Drywall Worker
Drywall installers and tapers are the segment of construction workers responsible for preparing a building framework into a structure with walls ready for paint. The drywall installers fasten the drywall panels to the framework, which involves making cutouts for doors, windows, electrical sockets, plumbing, and vents. Drywall tapers then finish the process by covering the joints with drywall tape and spreading joint compound over the joints, nail holes, screw depressions, and other imperfections. These areas are then sanded to make the walls as smooth as possible. Texture is sometimes added to the surface of the walls and ceilings by trowels, brushes, or spray guns. Unfortunately, because some of the materials used by these workers contained asbestos, many have suffered workplace asbestos exposure and the resulting health problems.
Asbestos building materials can release fibers and dust into the air when disturbed. When inhaled, an asbestos exposure can lead to a number of health problems. These include asbestosis and the following cancers: mesothelioma, lung, esophageal, gastrointestinal, laryngeal, and pharyngeal.
Drywall Workers at High Risk for Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Drywall installers who worked from about 1940 to 1980 are at the highest risk for asbestos exposure because, as mentioned above, a variety of the construction materials used during this time period contained asbestos. Asbestos was used because of its resistance to electrical and chemical damage and the benefits of sound absorption and tensile strength. Asbestos fibers can be disturbed into the air at construction sites when many of these materials are cut, shaved or ground down with power tools to fit specific dimension. Even workers who did not work directly with these materials are put at risk because the microscopic asbestos fibers can float in the air for long periods of time.
Call us at (800) 278-8675 to speak with a mesothelioma paralegal
Top Asbestos-Containing Products Encountered by Drywall Workers
• Drywall, wallboard, millboard, and paperboard
• Joint compound, patching, spackle, caulking, putties, and textured paints
• Sprayed on acoustical or decorative plaster
• Insulation around electrical wires, fuse boxes, and ceiling fixtures
• Electrical panel partitions, electrical cloth, and electrical ducts
A more exhaustive list can be found on our asbestos containing products page.
Modern Drywall Installers and Tapers are Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Today’s drywall installers and tapers continue to face the risks associated with asbestos exposure. It has been estimated that 1.3 million workers in the construction industry are still exposed to asbestos annually. Drywall workers need to remain aware of wall repair and demolition of any buildings that were constructed before 1980. Also, although the United States began regulating asbestos in the 1970s, it has not been banned entirely. Two-thirds of the modern asbestos-containing products are construction materials, although they are typically labeled as such.