Businesses have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a safe, healthy workplace for their employees. When a known hazard is putting employee health and wellness at risk, the employer can, and should, be held liable. Asbestos, a once-common construction material, is one such risk. If your employees are facing asbestos exposure at your workplace, you can be held liable. Here’s what your business needs to know about this threat to employee health and wellness.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a name used for a group of minerals that have a fiber-like consistency. Because they resist heat and corrosion, asbestos products have been used in the manufacture of a variety of products including pipes, building materials, floor tiles and more. Unfortunately, asbestos exposure has been directly linked to the development of mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer in the lungs or stomach, as well as other lung conditions. As such, new uses of asbestos are banned by OSHA and the EPA. However, uses established before the ban are still allowed, and many older buildings have asbestos in the walls and flooring. When those asbestos-containing materials are damaged, workers can breathe in the asbestos fibers, putting their health at risk.

Asbestos Exposure and Your Business’s Liability

If you have a known asbestos problem at your business facility and do not address it properly, you are putting your business at serious risk. First, asbestos-related illnesses can hurt your employees’ productivity. Workers who are ill or who have to seek treatment for lung diseases and cancer cannot do their jobs well, and your entire business will suffer as a result.

Second, asbestos creates a legal liability for your business. Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen, thus if a worker develops cancer as a result of exposure, that worker can sue the business for failure to provide a safe work environment. An asbestos lawsuit puts the company at risk, not only for financial liability but also for damage to its reputation.

The Solution to Asbestos? Professional Removal

If you discover an asbestos problem in your building, don’t delay. Your business and your employees are both at risk. Professional removal is required by law to protect your workers from additional exposure, because trying to remove the asbestos on your own will only stir up the airborne particles and fibers, increasing the exposure risk. A professional asbestos remediation service will know how to properly contain the asbestos before removal, to protect your facility and its workers. If you are in need of asbestos removal services in the greater Baltimore area, contact the pros at B+M Restorations today.