Identifying Exposure
No one wants to consider the fact that they may have been exposed to asbestos. But the fact remains that prior to the asbestos warnings issued by the U.S. Government in the mid 1970s, many people were indeed exposed to this toxic mineral.
For most, the exposure took place on the job. In the early to mid 1900s, especially, myriad jobs involved the use of asbestos and many workers employed in a variety of industries worked with the hazardous substance on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, during the World War II years, an estimated 8 million individuals were exposed to asbestos, usually without benefit of any protective gear. Decades later, they paid with their lives when they learned they had developed mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that usually appears some 30-50 years after asbestos exposure occurs.
Though these cases are rarer, some individuals have also developed asbestos-related diseases from work performed during do-it-yourself projects in the home. These people were less likely to be exposed for an extended period of time so such cases are not as common, though they do indeed exist.
How Do You Know if You were Exposed?
Some people clearly recall working with asbestos materials during their employment in particular industries, but others aren't sure whether or not they've been exposed and if they should be concerned about developing an asbestos-related disease. Identifying exposure is the key to receiving a proper diagnosis and quick treatment, and is essential in seeking legal recourse for pain and suffering.
Those who were employed in the following jobs prior to the mid 1970s (though some exposure happened after those years) may have been exposed to asbestos:
- Automotive Mechanics
- Boilermakers
- Bricklayers
- Building Inspectors
- Carpenters
- Cement Finishers
- Drywallers
- Engineers
- Electricians
- Floor Coverings
- Welders
- Furnace Workers
- Glazers
- Grinders
- Insulators
- Iron Workers
- Laborers
- Longshoremen
- Machinists
- Maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- U.S. Navy veterans
- Metal Lathers
- Merchant Marines
- Millwrights
- Operating Engineers
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plasterers
- Power Plant Workers
- Plumbers
- Railroad Workers
- Roofers
- Sand blasters
- Sawyers
- Sheet metal workers
- Shipyard Workers
- Steam fitters
- Tile setters
- Welders
What to Do if you've been Exposed?
If you've been employed in one of the fields listed above and you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease but don't know when exposure occurred, there are many individuals that can help.
It's a good idea to be in contact with others who worked in the same industry or for the same companies. If you are familiar with a labor union that serves your particular industry, such as The United Auto Workers or The United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, they may be able to help. Many of them keep records as to asbestos exposure and may even be able to provide you with a list of co-workers or others who worked in the industry that have already been diagnosed with asbestos disease. With that information, you may be able to establish a link.
If you have decided to hire an attorney to seek compensation for your industries, they may be able to help as well. Many attorneys specialize in asbestos cases and may know of instances where those who worked for the same company were exposed on the job, which can help prove your case.
Information on particular companies/industries and exposure may also be available from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Occupational Health and Safety Association (OSHA).
