Mesothelioma Information | Iron Workers

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• History of asbestos exposure in iron workers
  

Mesothelioma Information for Iron Workers 

Iron workers—along with shipbuilders, steel workers, railroad workers and concrete workers—have worked hard for our country throughout the decades. Iron workers have helped to build bridges and skyscrapers, tunnels and dams, universities and factories--the very fabric of our modern, industrialized society is built upon the labor of these talented individuals.  Their work is hard and time-intensive, performed in biting cold and sweltering heat, and iron workers have found themselves in precarious places high above the ground and deep beneath the ocean as they strove to construct the skeletons of structures that would become massive office buildings, condominium towers, and oil and gas rigs. Because their trade has been hard-hit by this rare but deadly disease, as well as by other conditions caused by asbestos exposure, having access to  mesothelioma information is vital for iron workers. Indeed, U.S. death certificates list the construction industry as the number-one occupation area for those above 15 years of age who died from asbestosis between 1990 and 1999--24% of those asbestosis deaths.

Iron workers have been exposed to asbestos in many different ways while performing their duties, particularly in the past. Metal girders, used in the majority of construction projects as frameworks for buildings, contained asbestos, which was released into the air for workers to breathe when the girders banged together, were pierced with rivets, or were sanded for fitting applications. More lethal was the asbestos paint that was normally sprayed on the iron beams to increase their melt-resistance temperature, which was routinely inhaled by the painters or those in the vicinity of the spray job. Winds at the construction site often carried the fumes of the asbestos paint far from the actual paint job so that other iron workers inhaled the fumes as well. This protective technique for the girders was a routine practice through the 1970s, before the dangers of asbestos were fully understood.  Lastly, iron workers wore protective clothing that was made with asbestos--gloves, aprons, pants, vests-- and once these vestments began to fray and wear down, the asbestos fibers released into the air were inhaled by the unknowing iron workers and lodged within their lungs, to remain dormant for decades until mesothelioma and other illnesses began to appear in their bodies. The fibers also lodged in their clothing, to be inhaled by others with whom they shared their living spaces--a double tragedy waiting to happen.

Today, OSHA and other governmental laws have put a limit on the amount of asbestos able to be used in workplaces, and new precautions and practices prevent the exposure of asbestos in many cases. However, there are many older buildings, boilers, ships, heating and insulation systems still in operation that were constructed before the dangers of asbestos were fully understood. Men and women in the remodeling and retro-fitting trades need to exercise extreme caution when working with these older constructions and systems if they want to avoid exposure to asbestos and the risk of compromising their future health.  The mesothelioma information provided here is intended to protect those who have not been exposed to asbestos, as well as to inform those who have experienced it in the past.

If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, or if you feel you may have encountered asbestos exposure in a past occupation, the Simmons firm may be able to help. We are a law firm committed to battling the deadly consequences of asbestos exposure, and we passionately care about those men and women who have become victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses while pursuing their careers to support their families. The Simmons firm has spent the past decade fighting for the rights of mesothelioma victims, in addition to donating money and supporting research into finding a cure for this tragic disease. Contact us today to learn more about our law firm and our history in mesothelioma research and legal justice.