Auto Mechanics
History and Background
An automobile mechanic is the man or woman who maintains and fixes cars and trucks in order to keep them working correctly. They are specially trained people who can do everything from changing oil to overhauling an engine. A car or truck is a very complex machine with many moving parts that generate friction and heat. In the past the products that created this heat were made with asbestos, a natural mineral that is strong and heat-resistant. However, exposure to asbestos can lead to debilitating pulmonary diseases as discussed below.
Some automotive products that were made with asbestos are: brake linings, clutch facings, transmission components, disc brake pads, drum brake linings, brake blocks, gaskets and others.
Tasks Putting Auto Mechanics at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Regular work completed in auto shops creates a potentially dangerous environment filled with asbestos dust. There have been restrictions on asbestos usage since the 1970s, but it is still apparent in some products and in many older cars and trucks. Many mechanics do not even realize that they are still at risk, even today. Even those who did not work directly on asbestos containing products are at risk as the dust spread throughout the auto shops.
Much of the work completed by mechanics creates dust that could possibly contain asbestos. Some of these men and women believe that if they do not directly inhale the dust then they are safe while others will turn their heads thinking that helps. Most auto shops even provide respirators but some mechanics are hesitant to use them as they believe they are 'not manly'.
Many mechanics worked directly on asbestos containing products. Vehicles oftentimes need new brakes or clutches. These products are first fitted and then applied. The mechanics will sand, file and drill the new brakes to get them onto the particular car, thus creating dangerous dust. Also in order to maintain brakes and clutches they must be cleaned and oftentimes ground down to 'renew' the linings. The cleaning is performed using power washers or compressed air that blasts away any materials on the brake lining while throwing millions of asbestos fibers into the air. Some mechanics wipe the brakes with a wet rag in an effort to reduce the dust or squirt them, but once the rags dry the asbestos particles are still present.
When a brake is applied by the driver of the vehicle, the brake shoe presses against the drum, creating friction. This process causes asbestos-containing dust to fill the drum and when they are repaired or replaced, all that dust is released into the auto shop.
Companies that Produced Asbestos Automotive Products
The following are companies that produced automotive products that contained asbestos (this is only a brief list, there are many others):
- Johns-Manville
- Owens Corning
- Raybestos
- Federal-Mogul Corp.
- Dana Corp.
- Delphi Corp.
- Bosch GmbH
- Honeywell International Corp.
- Fel-Pro Inc.
- T & N plc.
- Cooper Industries Inc.
- RPM International
Auto Mechanics, Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Auto mechanics that experienced repeated exposure to asbestos after working on brake and clutch systems that contained the mineral may be at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. At this time there is still no cure for the disease and one of the most defining factors in a patient's prognosis is how early the cancer is detected. If you once worked as an auto mechanic and are now experiencing breathing problems, fatigue and/or pain in the chest area, it would be wise to call your doctor to schedule an appointment. There are a number of diagnostic tests available to screen for mesothelioma, and a specialist can determine which, if any, would be most appropriate after an initial office visit and examination.