Warehouse workers frequently suffer on-the-job injuries, and among the risks they face are being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases from exposure to asbestos. Whether through exposure to the older facilities they work in or from having handled goods that contain the toxic mineral, the workers need to be aware of the dangers posed by the building materials that surround them, packaging material that was used in the past, and any products or material ingredients they may have taken delivery of or shipped out as part of their job responsibilities.
Asbestos Risks in Warehousing Facilities
Between 1930 and the mid-1980s, asbestos was a material that was commonly used in construction of all types of structures, including warehouses. By some estimates, as many as 3.5 million buildings in the United States were built using the toxic material.[1] Warehouses that were built before the late 1970s incorporated asbestos-containing materials including spray-on insulation, roofing shingles, ceiling and flooring tiles, and wall panels as well as the gaskets, valves, and sealants that may have been exposed in these largely unfinished commercial buildings.
Though asbestos-containing materials pose little risk if undisturbed, as buildings age and through normal wear and tear, renovations, or damage, the asbestos fibers within the building’s components can be released into the air, putting workers at risk of inhaling or ingesting them.
Additionally, warehouse employees’ job responsibilities revolve around the handling, unloading, or storage of products, and for those who worked in industries that relied upon, manufactured, or distributed asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, the risk of illness is even greater.
Asbestos-containing Materials Commonly Found in Warehouses
Though asbestos-containing materials can be found almost anywhere within older warehouse facilities, they are most commonly found in:[1]
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Thermal insulation for pipes and boilers
- Spray-on fireproof coatings
- Corrugated cement sheeting
- Ceiling tiles and vinyl flooring
- Insulation materials around electrical systems
- Drywall materials
- Sprayed coatings
- Gaskets
- Lining boards and panels
- Joint and patching compounds
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 14-27% of public buildings in the United States contained friable asbestos-containing materials, with those built in the 1960s being of greatest concern because of the presence of trowelled-on or sprayed-on fireproofing material.[1]
Warehouse workers who work in buildings that don’t seem to have those dangerous components may still be at risk, as years of renovations or maintenance may have covered up asbestos with other materials. It is very common to find asbestos remnants and debris in areas where asbestos has been removed or sealed off in the past, whether stuck to walls, surfaces, and pipework or in the form of overspray debris or within any void created by renovations or new construction.[2] If these materials degrade or are disturbed, workers risk inhaling airborne asbestos fibers.
In addition to asbestos exposure from their physical environment, warehouse workers risked asbestos exposure if they worked in an industry that either supplied or received asbestos or asbestos-containing components or products. Whether receiving and sorting goods for storage in inventory, distributing items to points within a facility, operating or maintaining equipment that relied on asbestos-containing parts, or readying asbestos-containing materials for distribution, warehouse employees faced the danger of inhaling microscopic asbestos particles.
Warehouse Jobs with the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Though anybody who worked in a warehouse that was constructed using asbestos, or that received, inventoried, or distributed asbestos-containing materials, was at risk, certain roles within a warehouse environment face a greater risk of asbestos exposure. These include:
- Receiving: Any employee tasked with receiving goods into the warehouse for storage or distribution. These workers open boxes to match merchandise with orders and inspect them for defects or appropriate quantities. They also take merchandise unloaded from delivery trucks and distribute them into inventory or to their destination within the organization.
- Maintenance Workers: Tasks involving repairs or renovations of aging structures often disturb asbestos materials.
- Forklift Operators: When items received at the warehouse or destined for distribution are too heavy to be carried, forklift drivers are responsible for picking them up and delivering them to their distribution point. This work can lead to hazardous dust being released, and many forklift parts are also contaminated with asbestos.
- Inventory Specialists: Employees responsible for sorting products and materials within an organization’s inventory are exposed to asbestos-containing parts and materials, as well as old packaging materials that may contain asbestos dust. They are also responsible for retrieving and filling orders of items that may have contained asbestos or asbestos-containing parts.
- Building Inspectors: There have been several cases of building inspectors responsible for evaluating warehouse conditions being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases due to their exposure to asbestos within the environments they were inspecting.
In addition to those who worked in warehouses, there is a significant risk of secondary asbestos exposure to their family members. Asbestos fibers were often unknowingly carried home on workers’ hair, skin, and clothing, and wives who laundered their work clothes frequently inhaled these fibers; so too did children who hugged their fathers, or who sat on their fathers’ laps after work. Decades later, many of these family members have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases due to this indirect exposure.
