Washington State Honors Fallen Workers, Asbestos Deaths

Olympia, Washington - May 10, 2009

Last year 81 workers died as a result of job-related injuries or illnesses in Washington State.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries held a memorial ceremony last week to honor those workers who perished due to workplace injury or illness. The governor spoke, and friends and families of the dearly departed rang a memorial bell to honor those who lost their lives in the last year.

In Washington and throughout the nation, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, and can kill victims within months of diagnosis. Mesothelioma is attributed almost exclusively to asbestos exposure.

Workers at shipyards, mines, schools, and other locations around the United States risk asbestos exposure on a daily basis if their workplace contains the deadly substance. Due to a long latency period, it can be up to several decades after the initial exposure until mesothelioma is diagnosed.

There were 13 cases of death by asbestos-related disease on the list of 81 people who perished. All were people who died long after their initial contact with the deadly material.

In a world where people are going crazy about finding masks to ward off the swine flu, it is chilling to note that the number of asbestos-related deaths may not peak until 2010. Perhaps more people should wear the masks when doing home renovations, a growing risk for asbestos exposure.

Other professions that were featured on the list include fisherman, loggers, police officers, a mechanic, and a computer technician who fell to his death from a skylight.