Crane and Hoist Men

Crane and hoist operators come under the more general heading of construction and demolition workers. Like all workers who worked on construction and demolition sites, those who operate heavy machinery are likely to have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their daily work.

Cranes and hoists are pieces of heavy equipment that are used to lift and move heavy objects. They are used extensively in building bridges, buildings, roads and other types of infrastructure. The men and women who operate cranes and hoists often work in an open cab, and are exposed to the dust and debris in the air around the job site. Because asbestos was so widely used in building and construction projects throughout most of the last century, there is a high likelihood that anyone who worked on construction sites was exposed to asbestos fibers in the air.

Crane and hoist operators may also have been exposed to asbestos fibers when carrying out routine maintenance on their machines, particularly when servicing brakes, replacing brake pads and linings or replacing gaskets. Because asbestos has such high heat resistance, it was often woven into fabric and rubber used in making brake linings, brake pads and other machinery parts that handled a lot of heat and friction. As the brakes are applied, friction wears the asbestos-impregnated materials of the lining and pads, releasing asbestos fibers into the brake compartment. When the brake compartment is opened, those asbestos fibers become airborne and are easily inhaled by those working on and around the machine.

In addition to construction sites and road crews, crane and hoist operators often were employed at shipyards, where the cranes and hoists were used to help load and unload freight from ships, as well as assisting in the building, repair and maintenance of ships at the dry dock. Asbestos was used in many ways in shipyards, and those who worked at Naval and commercial shipyards through the 1970s are among those at highest risk for developing mesothelioma, a cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

While asbestos was banned for many uses by the 1980s, the danger of exposure to asbestos fibers didn't end with the legislation to control its use. Older buildings, bridges and roads that were made with asbestos-containing materials like transite and asbestos cement have reached the age where they require renovation or demolition. When the materials that contain asbestos are cut, sanded, crushed or otherwise destroyed, the asbestos fibers are released into the air where they can be inhaled and ingested by those on the work site or in the area.

The presence of airborne asbestos on a work site creates a serious potential health hazard. Inhaled asbestos fibers cause a number of crippling and fatal illnesses, most of them affecting the respiratory system. The effects of asbestos inhalation include

• Asbestosis, a progressive condition where the presence of asbestos fibers in the lungs cause scarring that eventually immobilizes the lungs and reduces their capacity to take in oxygen. Asbestosis is incurable and nearly always fatal. It also increases the risk of developing mesothelioma.
• Mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects the thin lining of tissue that provides lubrication between the organs and an outer wall. There are three forms of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining between the lungs and the chest wall. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. All three forms of mesothelioma are incurable, painful and fatal.
• Lung cancer, which occurs more often in those who were exposed to asbestos than in the general population. Asbestos-related lung cancer is one of the most common effects of inhaled asbestos fibers. The risk of developing lung cancer is especially high for those who were exposed to asbestos and who smoked cigarettes. The two risk factors together seem to have a combined effect that is far higher than would be expected based on their individual risk factors. A person who both smokes and was exposed to asbestos has a risk factor of developing lung cancer that is thousands of times higher than the risk for those who do not smoke and were not exposed to asbestos.
• Other cancers are also significantly more common among those who were exposed to asbestos, particularly those that affect the respiratory or digestive tract.

Safety Regulations and Asbestos

There are strict regulations in place in the United States that control the permissible amount of asbestos in the air on various types of work sites. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards also dictate the kind of safety equipment and measures that employers and contractors must enforce on the job. Those regulations include restrictions about how the work is carried out, safety precautions that must be taken and training that must be undertaken before workers are allowed to handle materials that are contaminated with asbestos.

If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos at work, and have since been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness, medical expenses and pain and suffering. The laws about compensation for asbestos-related diseases vary widely from state to state, but many asbestos lawsuits are based in other states than the one in which you currently live. An experienced asbestos or mesothelioma attorney in your area can advise you on your rights to sue and receive compensation if you were injured or became ill because of exposure to asbestos on the job.

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