Advocate of the Month

MCA Warrior Stories

Inspiring Stories from Courageous Men and Women Dedicated to Increasing Mesothelioma Awareness

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to thank Sara Gapasin for sharing her story about how asbestos exposure affected her family's life as the April Advocate of the Month. Asbestos-related cancer took the life of her grandfather, breast cancer claimed her grandmother, and Sara also lives with her own disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Being no stranger to health adversity, Sara still shares a message of hope. Read on to learn Sara's story and share it to help raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos.

It is a great honor to be featured as the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance's Advocate of the Month! I feel inadequate at receiving this honor. This past year I was writing a blog about my experience with Rheumatoid Arthritis (before I had to stop due to RA) and I was approached by mesothelioma survivor Heather, who shared her incredible story of survival with me. Her story touched me personally as my maternal grandfather had passed away from lung cancer from exposure to asbestos when I was very young.

My grandfather worked in construction during the late 1930's and early 1940's to pay for college and, unfortunately, the materials used at that time contained asbestos. He developed an asbestos spot on his lung, which his doctors did not diligently observe and it eventually metastasized and led to his untimely death at the age of 65. Though I was young when he passed, the ripples of his early demise can still be felt every holiday and in the many everyday happenings that trigger memories of him for my grandmother and mother.

That is why when Heather approached me with her own story of how she developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos, I felt personally drawn to it and felt compelled to share it. Heather is just one of the many "female warriors" who have approached me since I started blogging. I have received messages and emails from so many amazing women battling different types of cancers and diseases, it has been truly touching. Cancer has not just been limited to my grandfather, my paternal grandmother passed away from breast cancer in 2008. Due to my family experience, along with my own increased risk to develop certain cancers like lymphoma as a person with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have learned to enjoy every moment of life with my family and loved ones.

Though cancer has been fatal in my family, it is important to remember that a diagnosis is not a death sentence. You just have to look at all the amazing stories of survival out there, like Heather who was given 15 months to live in 2005. Her story like so many others, is truly inspirational and gives hope to the many people battling cancer and mesothelioma. That is why the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, and other organizations like it, are so very important as they spread hope for patients and work to increase awareness about the stories in addition to their advocacy work.

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OSHA fines real estate developer $2.3 million for asbestos and lead violations ...

A New York real estate development and management company is facing $2.3 million in proposed fines for exposing employees and contractors to asbestos and lead hazards. OSHA's Albany area office conducted an inspection in response to a complaint. Inspectors found that employees and contractors were exposed to asbestos and lead while performing renovation and cleanup activities.

For a Limited Time receive a FREE Safety Special Report on the "50 Tips For More-Effective Safety Training." Receive 75 pages of useful safety information broken down into three training sections. Download Now

According to OSHA, the development company failed to take basic safety precations and did not inform employees or contractors about the presence of asbestos and lead, despite knowing both hazards were present. As a result, OSHA issued 45 willful citations; about half of them were for per-instance exposure. Take steps to protect your employees from lead and asbestos

As an employer, it's your duty to train employees about the hazards of asbestos and lead and the need for safeguards. OSHA also requires that you monitor exposure, provide appropriate respiratory protection, and alert workers to the hazards. Compliance quick check-asbestosAsbestos fibers are released into the air during activities that disturb asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer, asbestosis (lung tissue scarring) and chronic lung disease. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average (TWA). Employee exposure is also limited to no more than 1 f/cc averaged over 30 minutes. 29 CFR 1926.1101 covers construction, renovation, and demolition of structures contain asbestos. The asbestos standard for general industry can be found at 29 CFR 1910.1001 and covers activities including brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and the manufacture of asbestos-containing products. Compliance quick check-lead

Lead is a common hazard at many construction sites. Exposure comes from inhaling fumes and dust. Lead can be ingested when hands are contaminated by lead dust, and it can travel home on workers' clothes, skin, hair, tool, and in vehicles. Workers should use proper PPE, including gloves, clothing, and approved respirators. Employers and supervisors should be alert to lead exposure symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, headache, and loss of motor coordination. When possible, provide lead-free materials and chemicals. OSHA recommends using wet cleaning methods to decrease dust. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to more than 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3) of lead averaged over an 8-hour period. If employees are exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 30 ug/m3 (the action level), employers must test lead levels every 6 months until two consecutive tests reveal lead levels below the action level and inform employees of these tests. The OSHA standard for lead in construction is at 29 CFR 1926.62. For general industry, the standard is at 29 CFR 1910.1025.

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OSHA fines real estate developer $2.3 million for asbestos and lead violations ...

A New York real estate development and management company is facing $2.3 million in proposed fines for exposing employees and contractors to asbestos and lead hazards. OSHA's Albany area office conducted an inspection in response to a complaint. Inspectors found that employees and contractors were exposed to asbestos and lead while performing renovation and cleanup activities.

For a Limited Time receive a FREE Safety Special Report on the "50 Tips For More-Effective Safety Training." Receive 75 pages of useful safety information broken down into three training sections. Download Now

According to OSHA, the development company failed to take basic safety precations and did not inform employees or contractors about the presence of asbestos and lead, despite knowing both hazards were present. As a result, OSHA issued 45 willful citations; about half of them were for per-instance exposure. Take steps to protect your employees from lead and asbestos

As an employer, it's your duty to train employees about the hazards of asbestos and lead and the need for safeguards. OSHA also requires that you monitor exposure, provide appropriate respiratory protection, and alert workers to the hazards. Compliance quick check-asbestosAsbestos fibers are released into the air during activities that disturb asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer, asbestosis (lung tissue scarring) and chronic lung disease. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average (TWA). Employee exposure is also limited to no more than 1 f/cc averaged over 30 minutes. 29 CFR 1926.1101 covers construction, renovation, and demolition of structures contain asbestos. The asbestos standard for general industry can be found at 29 CFR 1910.1001 and covers activities including brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and the manufacture of asbestos-containing products. Compliance quick check-lead

Lead is a common hazard at many construction sites. Exposure comes from inhaling fumes and dust. Lead can be ingested when hands are contaminated by lead dust, and it can travel home on workers' clothes, skin, hair, tool, and in vehicles. Workers should use proper PPE, including gloves, clothing, and approved respirators. Employers and supervisors should be alert to lead exposure symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, headache, and loss of motor coordination. When possible, provide lead-free materials and chemicals. OSHA recommends using wet cleaning methods to decrease dust. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to more than 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3) of lead averaged over an 8-hour period. If employees are exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 30 ug/m3 (the action level), employers must test lead levels every 6 months until two consecutive tests reveal lead levels below the action level and inform employees of these tests. The OSHA standard for lead in construction is at 29 CFR 1926.62. For general industry, the standard is at 29 CFR 1910.1025.

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