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Florida ranks second for the largest number of mesothelioma- and asbestos-related deaths. The state, however, has less strict asbestos laws than some other states.

In 1982, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection began its Asbestos Removal Program, which was created to protect against asbestos fibers that were released during the demolition and repair of buildings.

Florida’s asbestos laws, which are contained in the Florida Administrative Code, dictate the type of asbestos that can be used as well as how the material must be handled.

Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with overseeing the state’s asbestos removal program.

Prolonged or frequent exposure to asbestos in Florida greatly increases a person’s chances of eventually being diagnosed with mesothelioma or one of a number of other serious medical conditions.

Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that the state of Florida has a slightly greater than average death rate due to mesothelioma.

Florida is one of just a number of few states that has naturally occurring asbestos. Among the areas with the highest asbestos deposits are the counties of Gadsden and Union.

Some of the industries in Florida where asbestos exposure is known to have occurred include the following:

• Agriculture. Sugar processing is a rampant industry in Florida. Asbestos was used over the years by a number of sugar companies including the Atlantic Sugar Association, Florida Cane Product, the Florida Sugar Corporation, and U.S. Sugar. There are also several companies involved with orange growing that have been determined to have used asbestos.
• Power plants. Due to its large cities and substantial number of visitors, Florida has a substantial energy industry. Power plants are one of the locations that traditionally relied on asbestos for a number of purposes due to the material’s capabilities as an insulator. Asbestos is known to have been used by a number of corporations, including the Crystal River Nuclear Plant, the Florida Power and Light Company, and the Lakeland Power Plant.
• Shipyards. Due to the large sections of the state that are located next to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, Florida has a number of shipyards. This includes naval stations in Pensacola, Mayport, and Jacksonville. There is also a substantial risk of asbestos exposure at commercial shipyards in the state. Asbestos was once commonly used in a number of materials at shipyards including as insulation due to the material’s heat and fire resistant nature.
• Oil platforms. Between the 1940s through the1980s, a number of oil wells were drilled immediately off of Florida’s costs. Many of these sites contained asbestos due to the material’s heat resistant nature. As a result, an unexpectedly large number of workers and Floridians were exposed to asbestos.

No matter how your asbestos exposure occurred, if you are a Floridian who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney. Contact the Throneberry Law Group today by calling (888) 506-1131 or schedule an initial consultation online.