Risks & Rights of Asbestos Exposure
Construction and craftworkers
— especially bricklayers and tilesetters —
are currently at risk of asbestos exposure
300,000 People
EACH YEAR!
Protect yourself & your loved ones by understanding your risks and rights
What Can I Do Now?
Experiencing asbestos exposure or symptoms of asbestos related illness or injury can feel overwhelming. But there are resources and assistance available to you and your family. Often, you will need to provide some work and health information in order to begin inquiries or investigations. Use this checklist to ensure you have everything ready when you or your loved ones need it.
Even if you don’t think you’ve been exposed to asbestos, proactively collecting the items on this checklist is still a wise idea, given how quickly asbestos related diseases can progress. Before many know it, they’re not only suffering from a deadly disease, they’re suffering the very real effect from chemotherapy called “chemo brain” that often times may affect their ability to remember and think clearly. An ounce of preparation goes a long way to making your claims and case the best they can be. If you have questions, you should reach out to us and we’ll get you in touch with the best resources we can.
MAKE A LIST OF ALL PREVIOUS WORKSITES FROM THROUGHOUT YOUR UNION CAREER.
This will help your legal team’s investigation into how and where you were exposed to asbestos. Use the sheets included in the back of the packet or download them from (insert link to site). Of course, much of this may date back 30, 40 or 50 years ago, so it’s a process that may take time. Come back to it when you can and when details come back to you. Write down, the best you can, here and there, come back to the worksheets again, put it together on the included sheets. If possible, include years, co-workers/supervisors, employers, other contractors, short descriptors of the jobs/sites. Every bit is one more piece of the puzzle of your asbestos exposures. And, as it turns out, you may be the one helping out your union brother.
MAKE A LIST OF ALL PREVIOUS JOBS OR RELEVANT ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF YOUR UNION CAREER.
While much of what you may have done over your lifetime was through the union, there are many other ways folks are exposed to asbestos: Did you work in another trade at some point? Did you have a different career? Did you serve in the US Navy? Did you do your own home remodeling projects? Did you do side work during slowdowns or times of unemployment? Did you do your own automotive work? Use the sheets in the back of the packet or download them from (insert link to site) to note other potential exposures and gather this very important information. And don’t hesitate to ask us for help.
GATHER YOUR UNION RECORDS AND SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS.
These will help quickly confirm your work history in detail. In the back of this packet, you will find important authorization forms to begin collecting these records. You can request
them yourself or we can have someone help you with that process, especially Social Security Records, which may take some time.
GATHER YOUR FULL HEALTH HISTORY.
Having your complete medical history and records helps show your progression of symptoms and conditions. Contact the IUBAC or your doctor to get started with collecting this information.
Asbestos Resources
MESOTHELIOMA APPLIED RESOURCE FOUNDATION
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) is a nonprofit charity organization that funds research to improve mesothelioma treatment options; provide treatment support and education for patients and their families; and advocates for federal funding of research.
LUNGEVITY
LUNGevity funds scientific research focused on early detection and therapeutics to help people live better with lung cancer and improve the survival rate.
SWMW LAW
SWMW Law is a full-service legal team with practice areas in mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. We have decades of experience working with unions, including bricklayers and tilesetters, and have recovered more than $500 million for our clients. We’re happy to help you understand your legal rights and options, as well as fill out important documents and authorization forms.
IUBAC
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers actively fights to improve its members’ quality of life on and off the job through access to fair wages, good benefits, safe working conditions, and solidarity among members. For more information about the benefits and essential care management programs that are available to members through the BAC International Health Fund, visit https://bacbenefits.org/ or contact the Fund Office at 1-888-880-8222. BAC also provides confidential telephone crisis intervention, referral and information services to BAC members and their families in the U.S. and Canada through its Member Assistance Program (“MAP”). To learn more about the resources MAP offers or to contact its licensed mental health professionals, call (toll-free) 1-833-MAP-TALK or 1-833-627-8255, or visit MAP on the web at https://bacweb.org/member-service/member-assistance-program-map
Your Doctors
In addition to getting regular checkups, your primary care doctor can answer questions about any symptoms of asbestos exposure you may be experiencing. Be sure to tell your doctor about any asbestos exposure or symptoms.