Asbestos Exposure at Work

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications and employees coming into contact with the material often had little or no protection at all. Despite efforts to reduce employee exposure risks, a recent UK study showed many workers ignore or are unaware of the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure

• Automotive Mechanics - Asbestos was commonly used on brake pads and clutch assemblies
• Chemical Plants - Asbestos is commonly used as a filter in chemical plants.
• Coast Guard - Asbestos may have been present on ships
• Construction
  • Demolition - Wrecking crews, cleanup crews and haulers may have come into contact with the material while working on structures that did not undergo asbestos removal before dismantling.
  • Steamfitters
  • Steel and Iron Workers
• Electricians - Asbestos was commonly used to insulate wiring
• Factories - Workers in factories that produced, refined or packaged asbestos containing materials
• Merchant Marine - Asbestos may have been present in bunks and deck areas for fireproofing
• Navy - Many naval jobs in the Nacy.
• Power Plants - Workers may have encountered asbestos as fireproofing and insulation especially as plants began to age
• Shipyards - Dockworkers and workers who installed or removed asbestos from ships

Next: Asbestos Exposure at Home