The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame
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The article "The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame" talks about cancer, it has been written by Tony McGlinn.
The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were all aware of the health dangers of asbestos. It seems strange that the asbestos industry in many parts of the wrold chose to ignore the risks.Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920's. 50 Years later companies in the asbestos industry were still doing nothing to protect their workers.To be fair, the workers themselves had the same access to information as the companies, so must also take responsibility for their actions in deciding to work in a dangerous industry.
In many respects that decision was similar to the decision that many persons still take on a daily basis yesterday - to smoke a cigarette.
The apparent benefit of taking home a pay check overrode the distant possibility of death for those workers and their families, just as the immediate plaesure of a cigarette does for smokers yesterday.Having said that I believe that the employers have a duty to ensure that their workers are in as safe an environment as possible, and that they are aware of the risks, so that if they decide to work there, they are making an informed decision. Clearly that did not always happen, and as a result the industry is going through a series of lawsuits, where persons who have become ill are sunig for compensation. Many companies around the world have already gone bankrupt as a result of this, and the process appears to be continuing. In the US there is legislation proposed to pay compensation from a central fund, but that proposal seems unlikely to succeed because of the level of agreement that will be required on how the money in the fund will be collected.Both workers and employers in all types of business would do well to reflect on that sorry saga where no-one with the possible exception of a couple of lawyers, will ever believe that their decision to either work in, or employ persons in a dangerous environment, was justified.The asbestos Internet site makes it easy to find the information you need if you guess you may have been exposed to asbestos. To receive your free 35 page support gudie visit the asbestos cancer website.
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The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame
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