Until the 1970s, asbestos was widely used in the parts, machines, protective clothing, and even building materials found at many jobsites in the US. Workers who were employed at these facilities may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos that could put them at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer, asbstosis, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases decades after they were exposed.
If you or a loved one worked at job sites where asbestos materials were present, you may qualify to receive free testing courtesy of the law firm of Hissey Mulderig & Friend to determine whether you may have developed an asbestos-related disease. Call toll-free at 1-855-500-3734 or send us a message online to find out more.
Aluminium Plants
Until the 1990s, asbestos was commonly used at aluminium plants to insulate the pots that were used to melt aluminium. As this asbestos aged, it could become brittle, causing crumbling asbestos fibers to be released into the air. In cases where the aluminium pots weren’t getting hot enough, workers would dig out some of the asbestos with tools, causing it to become airborne. Workers who inhaled these fibers faced significant risks of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos illnesses. Read more…
Asbestos Mines
Workers at asbestos mining facilities faced significant risks of asbestos exposure. Although many workers were provided with protective equipment to protect them from inhaling asbestos, in many cases, this equipment was inadequate. According to a study published in 2017, workers in asbestos mines were twice as likely to develop lung cancer and 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than the general population. Although most asbestos mines were closed over the last two decades, miners who worked at these sites may still be at risk of being diagnosed with asbestos diseases.
Automotive Repair Shops
Until a few decades ago, many of the parts that were used in automotive repair shops – including brakes, clutches, and heat seals – contained up to 30-80% asbestos. When mechanics and auto technicians performed repairs with these parts, asbestos fibers could become airborne, putting them at risk of asbestos exposure. The risk of developing an asbestos-related disease as a result of this exposure increased significantly due to the poor air quality and circulation inside auto repair shops.
Breweries
Asbestos was once commonly used in the brewing industry to filter impurities from alcoholic beverages. The paper used to filter out these impurities often contained asbestos that was designed to make it more durable. Many breweries also contained equipment with asbestos insulation or asbestos materials used in the construction of these buildings that could put workers at risk of being exposed to asbestos. Read more…
Chemical Plants
During the mid-20th century, many chemical plants contained asbestos insulation on the boilers, ovens, pipes, pumps, tanks, tables, workbenches, and other equipment at these facilities. This asbestos insulation was a low-cost way to protect workers against the high heat at chemical plants that could easily cause burns or fires. Many chemical plant workers even wore protective clothing or face masks that were made from asbestos. But most of these facilities took few steps to protect workers from asbestos exposure, putting them at high risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other diseases. Read more…
Military Sites
Air Force Bases
Asbestos insulation, drywall, tiles, pipes, plumbing, and other materials were widely used by the U.S. military to build houses, work facilities, and other structures at Air Force bases. Many of the parts that were found in older aircraft and helicopters – including brakes and other machine parts – also contained asbestos for fireproofing and heat resistance. Although the risks of asbestos have been known for decades, many Air Force bases still contain large amounts of asbestos, meaning that even current service members may still be at risk. Read more…
Navy Ships
U.S. Navy vessels that were built before the 1980s contained hundreds of parts and materials that contained asbestos. Nearly every part of these ships — including the boiler room, the engine room, the mess hall, navigation rooms, and even crew sleeping quarters — contained at least one piece of material with asbestos. Any sailors onboard these ships were at risk of asbestos exposure. However, studies have shown that boiler technicians, fire control technicians, machinist’s mates, pipe fitters, and water tenders have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma cancer because of the high levels of asbestos to which they were exposed. Read more…
Naval Shipyards
Because of the high quantity of asbestos materials found on U.S. Navy ships, shipyard workers who built these vessels were regularly exposed to high levels of asbestos. U.S. Navy regulations even required the use of asbestos products in the construction of these vessels for decades! Workers who installed these asbestos materials on ships were at the highest risk of asbestos exposure. Millions of other shipyard workers who served at dry docks, navy yards, and other shipbuilding facilities were also regularly exposed to asbestos. Read more…
Oil Refineries
Studies have shown that refinery workers have one of the highest risks of developing mesothelioma. These risks increase the longer workers are employed at these facilities. Oil and petroleum refineries contain insulation, gaskets, valves, and other materials that were used for fireproofing, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. Many refinery workers also work gloves or other protective clothing containing asbestos fibers. Asbestos was also used in the construction of many oil refineries. These materials may still be present in many older refineries, putting current refinery workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Read more…
Oil Rigs
Asbestos materials were once widely used in the drilling industry to guard against the risks of fire and extreme heat, including drilling pipes, insulation, and asbestos clothing. Asbestos was also widespread in offshore oil rigs as an additive to drilling mud. Workers employed at oil drilling sites or offshore oil rigs where asbestos materials were present may be at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer or other diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. Read more…
Paper Mills
Paper mill workers during the 20th century were exposed to a number of products with asbestos, including the machines and materials that were commonly used to produce paper. Asbestos was also commonly found in the insulation and other building materials that were used to construct these facilities. Maintenance workers who repaired the machines that were used at paper mills and workers involved in the drying process of paper products faced an especially high risk of asbestos exposure. Read more…
Power Plants
Many power plants contained large quantities of asbestos designed to protect boilers, pipes, turbines, and other machines at these facilities from heat. Power plant workers often wore protective clothing such as aprons, coats, gloves, pants, and even masks that contained asbestos to protect them from this heat. Workers who came into contact with these materials – or who performed maintenance, causing asbestos fibers to become airborne – were at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases as a result of their exposure to these materials. Read more…
Schools
Many schools that were built during the 20th century contained asbestos insulation, soundproofing, or other materials containing asbestos. Teachers, administrators, janitors, or other workers who worked at these schools may have been exposed to asbestos for years or even decades, putting them at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
Steel Mills
Machines and welding equipment used at many steel mills during the 20th century contained asbestos insulation that was designed to provide heat resistance. When workers installed or repaired these materials, asbestos dust could be released into the air. Although asbestos was no longer used in the construction of steel mills after the 1970s, many older facilities may still contain asbestos materials that can put workers at risk of illness from exposure to these products. Read more…
Textile Mills
Many of the clothing products that were manufactured at textile mills between the 1940s and 1970s contained asbestos. Although asbestos was no longer used in clothing products after the 70s, some older textile mills may still contain machines or parts that could put workers at risk of asbestos exposure. According to one study, textile mill workers had the highest rate of asbestosis of all categories of workers where asbestos products were manufactured. Read more…
Trains and Railyards
Studies have shown that railroad workers are more likely than the general population to be exposed to asbestos. Workers who changed asbestos brakes, boiler and engine room workers, locomotive engineers, laggers, brake operators, conductors, and other train and railyard employees may be at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases as a result of their on-the-job asbestos exposure. Read more…
Other Asbestos Jobsites
Workers at other jobsites where asbestos materials were used may also be at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other diseases linked to asbestos exposure. Learn more about other jobsites where the presence of asbestos-containing materials may jeopardize the health of workers employed at these sites. Read more…
Find Out More About Free Asbestos Testing
If you or a loved one worked at an asbestos jobsite and have experienced symptoms that may be a sign of an asbestos-related disease, you may qualify to receive a free medical examination courtesy of our law firm.
For more information about receiving a free asbestos test, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling our office toll-free at 1-855-500-3734.
You can also contact us by sending a message with our free contact form, located on the upper left side of this page.
After we receive your message, a member of our staff will contact you to obtain any additional information that we need and help schedule your free examination.