Although individuals may undergo exposure to asbestos in their communities, at home or through secondhand contact, those who most often develop a related illness were exposed through their occupation. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency explains it is estimated that from 1940 to 1980, 27 million Americans underwent significant asbestos exposure on the jobsite. The sustained, intense exposure that most frequently causes an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis, is most common in the workplace, where employees may work directly with the material on a regular basis. For that reason, one’s past, or current, occupation should first be evaluated if asbestos exposure is suspected.   

Jobsite Asbestos History

Millions of Americans have suffered workplace asbestos exposure since the early 20th century. Many of these individuals who later developed an asbestos-related illness worked in the construction and building trades, where materials containing asbestos were common. These materials included anything asbestos may have been added to for increased strength, heat, electricity and chemical resistance or sound absorption.

Before the development of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) intervention in the 1970s, asbestos was not an officially-recognized danger and its workplace use remained unregulated. Asbestos was effective, inexpensive and readily available, which contributed to its widespread popularity and frequent usage. In fact, companies valued the material so much that in some cases, they ignored or denied evidence of employee injury and consumer threat.  

Current Jobsite Asbestos Exposure

Because of its widespread use in construction before it became public knowledge that asbestos was a danger in the late 1970s, asbestos continues to pose a threat to those in the building trades because of its presence in older construction and consumer products. Workers that may be impacted include carpenters, plumbers and electricians, as well as any other construction workers who frequently work in areas that incorporated asbestos materials, like inside walls, around electrical equipment or in basements where boilers or heating pipes are present. Although asbestos use has dramatically declined in recent years, its presence in older construction materials means the risks to workers today remains.

OSHA Standards

OSHA’s workplace standards seek to protect workers in companies that adhere to such federal mandates. These standards include the following:

• 1910.1001: This standard covers industry exposure, including testing procedures, work practices and medical surveillance guidelines.
• 1915.1001: This standard covers asbestos exposure that takes place in shipyards, including testing and work practices.
• 1926.1001:  This standard applies to construction work, which might include the alteration, repair, renovation, and demolition of asbestos-containing structures.

Unfortunately, not all employers today can be counted on to recognize or take remaining asbestos threats seriously. Even today, disturbing news of businesses forcing untrained and insufficiently-protected employees to remove asbestos materials emerge. Despite restrictions on its use, asbestos still poses a workplace threat today.

Even individuals that have not had asbestos exposure for decades remain at risk of suffering from past exposure. Asbestos fibers typically do not cause disease until 20 to 50 years after their introduction into the body. This is known as a disease’s latency period and is a major reason why this material presents such a great threat. Individuals retired from professions that involved asbestos use or contact may never connect current illnesses with exposure that took place decades ago. This leads many to ignore symptoms, which often mimic less serious illnesses, putting off the recognition of these conditions and contributing to the late-stage treatment and poor prognosis we commonly see. 

Reference:

Environmental Protection Agency