Wheel and Tire Builders with Mesothelioma

Because the equipment they commonly work with can contain asbestos, tire builders are at an increased risk of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

The process of building tires begins with pouring rubber into molds. Tire builders then apply steam to heat the rubber in the curing mold, press or autoclave. Unfortunately, the equipment used to heat the rubber tires also contained numerous asbestos-containing parts, like insulation, boards and brakes.

Not only did the equipment used to make the tires expose workers to asbestos, the tire molds themselves were lined with asbestos-containing talc, so the tires would separate from the mold easily.

Sadly, tire manufacturers knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure but neglected to warn tire builders about the risks or provide them with protective equipment.

In the United States alone, there are over 50,000 workers in the tire manufacturing industry. These workers produce hundreds of millions of tires annually. To do so, however, tire builders may have had to come into contact with dangerous asbestos products, something tire builders were not warned about beforehand.

Many occupations in the tire manufacturing industry came with a risk of asbestos exposure, including:

• Factory workers
• General laborers
• Mixing operators
• Production line operators and supervisors
• Retread tire technicians
• Tire builders
• Tire cord production machine operators
• Warehouse workers
• Wheel and tire assembly workers

Unfortunately, these workers may have unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home with them, putting their loved ones at risk of asbestos exposure as well.