Most Common Occupations Having A High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Most Common Occupations Having A High Risk of Asbestos Exposure: There is nothing which is less dangerous while working with asbestos. At the same time, there are no safe levels of the asbestos exposure. It's mainly because the exposure to the naturally occurring mineral can become the cause of pleural mesothelioma and other related anomalies.
Talking about the occupations, there are several ones that often have to come in the contact with asbestos including industrial workers, military veterans and mechanics that were found exposed with asbestos while performing their everyday duties.
It's not the only fact that asbestos exposure can be harmful
t health but those who come in contact with the mineral indirectly also have
dangers. This is the prime reason why
thousands of workers have been affected directly or indirectly due to the
asbestos or related products exposure.
Now, the thing is that if anyone of you have been recently
diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other similar condition; you can easily file
a claim for compensation without any regrets. In most cases, people are found
exposed decades ago and their old employer is not in business. Well, even if
such a thing exists in your case, you are required to speak to a concerned
mesothelioma attorney to better file a claim for suitable compensation.
Who Are the Workers At Most Risk?
There are some industries that are prone to get affected due
to the asbestos exposure or related products. In other words, there are high
chances that you find asbestos related disorders among workers hailing to
certain industries like maritime and construction industries.
Please have a look at some of the industries that are at most
risk:
Aircraft Mechanics
The first industry is Aircraft mechanics who are involved in
working, and maintenance of helicopters, airplanes and some other airborne vehicles
that are involved to better keep hydraulics, mechanical systems and engines
work most efficiently.
In addition to this, such workers basically work at
airfields, repair stations and hangers. Talking about the asbestos and related
materials, they are mostly found in a plethora of aircraft components like
wiring, gaskets and brake pads.
The first time when it was found in the workers of military
and Civilian mechanics who were responsible to repair, install and maintain the
aircraft components. In that connection, one thing that appears which is often
revealed.
Hundreds of Air Force veterans from the US during 1930s-1980s
were found affected with asbestos as a number of aircraft components contained
the dreaded mineral at that time.
As per a study conducted in this regard, it was found that
there happens to be a high risk of asbestos exposure among workers involved in
repair and maintenance work of aircrafts. Right after that so many cases of sarcomatoid mesothelioma started coming to the surface in workers involved in the repair
works on aircrafts. Some of them started growing asbestosis, pleural
mesothelioma and asbestosis after getting exposed to asbestos.
As you know, it takes decades to appear symptoms due to the
exposure of the mineral. Sometimes, it takes 15-60 years to develop symptoms of
the disease. Some of the symptoms include wheezing, chest pain and shortness of
breath. In fact, all of them are the most common symptoms.
Boilermakers
Boilermakers also come with the history of asbestos related
cancers. They have found exposed with asbestos and related products.
Boilermakers basically work at large industrial sites, ships and power plants.
They work to maintain, repair, assemble and install huge boilers and other
vessels and tanks.
As boilermakers usually work on large boilers, plumbers work
at home. Boilers are generally divided into 2 groups:
·
Field
boilers located at sites
·
Package
boilers found or assembled at job sites
Boilers are not alone but are assembled with some other
equipment like fans, valves, pumps along with soot blowers that contain a
specific amount of asbestos. As per an update, any boilmaker who has previously
worked on boilers (before 2000) is most likely to have exposed from these
vessels.
Probably, this is the reason why boilmakers have been
categorized as a kind of job which is prone to involve substantial risk of
asbestos exposure. Please note that asbestos mainly present in boilers along
with associated equipment like valves and pumps.
Also Read:
Asbestos Exposure: How Diseases & Risks Are Associated With Asbestos Exposure?
Bricklayers
As the name suggests, a bricklayer is one who lays bricks and
pre cuts stones. At the same time, he also makes concrete blocks in mortar
which is further used for the construction work. It's also used to repair and
construct walls, arches, foundations, boilers, walls and other structures using
mortar and cement.
Please note that masonry workers, brick masons and
Bricklayers were first exposed to asbestos and related products during
1960-1980. One of the reasons that became the cause of asbestos exposure in
such workers is that they never used any protective appliance like mask
(respirators) or cared to use wet saws to reduce the level of dust particles.
It's clear that asbestos exposure is one of the major hazards
for masons and bricklayer. In addition to these workers, those who remain in the
close proximity of brick kilns and construction sites have chances to have some
exposure to asbestos.
Carpenters
Like other workers, carpenters are also involved in many
types of works like installing walls, building walls, products made from woods,
door frames and other works. At the same time, they also cut various materials
and give them proper shapes. Most of the times, carpenters are involved in
making products of wood.
