Custodians - Mesothelioma Risks
Custodians may sometimes spend their entire workdays in asbestos-contaminated environments. Responsible for the maintenance of buildings, custodians are often not trained to recognize or avoid asbestos dangers.
When buried in the ground or embedded in cement or other binding materials, asbestos is not a threat. When released into the air, however, asbestos is a toxic contaminant with far-reaching health effects that typically emerge decades after exposure (see Mesothelioma Latency Period). Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis have been diagnosed in a number of custodians with a history of workplace exposure (for how exposure may occur, see Asbestos Exposure). If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like to learn more about the cancer, please fill out the form on this page to receive a customized information packet.
Custodians and Asbestos Exposure
Because custodians encountered a number of asbestos-containing structures and materials in the buildings they maintained, these workers were at a high risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. If you have been exposed to asbestos and would like to discuss your experience with a specialist in your area, please contact the Mesothelioma Center’s Doctor Match Program.
Custodians encountered a number of asbestos-containing products during their work. From the early 1960s to the late 1970s, asbestos was often applied to beams and decking above ceilings and behind walls. Asbestos was also used in roofing materials, vinyl floor tiles, "transite" board and "galbestos."
As asbestos insulation ages and deteriorates, asbestos fibers may become airborne and accumulate in the dust of cellar floors, heating pipes and hung ceilings. When custodians maintained the structures in these buildings, they were at high risk of disturbing the asbestos and releasing the fibers into their workspace.
In the case of Upsher v. Grosse Pointe Public School System, the custodians in a school district were instructed to rip up carpeting from asbestos floor tiles after an outside contractor refused to do so because of potential asbestos exposure. The custodians "chiseled, chipped, pounded, pulverized, hammered and jack hammered" the asbestos tiles. As a result, the workers were "massively exposed" to airborne asbestos fibers.
In another case, the principal of an elementary school ordered uncertified custodians to remove asbestos-containing insulation. After the work was performed outside of the Clean Air Act's work practice standards, the principal then denied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the school ever contained asbestos.
According to a study conducted by the EPA in 1979, approximately one-third of the public schools in the New York City school system contained friable asbestos materials. Until that time, in New York City schools alone, as many as 21,600 custodians and maintenance workers were exposed to the substance.
Additional studies conducted in the schools of Boston and Los Angeles and public buildings in Baltimore found that the mere presence of asbestos in buildings puts the occupants of such buildings at a high risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. The study of Boston schools noted that custodians were exposed to sufficient amounts of airborne asbestos to cause pathological changes such as pleural plaques, which occurred more frequently in the custodians of asbestos-containing buildings than in the general population.
Asbestos hazards for custodial workers are not limited to health conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Some custodians who sought to bring attention to the presence of asbestos in buildings where they worked were fired by their employers.
Custodians who suspect that they have been exposed to asbestos should discuss their concerns with a physician. If warranted, the doctor will establish a health monitoring plan to watch for symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses. Even if prior checkups have not indicated an asbestos-related disease, a second opinion may be a good idea. The Mesothelioma Center’s Doctor Match Program can connect custodians with experienced doctors in their area for diagnosis or treatment.
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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.
