Freight & Material Handlers - Mesothelioma Risks
Freight and material handlers work in warehouses, supply hubs, stores and transit vehicles. These workers occasionally handled shipments of asbestos-containing materials. While federal and local regulations dictate what may and may not be shipped, many materials that were deemed acceptable for shipping had been manufactured with asbestos.
Asbestos Exposure
Some means of transportation also contained asbestos, which posed a threat to the workers who loaded materials onto them. Large ships with long runs of boiler and utility piping often insulated these heated systems with asbestos fibers to prevent injuries and fires.
Vermiculite was one of the major asbestos-containing substances that freight and material handlers were required to handle. Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from the Libby mine accounted for 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990. The material was shipped to processing plants and then construction sites, where it was used as an insulator. Many workers came into contact with asbestos in the vermiculite when it was mined, manufactured and shipped.
The Louisa, Virginia Vermiculite Mine was also contaminated with asbestos. Tests by the Mine Safety and Health Administration found tremolite as well as actinolite asbestiform mineral fibers. This mine is still in operation, yet they have currently implemented handling regulations to increase the safety of their workers.
Unfortunately, previous freight and material handlers were exposed to the mineral and now face health complications. If you have developed mesothelioma and would like additional information about treatment, clinical trials and financial assistance for your health care, please fill out the form on this page.
Cross contamination was also common in the freight and material handling industries. Asbestos dust that may have been released by a product may settle into other places where future disturbance may send it back into the air.
For instance, floor tiles, cement sheet and insulation were often shipped on open pallets that shifted and were jostled in transit. Asbestos from these products may have fallen onto the porous wooden pallet, where it could have contaminated the surrounding area. This process may have prolonged the risk of exposure for freight handlers.
One 65-year-old asbestosis patient contracted the disease approximately 50 years after working in a vermiculite expansion plant for two consecutive studies. His reported duties included unloading, transporting and packaging the ore. The worker noticed heavy amounts of dust in his nostrils after work, even though he wore cotton breathing masks.
Many other laborers who handled materials and products as they were transported to and from manufacturing sites have also developed asbestos-related diseases. If you have experienced occupational asbestos exposure and would like to discuss your history with a qualified physician, please contact the Mesothelioma Center’s Doctor Match Program.
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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.
