered a health hazard before the examination they make up their minds based to that, without further investigating other possible causes. I also could tell you a story about a doctor that read X-Rays based on preconceived opinions, this at one time in my life almost led to an arm amputation. Lucky I asked for a second opinion and the arm could be fixed.
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I work in the construction industry and have been exposed myself to Abestos,the oldtimers used to sit on the bags of Abestos while eating there lunches on the jobsites working with the stuff before the dangers were known.Not everyone exposed to absestos will die of Asbestosis.There are proper W.C.B rules and regs for the removal of abestos.First of all the area must be horded off wth negative air pressure inside the hording so no fibres can escape and the persons removing the abestos must wear suits and self contained breathing apparatus (Scott Air) to protect themselves from exposure.I would go after W.C.B to lay charges against the company.Remember it is your right to refuse unsafe work.
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huntwriter, I've been seeing the same family doctor since the asbestos exposure which happened years ago. He told me not to worry but he made me get a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray showed nothing only because asbestos doesn't damage the body right away. It takes years. He was a little arrogant at that time as he even said, "you'll in more danger from the air pollution in downtown!"
So, this year I had an x-ray done and he said to my face, "I doubt there will be anything." He was confident because he said I don't work in a shipyard as only shipyard workers or construction workers should be worried here in B.C about asbestos exposure.
Well, the x-ray results came and he just looked shocked. He spend almost a minute reading the report and told me that I need to get a CT scan or maybe even a MRI. I was extremely shocked about the results that when I came home I was really depressed and anxious and I couldn't even function normally. I'm a Christian, but I don't attend church anymore, so I just prayed to calm myself down.
I truly believe that I need to see a respiratory specialist. I don't think my family doctor knows how serious my condition really is.
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Davis, so you had x-rays and CTs which proved that you were exposed? How long have you been exposed to asbestos and are you feeling the effects?
Honestly, if I knew that they were removing asbestos, I wouldn't work that day. As a matter of fact, I would have refused to work period if I knew about any asbestos removal at my workplace. My employer didn't tell me anything about the asbestos removal and I had absolutely no protection at all. There were no signs or notices about the work being done. It was asbestos dust and not visible fibres as when I walked past the area I couldn't see anything, then I felt the pain in my chest.
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Documention is the most important thing. You'll need:
Dates the asbestos was being removed
Type of material being removed
Company that did the removal
Any safegaurds in place or lack of
If you were informed of the risks
length of time you were exposed
Clean up procedures during and after removal
reasons you were told for removal the removal
ventilation flow in work area
employers and your conversations on this issue
etc etc
Search the net for information on how to put this and other pertinent information together. Air quality testing and Air quality complaint type information as well as MSDS on the product being removed. Standards for removal and containment of asbestos. Also if there is any health issues and your not getting the support from WCB/Worksafe understanding of the appeal process is critical to getting proper compansation. If your in doubt about taking this on get a hold of a lawyer who deals with WCB claims by contacting the Bar Assosiation of BC for suitable councel.
Hopefully things work out and there are no health issues that affect you. That being said with this kind of exposure and the health consquences sometimes taking 30 years to show up having the documentation now will be prudent.
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troutbreath, I believe WCB have copies of the information of -
Dates the asbestos was being removed
Type of material being removed
Company that did the removal
Any safegaurds in place or lack of
If you were informed of the risks
length of time you were exposed
Clean up procedures during and after removal
reasons you were told for removal the removal
ventilation flow in work area
employers and your conversations on this issue
etc etc -
because they received documentation from the company who did the removal and I received some of the reports which even confirmed asbestos dust particles in the air. My employer was telling me that the levels of asbestos in the air was acceptable from the testing done while they were removing asbestos?!? Hmmmmm..... Acceptable??? One of my coworkers witnessed a huge explosion of dust from the vacuum they were using and it was released all over the hallway and I believe that was what caused huge exposure of asbestos. I will probably contact Bar Association of BC for a lawyer regarding my situation. Just curious, will WCB pay for my legal bills from a lawyer if I need one?
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Well said Trout Breath ,MSDS will give you all the info you need to know regarding the material you are working with and the employer must supply this.I have also worked in the shipyards on the coast and my foreman died of Abestosis at the age of 50 while I was working there.No i have not had any medical tests done as i have no health issues right now,I don't worry about it because it takes many yrs to show up in the lungs.
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My dealings with W.C.B on other issues have not been good.they don't want to pay for anything.That being said go after them hard.
