Asbestos dust poses a health threat to the ones exposed to Asbestos, especially in their workplace, like working in Asbestos mining and milling, shipbuilding trades, insulation work in construction, manufacturing of Asbestos textiles and other Asbestos products, brake repair as well as many other trades. Demolition workers, firefighters and drywall removers are exposed to Asbestos dust as part of their professional life. The Asbestos fibers suspended in the air prove to be a major health hazard if inhaled over a long period of time in huge amounts.
How To Know If One Has Contracted An Asbestos-Related Disease?
Even if a certain worker contracts an Asbestos-related disease, the signs or the symptoms of the disease do not surface until many years after the first exposure to Asbestos occurs. The individual who has had sufficient exposure to Asbestos dust at home or at the workplace should always take care to inform the physician about their Asbestos exposure history, if one doubts that one has contracted an Asbestos-related disease.
The common symptoms for any Asbestos-related disease includes a change in cough pattern, shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, blood in the sputum, prolonged hoarseness or difficulty in swallowing as well as significant weight loss.
Workplace Exposure To Asbestos: History
Being exposed to Asbestos in the workplace actually dates back to centuries, to a time when slaves were forced to mine Asbestos, say, for use in Egyptian mummification clothes and textiles such as napkins and tablecloths that were used during the era of the Roman Empire.
The exposure to Asbestos in the workplace began with the Industrial Revolution and continues even today.
The warnings and regulations associated with the use of Asbestos were issued in the 1970s. Previously, workers toiled for decades without being aware of the hazards of Asbestos, and thus the fibers sickened them and finally killed them; but, today it is no longer so. Today, people are aware of the dangers of Asbestos and the life-threatening diseases it can cause. Many countries have also banned the use of Asbestos-products. Employers are now bound to provide their employees protective gear if the work involves contact with Asbestos.
Workplaces At The Peril Of Asbestos
People Working at Shipyards: People working at shipyards are the ones most affected with the Asbestos-related diseases. In the past, the ones who repaired damaged war ships had to bare-handedly handle huge amounts of friable Asbestos making them vulnerable to Asbestos-related diseases.
Workers at Railroads: Asbestos is the ideal fire-resistant material for railroad brakes and clutches. Asbestos is also used for lining boilers, steam pipes and fireboxes.
Contractors and Construction Workers: The construction industry is engaged in large-scale use of Asbestos containing products.
Automotive Repairing Work: In the auto industry, Asbestos is used in brake as well as clutch linings.
Oil Refineries: Equipments in use at oil refineries are insulated with Asbestos owing to its heat - and fire-resistant properties.
Power Plants: Asbestos finds wide insulation use in the power plants because of the generation of heat.
Steel Mills: Asbestos made thermal insulation products were commonly found in steel mills.
Asbestos Product Manufacturers: Factories producing Asbestos-containing items like building materials put the workers at constant risk of Asbestos exposure.
Firefighters: The firefighters whose job requires them to respond to fires and other emergencies at Asbestos containing old buildings will have to inhale the harmful Asbestos fibers.
Mines: Workers in talc or vermiculite mines inhale Asbestos fibers regularly.
