Three years ago, during a training session, a number of firefighters from Everett, Washington were exposed to asbestos. They have now filed a multimillion dollar case against the city. The case was filed just last month by those firefighters taking part in the training and their spouses. They demand a whopping sum of $9 million from the city. A lawsuit may soon be brought against the city of Everett.
This case of asbestos exposure dates back to July 2007. The firefighters were exposed to this toxic mineral while they were undergoing a training session in city-owned houses that were contaminated with asbestos. Considering it to be a mock drill, no one wore protective breathing gear. The firefighters continued to drill holes in old homes of the city’s Tower Street and N. Broadway. One of them knew about the buildings being contaminated with asbestos, however, the presence of asbestos and the dangers associated with asbestos exposure were not effectively communicated to the others.
A report given by a consultant from the Department of Labor and Industries claimed that firefighters involved in the exercise should undergo regular checkups to learn about the medical effects of the asbestos exposure as the mineral is known to cause some diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and even fatal mesothelioma. All the firefighters want is a lifetime medical monitoring for illnesses that could develop due to the asbestos exposure to which they were made victim during these training exercises.
The firefighters, represented by an attorney from Seattle, Jeff Keane, now seek a formalization of the promise given to them by the city that this medical monitoring would definitely be provided. Currently, 27 firefighters have been offered medical monitoring for the rest of their life. This has been done as they were the ones who were most exposed to the toxic construction material during the training exercise.
The city will now be expected to make a move and offer protection to all of the firefighters involved in the training exercises as asbestos can cause them serious harm. Asbestos fibers, if inhaled or ingested, get collected in the lungs and can prove to be fatal.
Strict measures have been taken by the city to avoid firefighters’ exposure to asbestos. The buildings are now checked for asbestos contamination before any training takes place and it has become mandatory for the trainees to wear their safety gear even during mock drills.