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Contact usWhat to do if you are exposed to asbestos?
If you are exposed to asbestos there are some things you should consider:
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If you are a smoker, try to stop smoking. Evidence suggests that people exposed to asbestos who quit smoking can significantly reduce their risk of developing lung cancer
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Talk to your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups. You may want to ask about seeing a doctor experienced with asbestos-related diseases. Some doctors recommend that people with heavy asbestos exposure get regular chest x-rays or CT scans, and lung function tests. These tests can't detect asbestos fibres, but they may be able to detect problems that could be caused by the fibres
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Tell your doctor if you start to have symptoms that might be related to asbestos exposure. This may include:
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- shortness of breath
- a new or worsening cough
- pain or tightness in the chest
- trouble swallowing
- unintended weight loss.
See your doctor promptly for any respiratory illness.
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Ask your doctor about getting vaccines against flu and pneumonia
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If you were exposed to asbestos in the workplace, register a workplace incident. Make sure you keep records of:
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- the incident
- any reports
- your employment at the time the incident occurred
- any medical records related to the exposure.