Road Machine Operators - Mesothelioma Risks
Road machine operators are at risk for asbestos exposure in multiple ways. Dust from surfacing material and worn parts that contain asbestos are prominent hazards for exposure. Road machine operators handle various kinds of power construction equipment including:
- Motor graders
- Bulldozers
- Scrapers
- Compressors
- Shovels
- Tractors
- Front-end loaders
Operators used this type of equipment during the maintenance and construction of roads and highways. Road machine operators may be asked to repair and maintain them. The risk for asbestos exposure poses a potential health hazard for road machine operators as airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled while on the job. Many of the parts used to build road machines contained asbestos to reduce the risk of fires from hot temperatures and high frictions parts.
Road Machine Operators and Asbestos Exposure
Machine parts that contained asbestos were used in the manufacture of older equipment, particularly in places subjected to great amounts of heat or friction. Heat shields, gaskets, valves and brake pads and linings at one time may all have contained asbestos. As these parts wore down, asbestos fibers were released into the air, placing machine operators at risk for exposure.
A more recent hazard for road machine operators has come in the form of gravel and other surfacing materials that have been contaminated by asbestos. As these materials are placed onto the road — or even driven over — dust that contains asbestos fibers can fill the cab of a road machine and expose others nearby. Occurrences such as this have been documented in both California and North Dakota.
After asbestos detectors in California found high levels of microscopic airborne asbestos approximately 200 feet away from the road, officials ordered that county roads should be repaved or coated with tar to prevent the emission of asbestos fibers.
The asbestos detector findings indicated a significant asbestos hazard on roads paved with asbestos gravel. According to a news release, individuals who were often within 190 feet of contaminated roads had an increased risk of developing cancer.
Additional Types of Exposure
In March 2008, approximately 100 miles of road in Dunn County, North Dakota, was found to be contaminated with an asbestos-like substance called erionite. Similar to asbestos, exposure to this substance has been linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma cancer in some studies.
Asbestos-containing rock is still sold for a number of uses such as foundations and leach fields, where it remains damp and undisturbed. Until the beginning of this century, it was also sold for surfacing unpaved roads. A number of states have adopted regulations controlling the amount of asbestos released into the air from such activities in order to reduce exposure to asbestos.
In California, for example, regulations exist which prohibit the sale of rock containing 0.25 percent or more asbestos for various surfacing applications. With the detection limit also at 0.25 percent, this type of regulation effectively bars the sale of asbestos-containing rock for surfacing applications. The regulations also require dust control measures during quarrying and mining operations.
While quarry owners and operators have insisted at various times that there is a lack of evidence supporting the emission of asbestos fibers during activities such as excavation, crushing, stockpiling and travel on unpaved roads, the California Air Quality Board has found that small amounts of asbestos in rock was used to surface unpaved roads and may pose a hazard to human health.
Resources for Road Machine Operators
Road machine operators who are concerned about asbestos exposure should discuss their concerns with a doctor. With proper notice, your physician can monitor and check for any signs of an asbestos-related disease. For information on symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, request a informational packet to receive a free copy in the mail.
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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.
