Industries with High Asbestos Exposure Rates
Posted on behalf of James Lynch on March 23, 2017 in Personal Injury News. Updated on July 11, 2023
Asbestos is a durable mineral that was commonly used in a wide variety of industries until the mid-1970s when it became widely known that the substance can cause mesothelioma, a cancer in the lungs with a high fatality rate.
Our licensed New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers can help workers that have developed this deadly disease file a lawsuit to hold the party that exposed them to asbestos liable for their damages.
For decades, workers breathed in the substance while working with it, using a product that contained it or being in an area with asbestos particles in the air. Since then, thousands of workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Although there are many rules and regulations about the use of asbestos, the substance has not been banned in the U.S.
Some industries, outlined below, used asbestos more often than others, and for this reason workers in these industries are most prone to developing mesothelioma.
Shipbuilders
Asbestos was used in shipbuilding primarily as insulation for piping. Trimming asbestos insulation to fit piping releases particles into the air, which would allow workers to inhale the particles while on the job. The particles could also cling to their clothing, exposing family members secondhand.
Military Members
All military branches utilized asbestos until the mid-1900s, when it was discovered to be harmful. Asbestos was used in many applications, including in barracks, tanks, aircraft and ships.
So many former members of the military have been diagnosed with mesothelioma that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has created a program to assist veterans with mesothelioma resulting from their military asbestos exposure.
Construction Workers
Asbestos was used to make many types of building materials, including flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers in construction trades may have been exposed to asbestos on construction sites, including plumbers, electricians, pipefitters, carpenters, roofers and other tradespeople.
Firefighters
Because asbestos was so widely used in construction, firefighters are at a great risk of asbestos exposure. While entering older buildings, it is likely that a firefighter has been exposed to the mineral during their career. A fire allows asbestos to release into the air, allowing for exposure to occur.
Railroad Workers
Asbestos insulation was used for years in train cars and engines. Engineers and repair workers could have been exposed to asbestos material on the job.
Manufacturing Workers
Both the buildings and products made in manufacturing plants may have contained asbestos, exposing employees as they entered the workplace or worked with materials. Asbestos was very common in textile mills, which used asbestos fibers in manufacturing.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Dedicated Mesothelioma Lawyers
If you are or were employed in one of the above industries and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The personal injury lawyers at Lynch Law Firm, PC will pursue your claim, working to recover the maximized compensation you deserve.
Call (800) 518-0508 today.