Electricians

Electricians are trained professionals who install, connect, repair and maintain wiring and electrical systems in commercial and residential construction. Electricians can be involved with construction from the earliest stages of building or may be responsible for replacing outdated electrical systems in homes and commercial buildings that were built previously.

Throughout the history of a building, electricians are among the groups of professionals who are most likely to be involved in upgrading and renovations. Because the electrical industry has changed considerably over time, electricians are often called upon to upgrade wiring, install new electrical outlets, repair damaged wiring and otherwise maintain and improve the electrical wiring and systems in buildings of all ages. Besides residential work, electricians may also work in aviation or shipbuilding, both fields where electrical equipment is vital to proper operation.

As they work, electricians are exposed to many hazards, including the risk of electrocution, of falling while working on ladders or scaffolding, and the chance of exposure to deadly chemicals and substances like asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure

Because electricians often work in buildings that were constructed during the years in which the construction industry made heavy use of asbestos-containing products, including wire and electrical insulation, there is often a high risk of exposure to asbestos.

Electrical insulation products are not the only source of asbestos exposure for electricians, however. Wiring is most often concealed in and behind walls, which means that in order to reach wiring that needs repairs, electricians must often cut holes in walls and dig through asbestos-containing drywall and insulation. If the building in which they are working was built before 1980, electricians face the risk of inhaling asbestos dust as they work.

Asbestos exposure carries with it the risk of developing serious lung diseases, including mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer with no known cure. Certain professions are more inclined in develop the disease than others. Electricians are among that group.

Electricians may be exposed to asbestos during the course of their work when carrying out tasks like:

• cutting through old drywall that contains asbestos
• working in attics, cellars and other closed spaces with asbestos insulation
• removing and replacing asbestos insulation on old wiring
• rewiring or replacing outdated electrical systems

There were once more than 5,000 products on the market that contained asbestos, including many of those used in the construction industry. Some of the asbestos-related products that electricians might come into contact with include:

• acoustical plaster
• decorative plaster
• ceiling tiles
• electrical panel partitions
• electrical ducts
• electric wiring insulation
• textured paints
• cement siding
• cement wallboard
• drywall
• drywall compound
• sheetrock
• thermal paper products
• electrical cloth

Prior to the asbestos warnings of the 1970s, electricians rarely protected themselves against asbestos exposure. Today's electrician, however, understands that he/she faces serious dangers when exposed to this toxic mineral. Part of their professional training includes the importance of exercising safety precautions when working near asbestos, including wearing a ventilator or face mask to avoid inhaling asbestos dust.

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