Asbestos in the Workplace

For decades, asbestos was proclaimed by many as a "miracle" mineral, protecting against the dangers of heat and fire. That is why, for so many years, it experienced widespread use in a number of different industries for which these heat- and fire-resistant properties were essential.

If one tracks the use of asbestos in the workplace, it's easy to see a correlation between the use of the mineral and the appearance of a number of different pulmonary-related diseases. Actually, the use of asbestos goes all the way back to the Roman Empire, when laborers used the material to make burial wraps, tablecloths and napkins, and a variety of other products. Even this many years ago, a connection was made between asbestos and lung diseases.

But the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the use of new technology marked a huge increase in diseases related to asbestos, with such diseases peaking in the mid-twentieth century, when asbestos was used in abundance in the nation's shipyards and indeed in the shipbuilding industry throughout the world.

Today, though asbestos is less of a danger in workplaces throughout the world due to bans and restrictions, workers in particular industries may still encounter the dangerous mineral.

Who Is at Danger in the Workplace?

Admittedly, many jobs are dangerous. Every day, industrial accidents take place and some are even fatal. The people who work at these jobs often recognize the risks involved before accepting the job.

However, for decades, those who worked with asbestos were unaware of its dangers. That means they worked with the toxic mineral on a regular basis without taking proper precautions to prevent inhalation, including wearing masks or respirators. Therefore, tiny asbestos fibers were easily inhaled and lodged in the lining of their lungs, where they could eventually wreak havoc and cause any number of asbestos-related diseases, including the cancer known as mesothelioma.

While shipyard employees have consistently been identified as those at highest risk, other industries affected by the use of asbestos include:

  • Miners
  • Construction workers/contractors
  • Insulators
  • Welders
  • Electricians
  • Plumbers/pipefitters
  • Railroad employees
  • Power plant workers
  • Oil refinery workers

Secondary Workplace Exposure

Those who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace often brought asbestos dust home with them on their hair or clothes, exposing their families to the dangerous material as well. In recent years, courts have found in favor of a number of individuals who've suffered secondary workplace exposure and have been sickened or died as a result of a loved one's job.