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Davis, have you ever had a x-ray of your chest recently? I think you should get one if you haven't had one. I'm surprised that you have absolutely no symptoms at all. I have chest pains, twitching, tingling sensations all over my chest and abdominal area. I told it to my doctor and he didn't disagree with me so I'm scared! It can take 30-50 years to show up.
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Yes, i have had a chest Xray on occasion since my exposure to Abestos.I get bronchitis quite abit and for that reason have had chest xrays done ,so far they are clean.By all means if your not feeling well get medical attention,get a second,and/or a third opinion if your not happy with your doctor,get to the bottom of it.I cringe when i hear stories like these in the work place.I have learned the hard way through my yrs of work experience in the shipyardfs and in construction and have refused unsafe work on occasion,because i know better ,its the young guys who dont know any better that get taken advantage of.
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Davis, how long have you working in environments with asbestos? I'm surprised that you don't have pleural thickening or pleural plaques. Did you wear a mask when you were working in the shipyards?
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lawyers will give advice first before they accept case, so there should be no charge unless compensation pending
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brood dude,
What do you mean by ambulance chaser?
Lawyers
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I'm a Christian, but I don't attend church anymore, so I just prayed to calm myself down.
It seems you have the most important aspect of you life taken care of.
Now more then ever is the time when you need encouragement from other Christians. I would suggest finding a group of God-fearing believers that you can get to know. This would result in a lot of positives including having other Christians to regularily pray for you.
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long cast
this is really unfortunate ,it seems like your boss is a real bitch.from what you have told us here she NEEDS to be held responsible for her actions.if your not going to do this, who will?
i hope things turn out well
i was referring to lawyers "ambulance chasers".
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brood dude, yes, my boss was a real bitch. She ended up quiting a few months after the asbestos incident. She's one of the those people who doesn't take things seriously at all.
Now, I see life completely differently. Life is just too precious. I really want to enjoy everyday with people whom I care about. I want to keep my emotions inside of me as positive as possible in my everyday life because always having negative emotions is bad for one's health. The damage has been done. I'll just pray.
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huntwriter, I've been seeing the same family doctor since the asbestos exposure which happened years ago. He told me not to worry but he made me get a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray showed nothing only because asbestos doesn't damage the body right away. It takes years. He was a little arrogant at that time as he even said, "you'll in more danger from the air pollution in downtown!" So, this year I had an x-ray done and he said to my face, "I doubt there will be anything." He was confident because he said I don't work in a shipyard as only shipyard workers or construction workers should be worried here in B.C about asbestos exposure.
Well, the x-ray results came and he just looked shocked. He spend almost a minute reading the report and told me that I need to get a CT scan or maybe even a MRI. I was extremely shocked about the results that when I came home I was really depressed and anxious and I couldn't even function normally. I'm a Christian, but I don't attend church anymore, so I just prayed to calm myself down.
I truly believe that I need to see a respiratory specialist. I don't think my family doctor knows how serious my condition really is.
pretty well what I was told and did. Worked Burrard Yarrows in the early eighties , used asbestos roofing sheets and cut sheeted asbestos in the UK . but have no recourse unless it is proven that should I suffer from lung diseasee asbestos was the cause.
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Sandy, have you had any tests done like chest x-rays recently? If not, you should have it done. Have you been experiencing chest pain and discomfort that comes and goes since you've been in contact with asbestos? I'm also curious, when did you first work in the shipyards at Burrard Yarrows? Remember, even if you don't feel pain you should always get an annual chest x-ray for those who has been exposed or worked with asbestos.
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Quite a traumatic event to deal with. However, you should really see a specialist and dump the GP. The fact is that we all -- all of us -- have asbestos in our lungs from just living in an industrial society. That is a fact. It takes a lot of asbestos to cause asbestosis or mesothelioma (lung cancer). Before you worry too much, get a specialist's opinion.
And BTW, you can't sue your employer (workers can't sue employers for workplace injuries) -- WCB is your only recourse.
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Good luck dealing with WorkSafeBC (WCB) they are not out to help injured workers they will probably make you fight for it if they think there is a possibility to shaft you. They will definately not pay for a lawyer and you will be at their mercy of ridiculous delays, lack of service, incompetent case managers, lengthy appeal process, etc. My advice don't let them get to you they will most likely try to get you to give up, tape record all of your conversations with them and your employer, and get a lawyer if you can afford one. I recommend calling up different departments pertaining to your claim; policy department, prevention department, etc. to try and get the straight goods because from my experience they just say whatever is convenient but this way you can catch them in their inconsistancies to bring forward in the appeal process. You can dowload a program to use telephone recording program with a 30-day usage trial program for free here. http://www.rayslab.com/call_recorder/ (requires a telephone modem). Ask your doctor for a causative diagnosis of your condition. It goes a long way with WCB.
