01.石棉对工业工人的风险
How Are Industrial Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos played a prominent role in many factories and plants for much of the 20th century. The mineral had desirable qualities, such as heat and chemical resistance.
它通常用于工业产品。这些材料通常必须忍受高温和/或腐蚀性化学物质。
As a result,石棉was found in thousands of products handled regularly by industrial workers. Due to this widespread use, many trades within the industry continue to be at risk of exposure.
Industrial workers may have been exposed to asbestos from many of their duties. Actions that may have exposed workers to asbestos include:
- 锻造金属
- Extracting metals from ores
- 铸造液体材料
- Sandblasting and other surface polishing
- Oil refining
- 冶炼金属
- Welding and soldering
- 切割,冲压或成型金属
These and other job duties put many individuals at risk ofoccupational asbestos exposure。When exposed to asbestos, people may develop石棉cancersor other related diseases.
What Asbestos Products Put Industrial Workers at Risk?
Many石棉productswere used to assist with industrial workers’ job responsibilities. For example,oil refiningrequired asbestos-insulated gaskets to connect pipes transporting crude oil.
可能将工业工人暴露于石棉的产品包括:
- Adhesives
- Asbestos cement
- Asbestos textiles
- Asbestos ceiling and floor tiles
- Boilers
- Caulking compounds
- Construction products
- Fire-resistant materials(例如。,fire blankets)
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Joint cement
- Personal protective equipment (e.g., asbestos gloves)
- Pipes
- Pipe coverings
- Pipe insulation
- Pipe wrappings
- Plastics
- Pumps
- Refractory products
- 屋顶材料
- 阀
- Vinyl sheet backings
这些产品用于众多工作地点的工业机械中。许多工业建筑也包含石棉。结果,工业工人有机械和建筑材料的风险。
These products were manufactured by many石棉公司。The following companies either:
- Manufactured asbestos materials and products and/or
- Used asbestos materials and products in their facilities
Asbestos companies may have exposed thousands of industrial workers to the material. As a result, industrial workers may develop asbestos illnesses, such as万博专业版。
常见的地方石棉os Is Found in Industrial Settings
许多美国制造商,发电厂和工厂在其产品中使用石棉。矿物也在整个建筑物本身都使用。结果,工人通常处于高风险石棉暴露。
Locations in the workplace that often exposed industrial workers include:
- 锅炉房
- Ceilings
- Construction sites
- 拆除站点
- Manufacturing floors
Any area with asbestos materials can be an asbestos exposure location. When asbestos is disturbed, fibers can become airborne. Workers may then be at risk of inhaling or ingesting the mineral. Poorly ventilated or enclosed areas are especially dangerous because fibers may concentrate in the air, increasing the likelihood of inhalation.
However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even low levels of exposure can lead to asbestos diseases, such as mesothelioma or石棉is。
Industrial Workers and At-Risk Trades
许多交易属于工业工人的雨伞。结果,很难估计有石棉暴露的工业工人的数量。例如,在电厂行业工作的个人也可以被视为工业工人。
At-risk industrial trades include:
- Electricians
- Industrial machinery erectors
- 绝缘子
- 炉操作员
- Machine operators
- Maintenance and repair workers
- 力学
- Millwrights
- Molders
- Pipefitters
- Welders
这些专业人员可能在日常工作中暴露了。他们也可能与矿物质的矿物质接触。
For example, maintenance mechanics were responsible for repairing machinery and replacing worn-out parts. As a result, they may come into contact with asbestos pumps, valves or gaskets.
To replace these components, workers would often cut or grind the pieces for removal or to ensure the tight fit of new parts. These employees also cut, drilled and scraped asbestos materials during routine maintenance.
工业工人还冒着将其生命中的其他人暴露于石棉的风险。工人可以将纤维带回家,穿着衣服,人和物品。这有可能使家人和亲人与矿物接触。
This is known assecondary asbestos exposure。Individuals who experience secondary exposure are also at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
02. Mesothelioma Risk for Industrial Workers
万博专业版间皮瘤的工业工人风险
Employees in industrial settings often repeatedly came into contact with asbestos products. As a result, industrial workers were susceptible to developing asbestos-related diseases.
Industrial occupations and asbestos diseases have been the subject of much research. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 1999 showed industrial and chemical workers had the highest mesothelioma mortality ratio of all occupations. Further data from the same year examined disease incidence among men in different occupational groups. Workers in industrial occupations were found to have an increased risk of腹膜间皮瘤万博专业版。
In the 1980s, government agencies began to prohibit certain asbestos practices. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enacted石棉rules and regulationsto protect workers.
However, the long latency of asbestos diseases means exposed workers may develop illnesses for years to come. Recent data from 2020 confirms industrial workers across sectors showed increased mortality from pleural issues. This includes peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
“在男性中,我们发现与制造业(例如工业和其他化学品)中的就业相关的风险大幅增加;其他非金属矿物和石制品;施工和材料处理机;以及电气机械,设备和用品;以及为住宅和其他建筑物的服务。”
这些研究证明是危险的连接en industrial workers and asbestos health risks.
03.工业工人的赔偿
赔偿职业石棉受害者
职业曝光后被诊断出患有石棉疾病的工业工人可能会追求compensation。Potential options for compensation include legal actions or工人的赔偿要求。
寻求石棉赔偿的工业工人可以选择提起诉讼或石棉trust fundclaim.
Large industrial manufacturers may experience thousands of asbestos claims each year. As a result, many of them have set up trust funds to handle and pay successful claimants. Industrial companies with trust funds include A.P. Green Industries, Halliburton Company and Owens-Corning Fiberglas.
Mesothelioma lawsuits也可能导致赔偿。这可以通过法庭判决或out-of-court settlementwith the company.
这些案例是工业工人能够使石棉公司负责的一些情况。经验丰富的mesothelioma law firmcan help other industrial workers decide which legal option best suits their situation.