Professions Most Susceptible to Asbestosis Developing Within The Workforce

Which Professions Are Most Susceptible To Asbestosis?

For over 4,000 years asbestos has been used for a wide range of purposes, but it was after the Second World War that its use really increased. Its heat-resistant capabilities and relatively low cost meant that it found its way into a wide range of industries. Its use peaked during the 1970s and began to decline during the 1980s when the dangers surrounding it became more and more prevalent. It has been banned for use as a building material in the UK since the year 2000, however it may be present in a range of buildings and products made before this time.

There are certain occupations that carry a higher risk of developing asbestosis due to the potentially high volumes of asbestos fibres that were present in their workplace. These include:

Shipyard Workers – ships-builders in the late 20th century used large volumes of asbestos to insulate the interiors of the ships and during the installation, servicing, maintenance and ultimate scrapping of these vessels large amounts of asbestos fibres could have been drawn into their lungs causing an increased risk of developing the condition.

Insulation Workers – one of asbestos’s most valuable properties is its ability to deal with and contain heat, as a result it has been a key ingredient in many insulation products. By working frequently in the presence of huge volumes of asbestos, those who worked in the manufacture, installation or subsequent removal of insulation materials are at a high risk.

Plasterers – plasterers and decorators faced dangerous exposure through the plaster and paint products they would have frequently used during their working lives; many of which contained asbestos. Its ability to bond with other materials made it an ideal ingredient for many of the paints and plasters used in the past.

Plumbers and Builders – anyone working in the plumbing or building trade in the 1970s and 80s would have quite regularly been exposed to asbestos both through its use as a building material and its insulation benefits in the plumbing trade.

Heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers – again because of asbestos’s ability to contain heat, it was frequently used in heating and cooling systems.

Metal Workers – in many cases people who deal with the fabrication or use of metals in their workplace were exposed to very high temperatures, so often asbestos was used in heat shields and other protective devices. Its use in vehicle brake linings and engines means that those working in the automotive industries are also at risk.

Demolition Workers – at present some of the highest risk is among those who deal with asbestos that has been disturbed or broken up. With modern health and safety practices, equipment and procedures the job can be done safely, but those who have been in the trade for a long time may have been exposed to dangerous amounts of asbestos during their early careers