At Work
Although the risks of asbestos exposure are now well-known, and asbestos use is now tightly regulated, as many as 1.3 million workers are still exposed to significant amounts of asbestos on the job, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Older buildings with asbestos insulation can expose construction and other workers to the mineral during renovation, repairs, or demolition.
Other common industrial exposures, according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, include ship and boat building and repair, industrial and miscellaneous chemicals, petroleum refining, and electric light and power. Occupations affected have ranged from plumbers and pipefitters to engineers, electricians, mechanics, and even schoolteachers.
The U.S. military used asbestos widely until the 1970s, exposing millions of enlisted men and women to this hazardous material. Those serving in the Navy or working in the shipyards during this era were very likely exposed to asbestos, as it was extensively used as insulation and fireproofing aboard ships. Members of other branches of the military may also have been exposed – and may still be at risk for exposure – because asbestos was once widely used in military base construction as well as in military vehicles.
Because mesothelioma can take 20 to 40 years to show symptoms after asbestos exposure, people who retired from active duty decades ago may only now be realizing that their lives are at risk. While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does provide benefits to service members with mesothelioma, it can be difficult to secure those benefits because victims must prove that their asbestos exposure occurred exclusively during active duty. In many cases, afflicted veterans must seek compensation instead from manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials.
Likewise, industrial, commercial, and residential electricians also experience high rates of mesothelioma. Previously, it was assumed this was due to exposure to other trades such as insulators and mill wrights. However, through our experience representing a number of electricians, we learned that it was actually due to asbestos in cements and plastics. Since the 1930’s, electrical equipment manufacturers knew asbestos was in cements and plastics used to make electrical control devices (starters, switches, circuit breakers, relays, fuses and insulating boards), but did not communicate that to the women and men that work worked with those materials daily. We have developed the legal case for electricians – from the asbestos fiber importer to the material supplier and the molder, to the ultimate seller and are prepared to represent them.
In cases of suspected mesothelioma, it’s important to document the victim’s work history to try to pinpoint the source of the exposure. Many employers have been aware of the risks associated with workplace asbestos, however, failed to protect their employees. And, many companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products were also aware of the danger but did nothing to inform their products’ users or make their products safer.