Despite most people's assumptions that asbestos is no longer the pervasive threat it once was, the U.S. Geological Survey reports that asbestos continues to be used in friction products such as brakes and clutches, gaskets, thermal insulation, and roofing products. Construction workers in particular continue to be at risk for exposure to asbestos, and not just asbestos removal workers; industrial maintenance personnel repairing equipment insulated with asbestos-containing material are at risk, as are automotive service workers involved in brake and clutch repairs.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace remains a serious occupational health danger. In the United States today, as many as eight million individuals have been exposed to asbestos. In 1991, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimated that nearly 700,000 industrial workers remained potentially exposed to asbestos, and that estimate excluded mining, railroad work, agriculture, and several other industry sectors.
An estimated 10,000 people die each year of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.
Occupations at risk for asbestos exposure include: construction workers, mechanics, repairers, stevedores, masons, furnace and kiln operators, painters, janitors, welders, insulation workers, plumbers, and air-conditioning and refrigeration workers.
If you believe you may have an asbestos exposure case, contact us today for more information.
