Demolition Crew
Demolition crews are the construction workers who gut buildings for renovation or completely tear them down. Unfortunately, because numerous building materials encountered by demolition crews contain asbestos, many have suffered workplace asbestos exposure and are now experiencing the resulting health problems. Asbestos building materials such as drywall and insulation can release fibers and dust into the air when torn down by people or bulldozers during demolition. Bulldozers sometimes have the additional danger of asbestos brakes, asbestos brake linings, and asbestos gaskets. When inhaled, asbestos fibers can lead to a number of health problems including asbestosis and the following cancers: mesothelioma, lung, esophageal, gastrointestinal, laryngeal, and pharyngeal.
Demolition crews are at high risk for asbestos exposure because, as mentioned above, both the machinery they work with and the building materials they encounter could be asbestos-containing. In addition to the heat-resistant properties that make it ideal for brakes, asbestos has a resistance to electrical and chemical damage. These qualities along with the benefits of sound absorption and tensile strength led it to be included in many building materials. The destruction of asbestos-containing building materials can disturb asbestos fibers into the air and put all of the construction site workers at risk. The microscopic fibers can float in the air for long periods of time and even attach to clothes, potentially putting family and friends in harm’s way.
Top Asbestos-Containing Products Encountered by Demolition Crews
• Cement roofing, shingles and siding
• Patching, spackle, joint compounds, caulking, putties and textured paints
• Sprayed on acoustical or decorative plaster
• Asbestos blanket or paper tape to insulate steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts
• Floor tiling and floor adhesives
• Insulation: usually grayish-white and often found in attics
• Insulation around electrical wires, fuse boxes, and ceiling fixtures
• Wallboard, millboard and paperboard
• Door gaskets in furnaces and stoves
• Ceiling tiles and panels in suspended ceiling
For a more exhaustive list, check out our asbestos containing products page.
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Demolition Crews are Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Today’s demolition crews continue to face the health risks associated with asbestos exposure. In fact, it has been estimated that 1.3 million workers in the construction industry are still exposed to asbestos annually. Demolition crews for buildings constructed before 1980 need to remain very cautious of asbestos-containing materials. Also, although the United States began regulating asbestos in the 1970’s, it has not been banned entirely. Two-thirds of the modern asbestos-containing products are construction materials, although they are typically labeled as such.
Sometimes workers involved in demolition are not taught the proper safety procedures or given the required equipment to protect themselves from the dangers of asbestos. A basic precaution is wearing a ventilator or safety mask to avoid inhaling asbestos dust. Keeping potential asbestos demolition areas damp is another important precaution to significantly reduce asbestos fibers getting airborne. Crews should also be educated on the identification of asbestos products and the proper methods of disposal within their particular jurisdiction. This will often mean calling in a professional certified in asbestos abatement techniques.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos While Working on a Demolition Crew? An Asbestos Attorney Could be Able to Help
It is recommended that people who have spent a significant period of time working on a demolition crew get a full physical evaluation by a medical doctor. Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, often takes 15-40 years to manifest and the life expectancy of a victim is around a year post-diagnosis. Thus, it is important to catch the disease in its early stages. At-risk workers should pay close attention to any mesothelioma symptoms which include fluid in the lungs, chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe you were exposed to asbestos working on a demolition crew, you may be deserving of a mesothelioma settlement. To learn more about your legal optionsans if an asbestos attorney could assist you with your situation, please contact us for a free legal consultation.