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I will probably have to deal with a lawyer with my situation. I have to somehow provide for my family members if I ended up very sick and not able to work. I am still waiting from WCB and my medical reports were sent to WCB from my GP. I actually had a letter from my employer from my exposure of the asbestos back when it first happened and they were extremely unsympathetic with my situation - they actually said the air quality was safe and I didn't inhale any asbestos because they were following WCB asbestos removal procedures. However, the company who did the asbestos removal did provide information there were detectable asbestos particles in the air. Recently, I spoke with my Occupational Health and Safety advisor at work and I told her my situation with my health and she sounded like she wants to work out something with me and WCB. However, she told me that she doesn't know much about asbestos so I might be one of the first cases for her to deal with.
FYI, someone at my workplace at another department at my site died from cancer from asbestos exposure about 3 years ago. It happened to be a lady and she never worked with asbestos and somehow she was inhaled the stuff while on the job. She actually worked in a building where there is known asbestos in the insulation and floors. Last month, I just heard that they were removing asbestos at building where the lady used to work. You see, that's why I'm really scared.
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I am very sorry to hear about that... I really hope WCB doesn't try to screw you over, I hate to say it but they probably will. I definately recommend talking to a lawyer due to the severity of your issue. From my experience WorksafeBC will try to play nice in the beginning like they are out for your best interest but it is purely a fallacy in the "claims side of the buisness" as they like to call it.
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go fishing, don't make yourself any crazier than you've already made yourself
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I spoke with the lady at WCB who deals with my case. I told her my situation and she told me that my health problems aren't that severe and she would like to wait another 20 or 30 years to see if it gets my worse. I told her that it is severe and I end up taking painkillers everyday. She told me that if I continue to complain about my health, she will end my case. She was very unhelpful. My employer didn't help too as they were defending themselves as if nothing happened. My GP hasn't been very helpful as he's telling me that it's only anxiety which is more like B.S. When I'm exposed to car exhaust, second hand smoke, or even dust particles from ripping a toilet paper, I get severe chest pain. The last time I saw my GP, he actually screamed at me to leave the room as I've been seeing him too many times. I told him that I just want to see a pulmonary specialist for a lung function test. He totally refused it as if it's going to cost him money or something. My GP said that I'm healthy as for now such as I'm still alive. What would you people do in my situation?
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First thing I would do and I'm not trying to be funny, is change your avatar. That red "X" isn't too healthy looking. From there I would go for second opinion. Even from a walk in medical clinic.
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I agree with going for a second opinion route. As to the lady at WCB I would go to the press.
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The lady at WCB who deals with my case... told me that if I continue to complain about my health, she will end my case... My employer didn't help too as they were defending themselves as if nothing happened... The last time I saw my GP, he actually screamed at me to leave the room as I've been seeing him too many times.
If you're sick, LC, then I hope everything works out for you.
But I have to say: maybe you should rethink how you are dealing with people. All you seem to be reporting are VERY negative reactions from those you are going to for help... it tells me that you're likely being aggressive and maybe unstable in their prescence. I suppose this could be a result of being scared concerning your health, but try and take a second to reconsider how you approach people looking for help.
Being firm about what you want is one thing. Being forceful is another entirely.
I wish you the best of luck.
Tex
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Tex, I'm a calm person and I was extremely polite with my situation with WCB and the doctors. I only spoke to the WCB lady once and it lasted less than 5 minutes. I believe the lady at WCB has been trained to say specific phrases so like "end your case" if she believes you're still fairly healthy. However, after hearing others about their dealings with WCB, I wasn't surprised of my outcome. I think WCB is quite a joke and you have to be dead or severely injured like losing a limb or paralyzed to the point that you can't work, then they will compensate you. I'm more disappointed with my last visit at my GP than dealing with the WCB lady. My GP hasn't been accurate as he guaranteed me that nothing will show up on the x-ray, and he was wrong.
I don't really want to speak with the media as I would probably be in front page news in the Vancouver Sun or The Province. I work for a very large employer in the public health sector. I don't want to be a walking billboard for everyone in B.C. to know that I'm sick. The docs are telling me not to worry. However, one lady died at my workplace from asbestos exposure and my friend who is a teacher knows two teachers at one high school who died from asbestos related diseases after people were removing asbestos at the school. I already spoke with my union shop steward but I don't know how to go from there. Should I contact the police and have the police lay charges against my employer?
