Electrical Panel Partitions
Simply put, working with electricity can be dangerous. Anyone who works as an electrician or at a power plant or any similar site knows what a hazard a spark or other malfunction can cause. Fires are a constant threat when dealing with electricity. That’s why, for many decades, the electrical industry made rampant use of materials containing asbestos. Asbestos was acclaimed for centuries for its fire- and heat-resistant properties as well as its durability, making it the perfect material for use around electrical wires and other items that conduct electricity.
During a regular workday, electricians of old encountered many different items that contained asbestos. One of those items was electrical panel partitions. Quite simply, these were used to divide one section of a wiring system from another. Because they contained asbestos, these panels helped avoid fires or other catastrophes caused by shorts or other problems with a wiring system. Also, if there was a concern in one part of the system, the partition could keep it from spreading elsewhere.
Electrical panel partitions were used by electricians that worked in both homes and commercial buildings, such as offices or factories. Today, those partitions no longer contain asbestos but are manufactured using a man-made synthetic material that is able to resist heat and fire.
However, the use of asbestos-containing electrical panel partitions continued well into the 1970s, so anyone who was employed as an electrician during that time probably encountered asbestos. While the panels were not dangerous unless cut or damaged, dangerous fibers were easily released once the panels were manipulated in some way. That means anyone who may have sawed or cut them to fit in a certain spot may have potentially inhaled toxic asbestos dust.
Unfortunately, before individuals were aware of asbestos dangers, they took no precautions to protect themselves from inhaling dust. No masks or respirators were worn while working because most electricians thought asbestos was safe. Many proclaimed it to be a “miracle mineral.”
However, records show that asbestos manufacturers and company executives often knew of the dangers of asbestos inhalation but failed to tell their employees. The result, many years later, is a score of electricians suffering from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos cancer that causes debilitating symptoms and often a quick but painful death.
Are you an electrician who was exposed to asbestos on the job? Have you developed mesothelioma because of your exposure? If so, you may have a right to legal compensation for your injuries. To find out more information about your legal rights and the specifics of mesothelioma, order our free mesothelioma information guide today.
