Related Topics â–º Other TopicsArizona (AZ) Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a map that shows there is a large asbestos industry in Arizona that is primarily concentrated around Tucson. During the 50s and 60s, there were several asbestos mines operated by American Asbestos Mines, a division of Arizona Asbestos Inc. The Asbestos Institute is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and is one of the largest training facilities in the United States for asbestos management and abatement.
With much asbestos mining and manufacturing in Arizona, it's not a surprise that asbestos-related diseases have deeply affected the state. Even the infamous W.R. Grace & Company - the plight of Libby, Montana, touches Arizona where a vermiculite packing plant was located. The people who worked at this plant, called Solomon's Mines, are at a high risk for asbestos exposure.
At-Risk Occupations and Locations in Arizona
Throughout Scottsdale, Tucson, and Yuma, there are seven major power generating plants and three copper smelting operations that once used asbestos. Most of these major industries have made a great effort to clean up the asbestos in their plants, however, for people who worked in these industries before 1990; the risk of asbestos exposure is quite high. Statistics show there were at least 2,249 shipments (approximately 212,458 tons) of vermiculite (containing harmful asbestos) shipped from Libby, Montana to two locations in Arizona between 1948 and 1993.
Many people living in Arizona assume asbestos-related diseases are only concerning those who worked in the copper mines. However, there are many at-risk occupations in Arizona, which includes mills, factories, and construction sites. Arizona ranked number eight between 1948 and 1993 for the number of tons that were received from Libby Montana. Due to this high number, many people have been exposed to asbestos, either first or secondhand, and most of it is due to the large volume of vermiculite from Libby.
Legal Resources for Arizona Residents
In Arizona, the laws that are specific to asbestos and related diseases are covered under Title 36, Article 2, Section 36 to 134, which basically states that reports on asbestosis and mesothelioma are reportable to the department. Title 23 of the same statute is also clear on the obligations of employers and employees. It states that employers shall provide employment, which is free from recognized hazards and that each of the employees must comply with safety and health standards.
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit against a company for an asbestos related disease is two years. However, Arizona law does not state anything specifically about asbestos-related lawsuits. The statute of limitations begins when the disease was first discovered.
Throughout the 80s, there were several lawsuits against many of the Arizona mines. Asarco, a Tucson-based copper producer, has been involved in mesothelioma and asbestosis lawsuits since 1983. Asarco filed bankruptcy in 2005, and settlements from old lawsuits are still pending. Other lawsuits have also generated some public interest, including a Phoenix industry official who pled guilty in 2006 for failure to comply with hazardous material packaging requirements, failing to train his employees about handling asbestos, and for failing to provide his employees with protective gear when demolishing a commercial building that contained asbestos. He paid $75,000 in restitution to the employees and $2,000 in fines,as well as receiving three years of probation.
State Index
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