Mesothelioma Attorney
Car Parts and Asbestos
Asbestos has been a known hazard to individuals for many years now. Unfortunately, it is also a major component of brake pads and brake linings. There are millions of brakes on cars and trucks to this day that contain asbestos. In addition, there are numerous parts for sale on auto supply store shelves that also contain asbestos.
Any auto mechanic, whether professionally employed in a repair shop or working out of the comfort of his or her own home, cannot tell if a brake has asbestos in it from its appearance. Because of this, anyone working on a car’s brakes should take every precaution possible to prevent exposure to asbestos and treat every brake pad and brake lining as though it contained asbestos.
Brake pads and brake linings wear out with time. That is why they must be replaced every once in a while. The simple act of applying the brakes wears down the brake pad and releases asbestos-containing dust to the outside environment. Once the asbestos is released from the brake pad, it can then infiltrate a person’s lungs when repair and replacement work is done on the car.
Mechanics who repair and replace brakes are at risk for heavy exposure to asbestos. If a compressed air hose is used to clean drum brakes, millions of asbestos fibers can be released into the air around the mechanic’s face.
Besides the odds of inhaling the asbestos fibers directly, it is possible for a mechanic to get asbestos fibers on his or her hands. This makes it easy for the fibers to be swallowed when eating. Once the asbestos is released into the shop the first time, it can be inhaled by any number of customers or other employees.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
If you were exposed to asbestos through your job as a mechanic or as a hobby mechanic, contact the mesothelioma attorney of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-220-9341.
