Asbestos laws were created by the government to regulate employee exposure to asbestos in the workplace and allow people who are injured as a result of asbestos exposure to seek compensation; these same laws are currently being considered by the federal legislature.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a material that has been used in making over 5,000 products for hundreds of years. It can be found in everything from the brakes on your car to insulation, paints, plastics and roofing materials. Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers which can be separated into thin threads and started being mined in North America in the 1800s. The fibers that make up asbestos are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity, which is why they are an ideal product to be used by many industries. There are four main types of asbestos that have been used commercially over the years: Chrysotile (white asbestos), Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Anthophyllite (gray asbestos). All types belong to the amphibole family of fibers (rod shaped) except for Chrysotile which has belongs to the serpentine family (curly fibers). Asbestos fiber masses tend to break into a dust composed of tiny particles that can easily float in the air or stick to clothes. The fibers can also be easily inhaled or swallowed which is why they can be so hazardous to your health.
