We occasionally get calls from workers with very sad stories of what they say are work related illnesses. I personally received such a call from a very nice person that I worked with for years.  He had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, he was dying, and needed my help.

The last time I saw him he was perfectly healthy.  I had been in charge of Environmental, Health, and Safety, and Metalworking Fluids.  When I first received the assignmnet, I witnessed one worker operating his machine in a raincoat due to the metalworking fluid overspray.  Rodolfo was an engineer from Argentina.  He was always a gentleman.  He had young children.  He told me that his treatment had left him penniless.  He had found an attorney and was trying to determine how he might have been exposed to asbestos at work – the only place of his career employment.  Other workers helped him locate me.  He needed my help.  I had hired professionals to search for and remove the asbestos from that facility while I was there.  This, and other responsible activities had made me extremely unpopular with management.  Rodolfo had worked in a special Model Shop that few others worked in.  I did many projects in that building myself.  I had absolutely no recollection of the company having found any asbestos in that small and relatively newer building.  I was unable to help him at all.  Perhaps he was working with materials around the bearing tester he managed.  The plant had been demolished.  A few months later, he passed away.  No one should have to die this way, leaving his young children fatherless.

There is no comparison between the dangers of asbestos and that of metalworking fluids, but it was the asbestos industry's behavior in hiding and denying the hazards to keep the product going out the door that has changed our workplace world.  Never again.  If you honestly believe you are legitimately ill from improper exposure to metalworking fluids, you should contact an attorney.  This is just one of a growing number of firms that have experience in the field. NOTE: I don’t know them and do not provide any recommendation.  They don't know me either.  They are only shown here because it’s LAW MONTH – and for Rodolfo.