Exposure on the Job
Through the 1970s, thousands of products utilized asbestos in some capacity. These products were frequently made on assembly lines that placed asbestos in various parts as the item went along. As a result, many individuals who worked on the assembly lines or in factories were exposed to asbestos.
Because of the wide variety of industries that used asbestos, occupational or on the job exposure to asbestos is the most common source of exposure in the United States. Employees were exposed, in some instances, merely by being present in a factory or plant. Others were exposed by directly handling the material that we now know is so deadly.
However, it was not until the 1970s that the deadly nature of asbestos was revealed to the general public. By this point, the use of asbestos was pervasive in all manner of items, although some industries were fonder of the material than others. For example, the construction industry and all of its support, such as those companies that manufactured the insulation or roofing tiles used in buildings across the country, was potentially hit harder than the toy industry because fewer toys used asbestos than did building materials.
Because some industries used asbestos more prevalently than did others, the industry in which one worked has a direct effect on the chances of exposure. Once in a specific industry, the area of employment also affects a person’s chances of exposure. In many factories, a person who was in a union was given the higher paying jobs that also, ironically, included far more exposure to asbestos.
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For more information on asbestos exposure on the job, call 1-800-781-3955.
