Asbestos: California Trades & Occupations at Risk

Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer. Workers from practically all trades were exposed to asbestos from many trades in the workplace. More than 5,000 common products contain asbestos. Most of us have been exposed to asbestos throughout our lives in small quantities. California workers at highest risk for asbestos exposure are those who have jobs involving prolonged exposure to large quantities of asbestos and asbestos Products.

Asbestos has been used to create thousands of industrial and commercial products over the years, putting the lives of workers who use and create these products in jeopardy. While many uses for asbestos were banned in the mid-1970’s, the risk from exposure continues today due to mesothelioma’s long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15-40 years. Today, asbestos continues to be a threat to workers exposed through their occupations and in buildings that were erected prior to the ban.

Asbestos fibers are so toxic, that industrial and trade worker’s families may be exposed to mesothelioma through particles that cling to the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of mesothelioma cancer is called “second-hand exposure.”

Asbestos has played, and in some instances still plays, a key role in the textile, construction, military, refinery, railroad, automotive and shipbuilding industries, affecting thousands of workers throughout the world. Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos fibers on the job or in the workplace in what is known as occupational exposure.

If you or someone you know has been injured by asbestos products you should consult with an experienced California asbestos mesothelioma lawyer.

List of California Trades & Occupations at Risk

A

During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U.S.

Abrasive Manufacturers
Aeronautical Engineers
Aircraft Mechanics & Repairmen
Asbestos Miners
Asbestos Plant Workers
Asbestos Workers/Insulators/Laggers
Auto Mechanics
Auto Plant Workers
Automotive and other Repair Shops

B

The first use of asbestos dates back to 2500 B.C., when it was used as a wick material for oil lamps and also in pottery making.

Blacksmiths
Boiler Room & Engine Room Workers
Boilermakers
Bricklayers
Building Inspectors
Bulldozer Operators

C

In the mid 1920s, an English doctor made the first diagnosis of asbestosis, and this was followed by a study which showed that 25% of English asbestos workers showed signs of a related lung disease.

Cabinetmakers
Carding, Lapping and Combing Operatives
Carpenters
Cement Plant Workers
Chemical Technicians
Checkers, Examiners & Inspectors, Manufacturers
Chemical Plant Workers
Chippers / Caulkers
Civil Engineers
Clothing ironers and pressers
Commercial Ports Shipyards & Vessels
Construction Workers
Crane and Hoist Men
Custodian / Handyman

D

Through 2003, more than 700,000 People have filed claims against more than 6,000 Asbestos companies. These same companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks.

Demolition and Wrecking Crews
Draftsmen
Drill Press Operatives
Drywall Tapers / Installers

E

Electric Power Linemen & Cable Men
Electrical Engineers
Electricians
Engineers
Excavating, Grading and Road Machine Operators

F

It is estimated that 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979.

Factory Worker
Filers, Polishers, Sanders, Buffers
Firefighters
Floor Workers / Installers
Forge Men and Hammer Men
Freight and Material Handlers
Furnace Workers
Furnace Men, Smelter Men & Pourers

G

There are over 3,000 known Trades that may contain Asbestos.

Garage Workers and Gas Station Attendants
Gas Mask Manufacturers
General Contractors
Glass factory workers
Grinding Machine Operatives

H

An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos Trades (such as textiles, friction Trades, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Hairdressers and Cosmetologists
Heating and Air Conditioning Workers
Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Hod Carriers
Hotel Workers
Home Improvement Workers
Household Appliance Installers
HVAC Mechanics

I

Asbestos fibers are strong, durable, and resist heat, acids, and friction. They are virtually indestructible. Because of these useful physical properties, asbestos fibers were often combined with other materials for use in thousands of industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building Trades.

Industrial Engineers
Industrial Painters
Industrial Plant Workers
Insulators
Insurance Adjusters, Examiners and Investigators
Iron Workers Steel Workers

J

Asbestos has been used in various Trades since the 1900s, but the peak usage years were between 1950 and 1975.

Job and Die Setters, Metal
L

Laborers
Laggers
Loading Docs
Locomotive Engineers
Longshoreman
Loom Fixers

M

Asbestos is classified into many different types, which include; chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), tremolite, anthopyllite, and actinolite.

Machine Operatives
Machinists
Maintenance Workers
Managers and Superintendents
Masonry Workers
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanics & Repairmen; Aircraft
Merchant Mariners
Metal Lathers
Millwrights
Military (Navy/Army Tank Units/Motor Pool)
Mixing Operatives
Molders
Motormen; Mine, Factory, Logging Camp, etc

N

Navy Seamen

O

The first known asbestos lawsuit was in 1929 in New Jersey .

Officers, Pilots, and Pursers
Offshore Rust Removals
Oil Rig & Oil Refinery Workers
Operating Engineers

P

Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Painters
Paper Mill Worker
Pattern and Model Makers, Excluding Paper
Pipe Coverers
Pipefitters
Plasterers
Plumbers
Power Plant & Power House Workers

R

Many asbestos-containing Trades remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments where the fibers can become airborne.

Railroad Workers and Car shop
Refractory Plant Worker
Road Machine Operators
Roofers
Rollers and Finishers, Metal

S

During the 1960s the first definite link between mesothelioma and asbestos was made. Asbestos is now known to be the most common cause of the disease.

Sailors and Deckhands
Sand Blaster
Sales Engineers
Sawyers
School Teachers/Administrators
School Workers
School Employees
Secondhand / Take Home Asbestos Exposure
Sheet Metal Workers
Shipyard Workers
Slaters
Spinners, Twisters and Winders
Stationary Engineers
Steam Fitters
Steel Mill Workers
Stevedores
Stone Masons
Structural Metal Craftsmen

T

A wide array of workers were exposed to Asbestos including shipyard workers, factory workers, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, plumbers, laborers, machinists, mechanics, powerhouse workers, and electricians.

Teachers, College and University
Technicians
Telephone Repairmen / Installers
Textile Mill Workers
Tile Cutters
Textile Operatives
Tile / Linoleum Installers
Tinsmiths
Tool And Die Makers

 U

U.S. Navy Veterans
Utility Workers / Power Companies

V

Vehicle Repair (Brakes & Blutches)

W

It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.

Weavers
Welders and Flame Cutters
Winding Operatives

If you or a loved one has worked in any of these professions, especially in the 1970s and before, there is a chance of asbestos exposure. If a family member or yourself has been diagnosed

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO MONETARY COMPENSATION

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