The expertise of a B-reader is essential in the evaluation of the health of asbestos victims
A doctor certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), who is proficient in the classification of X-rays of pneumoconiosis, is referred to as a B-reader.
Chest radiography is an important diagnostic tool used to assess respiratory health and evaluate potential hazards from exposure to asbestos, respirable silica, and other harmful dust.
These dust-induced diseases are collectively known as pneumoconioses. Typically, a B-reader evaluates chest X-rays to see if there are any changes that point toward diseases caused by exposure to particles such as asbestos and silica. They follow stringent protocols that are put forth for systematic examination of X-rays in a step-by-step manner that includes the recording of certain abnormalities in the chest X-ray that may be a result of inhalation of asbestos fibers.
A standard system for the classification of chest radiographs is the International Labor Office (ILO) International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses and is widely used by doctors as well as researchers to study work-related respiratory hazards.
The NIOSH has been training doctors for the past four decades and certifying their competence in the usage of the ILO system of classification of film-based chest radiographs. In order to be designated as B-readers, physicians have to pass through a rigorous examination offered by the NIOSH.
If you or a family member was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or in the military, we highly encourage you to seek the help of a B-readers in order to assess the damage this toxic mineral might have inflicted on your lungs. To file a claim as a veteran injured by asbestos exposure, you will have to send our skilled attorneys your military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records.
