WSIB: The importance of knowing your rights if you have an
asbestos-related disease
Asbestos-related diseases are increasing in the United States
and in some other countries, because asbestos workers were
exposed to this mineral, which is the main risk factor for
developing the disease. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
(WSIB) helps you to find out if you are entitled to compensation
if you worked exposed to asbestos.
This is important, because when you are sick you do not have
time to think of your disease causes, since you never thought of
being ill with pain and even with so much danger to your health.
For instance, in Ontario, Canada, exists a Workplace Safety and
Insurance Board (WSIB) that oversees your state's workplace
safety education and training system, provides disability
benefits, monitors the quality of health care, and assists in
early and safe return to work.
The most exposed workers to the risk of developing an
asbestos-related disease are power plant workers, asbestos and
talc miners, shipyard workers, auto break mechanics, demolition
workers, pipe fitters, insulation workers, boilermakers and
workers who make products which contain asbestos, such as
firebricks, fire-retardant paint, and asbestos cement.
The most common asbestos-related diseases are asbestosis,
mesothelioma, benign pleural diseases, pleural plaques and lung
cancer.
It does not exist a cure for most of the above mentioned
diseases, but there are treatments such as chemotherapy or
radiotherapy, as for other types of cancer pathologies.
There are also different ways of prevention the high risk of
inhaling asbestos fibers when you work with this material.