Smithsonian settles employee asbestos claimWashington, DC - A former Smithsonian employee who blew the whistle on the museum's improper asbestos precautions will receive $233,000 and health insurance from a settlement. The former employee, Richard Pullman, was a former exhibit specialist at the National Air and Space Museum. He has developed asbestosis, a lung disease linked to breathing asbestos fibers, which he believes he may have contracted while drilling into the museum's walls to install exhibits and lighting. Pullman worked for the museum for nearly 30 years.
Exposure to even a small amount of asbestos is considered unsafe, according to the US EPA. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, as well as asbestosis, lung cancer, and scarring of the lungs. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. Both mesothelioma and asbestosis can be fatal.
Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough ordered a study of the museum's asbestos policies earlier this year, and concluded that "Our written policies and procedures are typical of a federal agency and our efforts exceed those of most commercial entities, according to the report."
Smithsonian spokeswoman Samia Brennan added that to date, over 800 museum workers have attended asbestos education classes this year, with 50 museum employees participating in a free screening program to detect asbestos-related diseases.
According to Pullman's attorney, David J. Marshall, "Mr. Pullman feels that he has done his part in the fight for a safer workplace and for the right of workers to advocate the same without fear of retaliation."
