AsbestosAsbestos Industry
Who is at Risk?Electricians
History and Background
The public use of electricity became plausible with Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb. This convenient and safe invention prompted the spread of electricity into everyday life as homes and business eventually became "wired". Today it would be odd to not have access to electricity.
Since electricity has become a staple of the modern world, there has been a need for people who are specialized in working with the potentially dangerous commodity. These men and women are known as electricians, basically tradesmen specializing in electrical wiring of buildings and related equipment. The occupation of electrician is a very specialized field that requires training programs, testing and licensing as it can be dangerous. Some electricians work for large construction companies, installing and maintaining wiring systems throughout huge projects, while many others are "self-employed". These "self-employed" electricians usually have their own company and are on call to anyone, though they do most of their work in private residences.
Tasks Putting Electricians at Risk
Electricians often encounter asbestos, in some form, while on the job. Asbestos was used in construction products up until the 1970s and 1980s, including electrical insulation and wallboard and tiles. Since a major aspect of the electrician's job involves installing wiring systems throughout homes and businesses, electricians often have to drill holes in order to route or re-route the wires. The products that are drilled can often contain asbestos thereby creating a potentially dangerous work environment due to the dust in the air. Many self-employed electricians might not even realize that the drywall or insulation paper could be hazardous to their health.
Electricians also install insulating films and papers to prevent people from getting shocks from the wires. These products are cut and fitted depending on the situation. Prior to the 1970s, insulating films and papers were made with asbestos. Cutting and installing these products could also put asbestos particles in the air. The mineral is naturally heat resistant and fire-proof, two very desirable characteristics in insulation.
The maintenance and upkeep of older electrical wiring systems also puts electricians and their apprentices at risk for exposure to asbestos. Removing or repairing old insulation can result in asbestos dust in the air. Unless proper protection equipment is utilized, electricians run the risk of exposure to these particles.
Types of Asbestos Products Electricians Used
The following are products that could possibly contain asbestos that electricians may encounter while on the job:
- Cement Wallboard
- Cement Siding
- Acoustical Plaster
- Decorative Plaster
- Textured Paints
- Ceiling Tiles
- Electrical Ducts
- Electrical Panel Partitions
- Electrical Cloth
- Electric Wiring Insulation
- Thermal Paper Products
- High Temperature Gaskets
- Spackling Compounds
At Risk for Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Related Diseases
By the mid 1970s, strong evidence was uncovered regarding the health dangers associated with prolonged exposure to asbestos. Many who had worked with asbestos for extended periods of time were coming down with pulmonary diseases (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis) from breathing asbestos dust.
The asbestos related diseases include:
- Mesothelioma: a type of cancer only caused by asbestos exposure that attacks the lining around the lungs and/or heart and/or abdomen. This cancer is not in the organs themselves, though untreated it will spread. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma (lung lining), then peritoneal mesothelioma (stomach lining), and then pericardial mesothelioma (heart lining).
- Asbestos Related Lung Cancer: while lung cancer can come from numerous sources, asbestos exposure can lead to the formation of a malignant tumor that blocks the air passages (common for smokers who were exposed to asbestos).
- Asbestosis: a pulmonary condition, only caused by exposure to asbestos, where scar tissue builds up in the lungs causing breathing problems and low blood flow.
The diseases associated with asbestos are similar in that their symptoms often do not appear for many years after exposure. It is not uncommon for someone to develop lung cancer after a 10 year lag between onset and initial exposure. Asbestosis and mesothelioma often do not become apparent for nearly 30 or 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Common symptoms include: difficulty breathing, chest pains, a dry hacking cough that sometimes contained blood. These diseases are usually fatal.
The health problems associated with asbestos were not just isolated to people who worked with the product. The asbestos dust would spread easily through the air putting workers who never used it at risk. Also, many family members were at risk as well because workers would return home with the dust on their clothes, shoes and even hair.
