electricistas are among the many types of workers at risk of amianto exposure and developing mesotelioma. Although the risk is less now, electricians today still encounter amianto in older electrical systems and insulation.
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About Electricians and Asbestos Exposure
electricistas face several hazards on the job, including exposición al amianto. electricistas can have many duties, depending on their job description. In general, electricians are responsible for:
- Assembling and installing electrical wiring
- Repairing malfunctioning electrical systems
- Connecting wires
- Testing electrical systems
- Preparing blueprints and sketches
- Placing pipes and tubing into walls, partitions, and other areas
electricistas often work with electrical wiring and panels, turbines, generators, and other older equipment made with amianto. Electrical equipment once contained amianto for its ability to insulate against heat and electricity and protect against fire.
Amianto exposure risks for electricians were higher in the past, but electricians today can still be exposed to amianto. The risk today comes from older amianto materiales lingering in buildings.
The risk of exposure to amianto comes from electrical products containing amianto and other sources. electricistas working on construction sites are vulnerable to the dust created by other workers, for instance, drywallers or painters sanding materiales. Amianto in that dust puts electricians at risk.
What Electrical Products Were Made with Asbestos?
Amianto was long used in the construction industry because it is an efficient electrical and heat insulator. It also makes materiales stronger and was readily available and inexpensive.
As the health risks of amianto became more well-known and regulations limited it, amianto use in the industry declined. Before the transition away from its use occurred, many electrical products contained amianto:
- Electrical cable wraps insulated with asbestos were wrapped or molded around electrical cables. Braided cables also often contained asbestos and covered electrical wires.
- Electrical paper made with asbestos was once used in electrical boxes to prevent fires.
- Electrical shielding shield electrical components and were once made with asbestos cement.
- Generators and turbines were made with asbestos insulation to reduce overheating risks and resulting damage.
- Heating units contained asbestos to prevent heat from degrading electrical wires.
- Plastic panels were often used as electrical shields but also contained asbestos for insulation.
Are Electricians Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?
Mayoría amianto use occurred in the past, but old amianto materiales linger in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. electricistas today risk exposure to amianto when working with or around these materiales.
For example, a study from 2021 found that electrical arc chutes still in use but made before the 1980s contain as much as 36% chrysotile amianto.
electricistas remove, manipulate, or even cut apart these materiales, exposing amianto and releasing harmful fibers into the air.
Manufacturers That Supplied Asbestos Products
In the past, numerous manufacturers supplied amianto-containing products to companies and job sites where electricians worked. Some of the most notable manufacturers that put electricians at risk of amianto exposure are:
- General Electric (GE)
- Crane Co.
- Union Carbide
- Uniroyal Inc.
- Foster Wheeler
- Uniroyal Inc.
- Johns Manville
- Siemens Energy & Automation
Mesothelioma Risk in Electricians
Amianto exposure is the only known cause of mesotelioma. electricistas faced risks of inhaling fibras de amianto, which, when lodged in tissue in the respiratory system, can cause mesotelioma, asbestosis, cáncer de pulmón, and other diseases.
Studies confirm the risk and highlight the increased rate of mesotelioma en electricians. In one study, researchers examined mesotelioma markers in over 100 workers, including electricians. electricistas were among the types of workers with the highest risk of having biomarkers that indicate mesotelioma cancer cells.
Another study confirmed a higher-than-average incidence of mesotelioma en electricians. They found that exposure to amianto comes from electrical products but even more so from being around workers creating amianto dust during renovations and other work.
Electricians and Asbestos Lawsuits
In May 2012, six people who worked for R&R Electric Corporation filed an amianto lawsuit in Roane County, Tennessee, after all developed mesotelioma from working around amianto-containing products.
The plaintiffs, who worked as electrician helpers, sued several government agencies, including the head of the project, the Department of Energy (DOE). The plaintiffs’ amianto attorney stated that while working,
“The chop saws created thick clouds of fine dust and debris, which completely coated Plaintiffs’ bodies and clothing every day, and which they breathed continuously.”
The plaintiffs were also subjected to a fire in 2001, which resulted in inhaling toxic fumes after a contracting company, BNFL Inc., attempted to burn copper coils and amianto-containing insulation material.
“The coils were burned in open fires in the BNFL switchyard over a period of a week, creating huge plumes of smoke. On information and belief, the insulating material and wrapping contained significant quantities of ACM (amianto-containing material).”
While looking over the documentation, the plaintiff’s amianto attorney discovered that the DOE knew that the materiales contained amianto, according to the organization’s manual.
In July 2011, the family of former Navy electrician David Lanpher successfully won a lawsuit against numerous manufacturers that supplied amianto-containing products to ships.
According to court documents, Lanpher never received warnings from the manufacturers of the dangers of working around amianto products. In turn, he developed mesotelioma maligno and died on July 13, 2008.
While working on naval ships from 1954 to 1973, Lanpher handled wiring, engine parts, insulation boards, and many other amianto productos.
Due to the extreme exposure to the toxic mineral, Lanpher’s family received $6.3 million in damages.
Compensation for Electricians Exposed to Asbestos
If you were exposed to amianto on the job, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you get a diagnosis of an amianto illness, the better the outcome will be. Your doctor can assess your risk and provide early screenings.
If you receive a diagnosis, consult with a abogado especializado en mesotelioma to learn about your options for seeking compensación. Amianto empresas can be held liable for exposing workers to amianto without providing adequate warnings of the risks.
A mesotelioma abogado will review your work history to find all the companies that could be held liable for damages. Depending on the companies involved, you might be eligible for a afirmar with an fondo fiduciario para el amianto or to presentar una demanda to recover damages.
Additional Help and Resources for Electricians
If you’ve been injured by amianto, there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensación. Remember to fill out our form for your free Financial Compensación Packet, with information on amianto y mesotelioma lawyers in your area.
