Carpenters
Carpenters and cabinet makers are skilled tradesmen who work with a variety of material to build a variety of objects including furniture, ships, homes, buildings and cabinetry. These workers often came into direct contact with or near asbestos-containing materials. When asbestos is disturbed, it can become airborne and may expose those nearby. This material is associated with illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, emphysema and asbestosis.
Carpenters and Cabinet Makers
Carpenters and cabinet makers work with a variety of materials to build items such as:
- Furniture
- Ships
- Homes
- Buildings
- Cabinetry
Carpenters may construct these items using the following materials:
- Cement
- Shingles
- Floor tiles
- Wallboard
- Paint
- Wallboard
- Paper
Working directly with or near these materials may have exposed carpenters to asbestos. Some items that were manufactured before the 1980s contained asbestos fibers. When asbestos is disturbed, it can become airborne and may expose individuals nearby who may inhale the released fibers.
Exposure to Asbestos
Carpenters and cabinet makers may have been exposed to asbestos in a number of ways. Many construction materials including treated woods, construction compounds and other building materials contained asbestos such as:
- Acoustical plaster
- Acoustical finishes
- Asbestos cord
- Felt
- Packing
- Agricultural filler
- Finishing cement
- Flatboard
- Micarta
- Millboard
- Rollboard
- Patching plaster
- Patching fiber
- Shingles
- Adhesives
Construction workers may have also been exposed to asbestos through remodeling homes or buildings that were constructed during the early to mid-1900s. Activities such as hanging cabinets or drilling into existing drywall, insulation and flooring have the potential of creating an exposure hazard.
The environments where carpenters worked were often filled with other tradespeople, many of whom may have used asbestos-containing construction materials. Plumbers, electricians, insulators and drywall finishers used a variety of asbestos-containing products such as:
- Insulation
- Joint compounds
- Asbestos tape
- Gaskets
- Valves
- Asbestos-insulated wiring
In one legal case, a carpenter constructed scaffolding for other workmen to use during the construction of pipes inside a ship. Coworkers testified that asbestos pipe covering was present in engine rooms and that they saw the carpenter working in that area. The carpenter was seen with white dust that covered his clothing and hair, which he said was generated from the asbestos pipe covering.
Asbestos Lawsuits and Carpenters
Carpenter and cabinet makers often use a variety of materials in their trade and may have been exposed to asbestos without identifying a particular asbestos product. It can be difficult to determine how asbestos exposure may have occurred, as carpenters work in many locations with different subcontractors and a wide range of materials.
When filing legal claims, some carpenters have experienced difficulty in connecting their asbestos-related illness with a specific product. In some cases, courts have dismissed personal injury lawsuits because the use of a specific product could not be directly connected to the individual making the claim.
In one case, a construction carpenter filed a claim against a number of manufacturers, retailers, sellers and distributors of asbestos-containing products. He alleged that during his 30 years of work as construction carpenter, he was exposed to asbestos-containing construction and insulating materials that resulted in an asbestosis diagnosis.
The case was dismissed because the carpenter was unable to produce evidence that linked his injuries to asbestos exposure from a particular product manufactured, distributed or sold by the manufacturer being charged. The carpenter indicated that he worked with Kaylo pipe covering during the years that the manufacturer made the product with asbestos fibers. However, he could not offer evidence that indicated the defendant was the actual manufacturer of the particular Kaylo pipe covering in question.
While it may be difficult determine the exact cause of asbestos exposure, it is important to be aware of the potential health risks that exposure to even the smallest levels of asbestos can present. Carpenters or cabinet makers who fear they have been exposed to asbestos may require medical monitoring for symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses. These individuals should speak with their physicians to determine if surveillance is appropriate for their particular circumstances.
The Mesothelioma Center’s Doctor Match Program is available to help connect asbestos-exposed workers with mesothelioma specialists in their area. Fill out the form on this page to request more information tailored to your specific diagnosis.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
