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.
- 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 – See our list of Navy Job Codes and exposure probability.
- 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
