Electrical Power and Telephone Line Worker
Electric power and telephone line workers are considered highly trained professionals who install, repair, and maintain large-scale wiring for electrical and telephone systems. These skilled craftsmen work not only on telephone and electrical poles, but also inside of residential homes. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this work, many of these skilled craftsmen have suffered workplace asbestos exposure, which can cause the deadly mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos, common in many building materials encountered by electric power and telephone line workers, 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.
Electric Power and Telephone Line Workers at High Risk for Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Electric power and telephone line workers 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, a naturally occurring substance, was used to insulate electric and telephone lines for its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage. Asbestos fibers could be disturbed into the air when the asbestos-containing wiring was cut or spliced. These workers could also encounter asbestos when drilling and wiring through certain construction materials in residential homes such as insulation, drywall, shingles, and wallboard. In addition, all workers at a site are put at risk because when asbestos fibers are released because they can float in the air for long periods of time.
Top Asbestos-Containing Products for Electric Power and Telephone Line Workers to Be Aware of:
• Electrical wiring
• Insulation
• Older electrical equipment
• Cables
• Fire-retardant tape
• Drywall
• Shingles
• Wallboard
A more exhaustive list can be found on our asbestos containing products page.
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Today’s Electric Power and Telephone Line Workers are Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Today’s electric power and telephone line workers 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. Modern electric power and telephone line workers should remain cautious when working with older wires or in houses built between about 1940 and 1980 when asbestos usage was at its peak. The United States began regulating asbestos in the 1970s, but 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 modern electric power and telephone line workers are not trained on the proper safety procedures or given the required equipment to protect them from the dangers of asbestos. Basic precautions are wearing a ventilator or safety mask and treating untested materials as though they are asbestos-containing. Workers should be educated on the identification of asbestos containing products and the proper methods of handling disposal within their particular jurisdiction.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos While Working as an Electric Power or Telephone Line Workers? A Mesothelioma Lawyer May be Able to Help
It is recommended that people who have spent a significant period of time working as an electric power or telephone line worker 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 as an electric power or telephone line worker, you may be deserving of a mesothelioma settlement. To learn more about your legal options and the process of obtaining a mesothelioma lawyer, please contact us for a free case evaluation.