Household Appliance Installers
A household appliance installer is the worker responsible for installing devices such as microwaves, ovens, and dishwashers among other things. Often times, a contractor will complete these tasks themselves, but there are indeed people who focus specifically on these types of installations. Unfortunately, because, for some time, many of the materials household appliance installers encountered contained asbestos, many have suffered exposure to asbestos which can cause deadly mesothelioma cancer. Asbestos was a common ingredient in many building materials and it can release dangerous 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.
Household Appliance Installers at High Risk for Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Household appliance installers who worked from about 1940 to 1980 are at the highest risk for asbestos exposure because, as mentioned above, a variety of construction materials contained asbestos. Asbestos, a naturally occurring substance, has a resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage and the benefits of sound absorption and tensile strength. This led to its usage in so many construction materials. Unfortunately for household appliance installers, the installation of appliances often involved cutting, sawing, or drilling through many of these asbestos containing products. This allows asbestos fibers to be disturbed into the air where they can be inhaled or land on clothing. In addition, all the workers on a particular site were at risk because asbestos fibers could float in the air for long periods of time to different locations on the job site.
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Some Asbestos-Containing Products for Household Appliance Installers to Watch for:
• Drywall
• Patching, spackle, joint compounds, caulking, putties and textured paints
• Sprayed on acoustical or decorative plaster
• 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
• Ceiling tiles and panels in suspended ceilings
A more exhaustive list can be found on our asbestos containing products page.
Today’s Household Appliance Installer is Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Today’s household appliance installer continues to face some of the dangerous risks associated with asbestos exposure. It is estimated that 1.3 million construction workers are still exposed to asbestos annually. The United States began the regulation of asbestos in the 1970s, but it has not been entirely banned. In fact, two-thirds of the modern asbestos-containing products are construction materials, although they are typically labeled as such. Most important to modern household appliance installers should be caution when working on structures built from 1940-1980 when asbestos use was at its peak. Modern household appliance installers need to be taught the proper safety procedures, identification of asbestos products, and use the required equipment to protect them from the dangers of asbestos.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos While Working as a Household Appliance Installer? A Mesothelioma Attorney May be Able to Assist You
It is recommended that people who have spent a significant period of time working as a household appliance installer 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 victims average only one year of life after 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 while working as a household appliance installer, you may be deserving of financial compensation similar to the mesothelioma settlements others have received. To learn more about your legal options and how a mesothelioma attorney may be able to help, please contact us for a free legal consultation.