Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
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Occupational exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 million American workers experienced exposure to asbestos fibers in the air between 1940 and 1979.[1] Regulations have made workplaces safer, but some workers still face risks from lingering asbestos.
Regulations Protect Workers from Asbestos
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began regulating asbestos exposure in workplaces in 1971. In addition to OSHA’s workplace safety measures, the Environmental Protection Agency banned asbestos in many products, reducing the total amount of asbestos in workplaces.
Despite regulations, asbestos is still in many materials used in ships, buildings, cars, airplanes, and more. Also a danger is the asbestos in older materials that continue to affect workers.
Older workers on job sites before the late 1970s cannot be protected from past exposure. Many will continue to receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma, which develops decades after asbestos exposure.
At-Risk Professions for Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos on worksites is down compared to decades ago. Several jobs still pos a risk of asbestos exposure for workers. There are also jobs and work environments that, in the past, exposed workers who are still suffering the consequences today.[1]
Construction
Of all professions, construction workers carry some of the highest risks for asbestos exposure, both in the past and today. Construction materials once contained asbestos, from roofing tiles to drywall compound to insulation.
In the construction field, those workers at greatest risk do renovation and demolition. Exposure occurs when demolishing, removing, or maintaining older asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos is still used in some new construction materials, putting workers in new construction at risk.
Industrial and Factory Workers
Workers in factories, machinists, certain types of mechanics, and insulators have all risked asbestos exposure, mostly in the past, but today too.
Many products made in factories, including insulation, paper, textiles, and mechanical equipment, contained asbestos. Workers who made these products and worked with them in other jobs risked exposure.
Firefighters and Emergency Responders
Firefighters are put at risk of exposure because fire can destroy products that contain asbestos and cause the fibers to become airborne. Firefighters also risked exposure because they wore safety equipment that contained asbestos.
Other emergency responders may also risk exposure when on the site of a burning building. One extreme example of this occurred on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center collapsed and sent asbestos fibers airborne.
Shipyard Workers
Ships are among the most significant sources of asbestos. Shipbuilders used asbestos in insulation and to protect vessels from fire. At one point in time, asbestos could be found in nearly all components of a ship.
Workers building ships in shipyards and those who worked aboard them risked exposure. The highest risks occurred in areas with a lot of insulation, such as the boiler or engine rooms.
Power Plants and Oil Refineries
Power plants and refineries, like ships, also need fireproofing material. In the past, asbestos was used extensively in these settings. Today, power plant and refinery workers still risk exposure while doing maintenance or repair work and if a disaster spreads asbestos into the air.
Boiler Workers
The hazard with boilers and boiler rooms comes from the extensive use of insulation in these high-temperature environments. Workers who assembled, repaired, maintained or operated boilers have risked asbestos exposure.
All types of insulation in the past contained asbestos. Workers who spent time in boiler rooms decades ago may have the greatest risk of all professions of exposure to asbestos.
Textile Mills
Much of the asbestos risk from working in textile mills has passed. Workers who made textiles before the 1980s were likely exposed and put at risk for mesothelioma. Today textile factory workers still may be exposed through the equipment they use.
Miners
Mining is a high-risk career for exposure because asbestos is a natural mineral found in the ground. Asbestos miners have always been at risk, but those working in other types of mines may still risk exposure. For instance, vermiculite miners may be exposed to asbestos intrusions in the mine.
Careers with Moderate Occupational Risk
Some careers today carry a moderate-to-low risk of exposing workers to asbestos. Of course, there is no amount of exposure that is safe.
- Auto mechanics work with car parts that often still contain asbestos, as well as on older cars with asbestos parts. Hoodliners on older cars used asbestos for fire resistance, and today brakes and clutches still contain asbestos that can become airborne during repairs.[1]
- Teachers are at low risk of asbestos exposure today, but they may still experience exposure through school building drywall, soundproofing materials, insulation, floor tiles, paint, and ceiling tiles. Teachers working in older school buildings have the highest risk of exposure. Regulations do exist to contain or abate existing asbestos.[1]
- Other careers that put workers at some risk of asbestos exposure include aircraft mechanics, electricians, railroad workers, metal workers, cement and chemical plant workers, engineers, and blacksmiths. Anyone in a workplace with any amount of asbestos must be aware of the risks of exposure and receive training in safe practices.
How Workers Can Protect Themselves
OSHA sets health and safety regulations for all aspects of workplace safety. Regulations include limitations on exposure to asbestos and safety procedures to be followed by employers and workers. Workers should familiarize themselves with OSHA asbestos regulations, follow procedures, and use safety equipment.[2]
Workers who do not feel safe in their working environment because of asbestos should talk to their employers. If employers do not provide adequate safety measures, such as appropriate equipment, contact OSHA.
OSHA representatives take complaints and inspect work sites to ensure employers follow regulations. All workers have a right to a safe workplace, and if you feel you may be exposed to asbestos, you have a right to file a complaint and take steps to ensure your safety.[2]
Occupational exposure to asbestos is not just a risk of the past. Federal regulations have indeed improved working environments considerably, but modern workers in several industries are still at risk. It is always necessary to know the risks, to understand what rights workers have in the workplace, and to be aware of and to follow all safety procedures regarding asbestos.
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Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.