Ex-Smithsonian employee settles asbestos lawsuit
Richard Pullman, age 54, worked for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum for 28 years as an exhibit specialist. He recently settled a lawsuit with his former employer for a substantial amount after he became sick from the museum walls that contained asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous substance that was used in many construction materials and remains in many public and private buildings throughout the U.S. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest and abdomen.
For more than 25 years, Pullman often sawed and drilled into the museum’s interior walls in order to install and update exhibits. It wasn’t until 2008 that he and his coworkers were informed that the walls contained asbestos. Pullman has been diagnosed with asbestosis, a progressive lung disease caused by asbestos exposure.
An outside consultant has recommended improvements in the handling of asbestos within the Smithsonian Institution, including changes in training and procedures, as well as inspections of the museum complex to locate the toxic substance. The Smithsonian had conducted baseline asbestos studies years ago, but they did not use the most reliable method of testing, and they failed to reinspect the buildings every three years.
For the full story, go to The Washington Post.
