Construction Workers and Asbestos
Building both commercial buildings and homes carries lots of risk. Accidents do indeed occur on the job, even though great care is taken to insure that they don't. However, decades ago, the risk to construction workers was much, much higher.
In the years before the 1970s asbestos warnings were issued, those who worked as contractors or in the construction field were continuously exposed to dangerous asbestos. In those days, asbestos was considered a miracle product, thanks to its incredible heat- and fire-resistant properties. Because everyone wanted their homes and offices to be safe, extensive use of asbestos-containing materials was the norm.
Numerous building products contained asbestos. Those products included insulation of various types, floor and ceiling tiles, paint, wallboard, gypsum, adhesive, shingles, drywall tape, gaskets, cement, asbestos paper, and much more. That means a variety of construction workers were affected, from drywallers to roofers to painters.
Before the dangers of asbestos were brought to the general public, construction workers did their jobs without benefit of any sort of protective gear, such as respirators or gloves. Often, the workers paused for lunch inside the building in question, even exposing their food to clinging asbestos particles! Though many asbestos product manufacturers knew about the dangers of inhaling asbestos dust and particles, the information was seldom shared with those who had day-to-day contact with the material, so most construction workers of decades ago were unaware that their jobs were putting their health in danger.
Each year, construction workers that were subject to asbestos exposure develop asbestos-related diseases that can and will seriously compromise their health. These diseases or disorders include pleural plaques, asbestosis, and even mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs.
Though asbestos is no longer used in products that were manufactured after the warnings were issued, construction workers hired to conduct renovation or remodeling projects at old homes or commercial buildings are still subject to exposure. Asbestos is ominously present in many old buildings and is often damaged or in a "friable" state, causing hazardous asbestos particles to be easily released when the material is touched or otherwise manipulated. Construction workers should take great care to wear proper protective gear when working inside old buildings that may contain asbestos, and buildings should always be inspected before construction begins, so that asbestos may be removed or encapsulated by licensed asbestos abatement companies.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
