J.F.K. Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is a large international air terminal in located in Jamaica, Queens in Southwestern New York City. It is often referred to casually as simply 'Kennedy' or 'J.F.K.' Among the three commercial New York City airports, J.F.K. is the newest and busiest of the three. Among United States citizens who go overseas each year, approximately 17% are processed through J.F.K. airport's international terminals. J.F.K. is commonly the starting point of some of the world's longest flights, including the Singapore Airlines flight from J.F.K. to Singapore and South African Airways service which operates daily between J.F.K. and Johannesburg. J.F.K. also services nearly 40 million passengers on domestic flights each year.
Originally planned as a modest airport to lessen the distance between New York City and the nearest airport, eventually the addition 3 international terminals in the 1960's would render J.F.K. one of the world's largest and busiest airports. Though initially intended to be called Idlewild Airport, it was named after the assassinated John F. Kennedy in 1963, in memory of the late U.S. President's brief but popular tenure in the nation's highest office. Among the more novel features of the airport today is the AirTrain JFK service which operates several commuter trains in and out of the airport and amongst its terminals.
Airports and aircraft can produce hazardous working conditions. One of the more common hazards found at airports and within aircraft is asbestos. Asbestos was used frequently in airport and aircraft fixtures, primarily as an insulator, prior to its federal ban in the late 1970's. It was most commonly used within the bodies of aircraft as an insulator on piping and electrical fixtures, as well as construction insulation in many different materials. It was also frequently used within the elaborate control and radar infrastructure of the airport's electrical and piping grids.
Asbestos poses a particular hazard to inhalation among those who worked around the material frequently. Those who worked in aircraft construction and repair could potentially be at risk for inhalation, especially if they worked in the above areas on a daily basis. By chipping or prying at asbestos material, as done in repairs or construction, the potential for inhalation is increased further. Those who have worked with these materials or within the industry should be aware of what they are working with and how to safely handle these materials. Failure to do so could result in particularly damaging respiratory health consequences.
