May Day marks bloody history for workers rights in United States

The first day of May is globally known as May Day or International Worker’s Day. While cities around the world, such as Jakarta, Istanbul, Bangkok, Berlin and Moscow, hold protests and demonstrations to celebrate, the holiday sees little recognition in the United States. Some cities, including Washington, D.C., plan rallies for May Day, but generally the day passes with minimal attention about the rich history that led to its creation. History that begins in the United States. During the late nineteenth century, the working class experienced deplorable conditions. With few labor laws in place, adults and children worked more then 10 hours a...

29 May

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Workers Memorial Day: Mourn for the dead, fight for the living

Posted by Goldberg, Persky & White P.C.

in Asbestos & Mesothelioma News

For many, going to work is an everyday task completed without fear of injury or death. Men and women sit at their desks, finishing necessary assignments and returning home to relax or spend time with their family. For others, that reassurance does not exist. Every day is a risk for workers in unsafe surroundings, subject to the negligence of their employers. Decades passed before anything was done to regulate these substandard conditions. April 28 marks the 1971 decision to establish the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. The act holds employers responsible in ensuring that work environments are safe for...

29 May

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Lung cancer is more than a smokers’ disease

Posted by Goldberg, Persky & White P.C.

in Asbestos & Mesothelioma News

The world seems to turn pink each October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but little recognition is given to the month that follows. November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, intended to educate the public about the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States. As smoking rates decrease, the rate of lung cancer cases are diminishing as well, but it’s still the second most diagnosed cancer in the United States. Just three years ago, more than 200,000 people were diagnosed, accounting for 14 percent of all cancer diagnoses. Lung cancer is also responsible for...

29 May

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Asbestos: Past risk or future threat?

Posted by Goldberg, Persky & White P.C.

in Asbestos & Mesothelioma News

Most people never think or worry about asbestos. Once deemed a miracle fiber, the substance’s use was largely eradicated after OSHA came into existence. What many don’t realize is the lasting effects of the carcinogen. At one time before the dangers were realized, asbestos appeared in a variety of manufactured items, from insulation to clothing. Exposure occurred from the products, in factories and from their loved ones’ work clothes. Use finally declined in the 1970s, but many countries (including the United States) haven’t implemented a ban, making it a worldwide threat. It serves as the largest cause of work-related deaths in the United...

29 May

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Recent rulings discipline careless asbestos handling

Posted by Goldberg, Persky & White P.C.

in Asbestos & Mesothelioma News

Three recent verdicts represent the lack of care still associated with asbestos removal. In each case, the defendants either performed botched removal jobs or exposed workers to the deadly fibers without proper protection. During the demolition of a vacant public housing facility in Buffalo, New York, two city inspectors failed at ensuring asbestos was safely removed and didn’t escape into the nearby community. William Manuszewski and Donald Grzebielucha worked for the city for many years and were trusted, law-abiding employees according to court documents. The pair admitted guilt for violating the Clean Air Act through negligent endangerment. Their clean records and...