Jobsites and Occupations at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos use was extremely common during a large part of the twentieth century. The substance was used in so many different ways that the list of workers who may have been at risk of exposure is an extensive one. Those most at risk include people working in certain industries such as manufacturing and metalworks, as well as construction workers and shipyard workers.
In the twenty-first century most people are no longer at risk of exposure, but because mesotheilioma in particular has a long latency period, people who were exposed to asbestos three to five decades ago may still have a chance of developing the disease. In addition, while most jobsites and occupations listed here are no longer considered at high risk, new risks have developed to take their place, due to the presence of asbestos in millions of buildings across America.
Construction and Demolition Sites
Asbestos was added to an enormous number of construction materials, including insulation, concrete products, patching materials, adhesives, and roofing products. The use of asbestos in construction was so widespread, in fact, that asbestos exposure was a risk for anyone working on a construction site before the 1980s (when the use of asbestos in construction materials was discontinued).
Asbestos is no longer added to construction products, but even so, site workers may be at risk if working on a building where asbestos materials were used in construction or remodeling. Demolition workers are also at risk for the same reason – and demolition is a particularly risky prospect, as demolition processes are likely to disturb any asbestos which remains. Caution is always a necessity when working in any location where the presence of asbestos is suspected.
Industrial
Asbestos was used in a wide range of industrial locations during the twentieth century. As well as plants manufacturing asbestos products, asbestos exposure was also a risk in metalworks, refractory plants, textile plants, and paper mills, among other locations, due to the use of asbestos in insulation, factory machinery, and protective heat-proof clothing.
Workers in such places may still be at risk if their workplace is an older building or contains old machinery and equipment. Engineers, electricians, and custodial workers in such buildings may also be at risk.
Shipyards
Shipyard workers are among those most at risk of developing mesotheilioma and other asbestos-related diseases (particularly asbestosis). Asbestos was routinely used all over ships, especially Navy ships, in both construction and repair. People who worked in shipyard offices were also at risk of exposure, due to the likelihood that asbestos was airborne in the shipyard.
The Armed Forces
Many men serving in the armed forces were exposed to asbestos. In particular, those serving in the Navy were most at risk, due to the extremely heavy use of asbestos in Navy ships – in particular those built or repaired during World War II. Asbestos was used in boiler-rooms as fireproofing material, and in many ship locations as an insulator and fire retardant. As such, anyone on board a Navy ship could have been considered at risk.
Railroad
Railroads are considered to be high toxic places, with workers often facing exposure to hazardous chemicals such as dust, fumes, and toxic solvents, as well as asbestos. Even office and administration workers may be at risk of asbestos exposure simply due to working near the railway.
Firemen and Disaster Responders
Firemen are at risk or have been at risk for two reasons. First, in the past it was common for firemen to use protective asbestos-containing clothing. While that practice has been discontinued, asbestos is still a risk simply because it is present in so many older buildings.
First responders at certain types of accident and disaster sites also face asbestos exposure risks. A particularly tragic example is the high risk faced by first responders at the World Trade Center ground zero area, where dangerously high levels of airborne asbestos and other toxins were present for many days.
Miners
The most famous case of environmental asbestos contamination is the vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, where an entire town of people—even those who didn’t work at the contaminated site—has become sick due with asbestos-related diseases.
Libby is an extreme case, and there are few other locations in the world where such enormous damage has been done, but it has been estimated that up to 15% of mines in America are contaminated with asbestos or similar substances such as silica. This makes asbestos exposure a risk faced by many miners.
Custodial
Asbestos is ubiquitous in older commercial and public buildings (including schools), and custodial workers in such buildings must take care to prevent exposure. In all older buildings, education of custodial workers about asbestos and exposure risks is an important part of the job.
Other
Many other types of workers are also at risk; mostly due to working in a profession where contact with old construction is a part of the job. These can include professions such as telephone repair people and electricians.