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Long Cast, your situation is obviously stressful and I do empathize. I do agree with Tex -- if your doc and WCB both don't want to deal with you then you need to change your approach. You also have to remember that WCB compensates you only for lost work time, not stress, not potential health issues. If you can still work, are not disabled, then basically you have no claim for WCB (not defending them, but just clarifying).
You may want to educate yourself more about abestos exposure, get on some forums, etc. You need a pretty large exposure over a long period of time for there to be any consequences. And there is no way to have immediate health effects from an exposure -- asbestos just does not work that way. As I said earlier, every human in the industrialized world has asbestos in their lungs -- it takes a lot to cause cancer 20 years from now.
Just trying to offer a different perspective for you.
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Update: My GP referred me to see a pulmonary specialist regarding my current condition of chest pains and discomfort. I have fairly severe right sided chest pain that comes and goes and it doesn't seem to go away after many months and he's trying to get it verified if it's cancer or not. What's scary is that fact that if it's asbestos related cancer, it's uncurable. That's why I'm scared.
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Hope it's nothing serious.
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Hope you'll be alright. Don't know all the details about Asbestos, but im in the construction bussiness, i know guys who are 60, 70 years old that used to be exposed to this stuff day in and day out for years....still have no problems! Is it bad? yes! I don't know but I think it comes down to a case by case thing, just like smoking some people can smoke till they are 100, some till they are 50....
What I do believe though, is that you have to breath in a high concentration of it on a day to day basis to really have the cancer develop (it's what ive heard -- but who really does know as its just starting to become a real issue in the past few years), i'd say if you combine it with smoking, you're almost a guarantee for lung cancer type issues
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Just what showed up on the x-ray and ct scan ? Asbestos particles are very small ,almost microscopic , I think it would be hard to see anything in one of those scans from one single exposure. Before you worry to much about your exposure , remember that people used to work heavily with that stuff for years with no protection or awareness of the risk at all . And many of them never suffered because of it .Mostly it came from long term exposure .
If it was removed by professionals properly I think you would have little chance of really being subject to much exposure at all . They do wet it down which prevents dust from flying up . Many of us still have the stuff in our homes even now with out knowing about it . It is in old lino floors that were installed up until about the mid 80's and sometimes later when old stock lino was still put into some places .
I don't mean to come across as making light of what you are saying , but worrying won't help . From one single event the chances are small anything will happen from it kinda like if you smoked one cigarette once compared to those that are regulars . Unless you actually come down with the disease or cancer you are really better off putting it out of your mind ,because the worrying about it is doing more harm then the actual exposure .
Having said this , yes your employer should have informed you it was happening . But had they told you ,would you never have set foot in that building again anyway ? Because if they did not prevent the stuff from getting into the air in the first place ,then they would not have been able to get it all out of the building afterward either . And you still would have been exposed even if you were not present during the removal process but came in afterward .
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Just what showed up on the x-ray and ct scan ? Asbestos particles are very small ,almost microscopic , I think it would be hard to see anything in one of those scans from one single exposure. Before you worry to much about your exposure , remember that people used to work heavily with that stuff for years with no protection or awareness of the risk at all . And many of them never suffered because of it .Mostly it came from long term exposure .
If it was removed by professionals properly I think you would have little chance of really being subject to much exposure at all . They do wet it down which prevents dust from flying up . Many of us still have the stuff in our homes even now with out knowing about it . It is in old lino floors that were installed up until about the mid 80's and sometimes later when old stock lino was still put into some places .
I don't mean to come across as making light of what you are saying , but worrying won't help . From one single event the chances are small anything will happen from it kinda like if you smoked one cigarette once compared to those that are regulars . Unless you actually come down with the disease or cancer you are really better off putting it out of your mind ,because the worrying about it is doing more harm then the actual exposure .
Having said this , yes your employer should have informed you it was happening . But had they told you ,would you never have set foot in that building again anyway ? Because if they did not prevent the stuff from getting into the air in the first place ,then they would not have been able to get it all out of the building afterward either . And you still would have been exposed even if you were not present during the removal process but came in afterward .
well put my thoughts are the same .. 90% of the stuff we stress and lose sleep about about never happens ..true fact
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Chin up dude. Don't waste your time worrying about $hit that hasn't happened yet. It will do you no good. Trust me, I'm an expert at worrying about crap.