Throughout the 20th century, tons of asbestos were mined in our country and put in thousands of everyday products. Asbestos was very inexpensive and was used as filler in many different products throughout many different industries. For example, asbestos was widely used in brake pads, clutches, engine components, and insulation.
There are a number of different jobs where workers were exposed to a large amount of asbestos on a very frequent basis. People who have worked as automotive mechanics may have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure on the jobsite.
Asbestos was commonly used in automotive parts because of its resistance to the friction and heat that is generated by vehicles. Asbestos was often found in brake pads, clutches, internal and engine components, insulation, and even the body construction. Today, asbestos is not generally used in the production of new parts, but many automotive parts may still contain high levels of asbestos.
For auto mechanics, handling auto parts and brake and clutch repairs are routine job tasks. These jobs often require mechanics to clean out brake and clutch surfaces to replace or repair parts, releasing trapped asbestos dust. While fitting parts, mechanics often need to grind, file, and drill brake pads, creating asbestos dust. When these routine tasks are performed, asbestos fibers may be inhaled or ingested and lodged in the lungs. The irritation caused by asbestos fibers can lead to problems including mesothelioma cancer.
Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Generally, it takes 10 to 60 years from the time of asbestos exposure until symptoms appear or mesothelioma is diagnosed.
Many of the companies have established trust funds to pay compensation to persons injured by asbestos.
If you have mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related injury, and wish to consult an attorney about your legal rights to compensation, CLICK HERE for a free consultation.