Health Impacts of Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause severe and deadly health issues. The once-popular mineral has been recognized as a potent carcinogen, with extended contact with the material significantly increasing the likelihood of developing lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive, and deadly form of cancer. Asbestos exposure also increases the risk of other cancers, including ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, colorectal cancer, throat cancer, kidney cancer, gallbladder cancer, and esophageal cancers.
- Mesothelioma – Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium—the thin tissue layer that lines the cavities that hold the internal organs in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. The most common form of mesothelioma forms in the lining around the lungs, but mesothelioma can also develop in the lining of the peritoneal cavity that holds the abdominal organs, as well as in the lining around the heart and the testicles.
- Lung Cancer — Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure is another common asbestos-related disease.
- Asbestosis — A chronic, progressive condition marked by lung tissue scarring. It can range from mild to severe and may cause symptoms including difficulty breathing, chronic cough, and chest pain and tightness. There is no cure for asbestosis, as the lung scarring is irreversible.
- Pleural conditions — These can include localized thickening of pleural tissue known as pleural plaques, extensive pleural tissue thickening that reduces lung function, and fluid buildup in the chest cavity known as pleural effusion.
While not all of these conditions are fatal, they all significantly diminish the quality of life, impacting respiratory function and contributing to long-term health complications.
Protective Measures for Warehouse Workers
If you work in a warehouse and environment, there are steps you and your employer can take to reduce your risk of asbestos exposure. These include:
- Facility inspections: Conduct regular assessments of older warehouses to identify potential asbestos-containing materials.
- Training programs: Workers should be advised of the risks of asbestos, how to recognize it in the workplace, and how to avoid exposure.
- Proper handling procedures: Should asbestos materials be identified within your warehouse environment, ensure that they are removed by licensed abatement professionals who are certified in proper handling, containment, and disposal.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Warehouse employees who are at risk of asbestos exposure should have access to respirators and protective clothing and should wear them when working near potential asbestos hazards.
- OSHA compliance: All employers are expected to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations for safe asbestos handling and exposure limits.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos in a Warehouse Work Environment?
If you worked in a warehouse that was built before the 1980s, you likely encountered asbestos regularly in your work environment or from the parts and supplies you received, stored, and distributed. This exposure has the potential of leading to a diagnosis in years to come, as asbestos-related diseases have latency periods that can lead to diagnosis decades after exposure. Even individuals who are healthy today are at risk for developing malignant mesothelioma, which often takes as long as 50 to 60 years to show symptoms.
To improve your chances of early detection and treatment, inform your healthcare provider about your history of asbestos exposure. Having this information in your medical records will lead to regular monitoring for asbestos-related conditions and will expedite diagnosis and care should troubling symptoms develop.
Are You a Warehouse Worker Who’s Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
Warehouse workers diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness may be eligible for compensation from the companies responsible for their exposure. Your options may include filing a claim against one of the many asbestos trust funds that have been set up by asbestos companies driven into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities, or filing a personal injury lawsuit directly against employers or manufacturers that negligently exposed you to the toxic material.
Many warehouse workers who have been occupationally exposed to asbestos have filed lawsuits against those responsible for their illness. Some notable examples include:
- Randolph McCabe worked for Acuron and Associated Insulation Company as a warehouse employee. Though he was supplied with a 3M 8710 respirator to protect him from asbestos in his work environment, the respirator failed, and he filed a product liability lawsuit against the respirator manufacturer.
- A General Motors employee who worked in the company’s parts warehouse sued BorgWarner, a manufacturer of asbestos-containing parts. His father also worked in the General Motors parts warehouse. The man’s widow sued General Motors, BorgWarner, and other companies, and though Borg Warner argued that there was no proof that its parts had been stored in that warehouse when the man worked there, the jury awarded all of the companies involved in his death to pay her $30 million in damages.
- The widow of a man who died of malignant mesothelioma after years of working in a caged area close to where warehouse mechanics worked on forklifts filed a personal injury lawsuit against the forklift company.
To learn more about your eligibility to seek compensation for exposure to asbestos while working in a warehouse, contact an experienced asbestos attorney. They will be able to advise you about what to expect from the process, which companies may have been involved in your exposure, and the timeframe available for filing a claim.
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