Carpenters also have a connection with asbestos like other
mentioned ones. A number of products were actually built containing asbestos
and similar materials like
·
Flooring
backing
·
Cement
wallboard
·
Vinyl
wall coverings
·
Vinyl
floor tile and sheet flooring
·
Asphalt
floor tile
·
Siding
·
Caulking/putties
·
Flooring
backing
Carpenters might have been exposed to asbestos lately, they
have some other reasons of getting themselves exposed. One of the reasons is
that they have to work in the close proximity of other workers who have to
precisely work with asbestos containing substances.
The reason why carpenters came in the direct contact of
asbestos exposure is due to the fact that they never used any sort of
protection while working on the sites. For example, they should have used face
masks or other respiratory devices to better protect themselves while working
directly on the construction sites.
Today, when the awareness due to asbestos and related
products are growing everywhere, the government has also played a major role to
curb the above menace. The government has come up with some more protection
ideas like covering face with masks or any other respiratory protection
devices.
Cement Finishers
They are also known as masons who have to work with cement at
construction sites. They basically have to build various types of structures to
hold concrete and pour in freshly prepared mixed cement. After that they have
to spread it smoothly and level it out.
In the meantime, they have to monitor the concrete and harden
it to make sure that the final product is well hardened and waterproof after it
is completely dried.
The kind of work that these workers are involved in have also
to fight with asbestos exposure. It's because it has been found that the place
or environment where these cement workers have to work (construction sites)
happens to be a high risk environment for asbestos exposure.
This is the time they use to get exposed to asbestos. This
mainly happens after a cement finisher works on site and gets involved in the maintenance
or modeling of sites. In short, they have the danger of getting exposed to
asbestos and related products at all times.
Electricians
Electricians also have risks of getting exposed to asbestos
while work. It's mainly because they have to work on electrical boxes, panels,
motors and wires at all times. And so, they have to work either at home or any
commercial building for wiring and other electric fault.
It has been found that electricians have to work directly on
the asbestos related products and also have to remain present in the close
proximity of other workers where risk is equally involved. The products that
electricians use include electrical panel, boxes and more have asbestos
insulating materials. It's mainly used for the insulation of these products.
Arc chutes are one of the most common electrical products
that are used to prevent electrical arcs. In doing so, they often use
electrical board to line various electrical products. These products are also
loaded with gaskets as a sealing material.
Firefighters
As the name suggests, firefighters basically respond to fire
and other emergency services. As per the NFPA (National Fire Protection
Association), out of all firefighters, close to 70% happen to be volunteers.
It's very common to see firefighters coming in contact with
asbestos and dust while coming in contact with such material. They can be
easily exposed to different asbestos materials from Fire equipment, Fire
engines, Fire uniforms and Fire pumps.
They are
also involved in the prevention of buildings at times. But they are exposed to
asbestos during inspection of Building materials, Valves, Pumps, Boilers and
other equipment.
As per a
study conducted in this regard, mesothelioma rates are found to have been 2-3
times higher than the overall US population.
Also Check:
When is Asbestos Dangerous? What's Asbestos Exposure Law?
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Treatment, Diagnosis Survival and Sub types
Top 2 Reasons of Development of Asbestos Cancer
Can You Get Mesothelioma Without Asbestos Exposure?
Interstitial Lung Disease Life Expectancy, Types, Causes & More
We have yet another occupation that can also have the
probability to allow asbestos exposure to its workers. Well, we are taking
about Foundry workers who have to work at factories who are involved to make
metals like copper, bronze, iron, steel and more.
Foundry workers can also get exposed to asbestos using a
number of ways. The kind of equipment that they work can really make them pay
a hefty price as they are mostly incorporated with the presence of asbestos in
them.
Some of them include valves, ovens, pumps, furnaces and
tanks. All these instruments have the presence of asbestos in the form of an
insulating layer. For example, if you look at tanks, you can find their tops
are made up of asbestos.
Similar to other occupations, foundry workers may have been
exposed to asbestos at the time of installation of machinery and their parts.
Even at this time, foundry workers who have not protected themselves by wearing
face masks and other respiratory devices have high chances of getting exposed
to asbestos.
Laborers
Laborers have the high risk of
asbestos exposure as they have to work directly on the construction sites. In
addition to this, they also have to clean the site, remove debris and other
material.
In that sense, construction laborers
are more prone to get themselves exposed to asbestos than any other worker. One
reason is that they have to constantly work on various materials and equipment containing asbestos.
These kinds of workers were found
exposed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Most of the times,
symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, loss of appetite and pleural
effusion. In such cases, you need to consult your doctor.
These workers always remain at greater risk of getting
exposed to asbestos at all times even if they follow all the norms and safety
precautions. It's because the asbestos particles may remain in the air and
settle on their clothing. And this can pose a greater risk to their families as
well.
References:
https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/
Comments
Post a Comment