> Asbestos Exposure > Asbestos In Your Area > Rhode Island (RI)

Occupations and Environmental Areas at Risk

Rhode Island was once one of the leaders in textile production. This particular industry has a history involving asbestos exposure because asbestos was one of the minerals commonly used in commercial cloth and fabrics. Asbestos was also regularly found in the industrial equipment used in textile factories, primarily for fireproofing. While the textile industry remains part of the state's economy, most textile factories relocated to the southern United States after the Great Depression. The Rhode Island Textile Company has been producing textiles in the state since 1913, and was operational throughout the peak decades when asbestos use was at its highest.

Numerous jobsites and buildings throughout Rhode Island have been a source for asbestos exposure. For example, the Department of Education Administrative Building (known as the Roger Williams Building) in Providence contained 30 and 50 percent chrysotile asbestos in the insulation surrounding pipes and furnaces. On August 7, 1991, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was asked by the Professional Employees Union to conduct a Health Hazard Evaluation on the building. The Department of Education first moved into the building in 1981.

Air samples in the furnace room indicated the presence of airborne asbestos. Friable asbestos was also located along the boilers, furnaces and steam pipes that ran around the walls and basement ceiling. Employees had to walk through these areas to reach the parking area. At the time of the evaluation, employees were already experiencing respiratory problems.

Shipyards

Shipyards throughout the United States have been major sources of asbestos exposure since the 1930s. Thousands of asbestos-containing materials were used to construct ships, and workers were unaware of the hazards associated with asbestos. Anyone who built ships or served on them between the 1930s and 1970s were likely to experience some degree of asbestos exposure.

Shipyards in Rhode Island that were a Source of Asbestos Exposure for Workers

Asbestos Litigation in Rhode Island

In a 2007 case involving a former Pawtucket, Rhode Island resident Roland Leo Grenier Sr., a jury awarded a $2 million verdict after Grenier was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Grenier worked as an automotive mechanic for 38 years and specialized in brake and clutch repairs. The lawsuit alleged General Motors and Ford incorporated asbestos into parts Grenier worked with on a regular basis. The jury attributed 70 percent of the liability to General Motors and 16 percent to Ford. The remaining 14 percent was distributed to seven other companies sued in the case.

Regulations for Managing Asbestos

Rhode Island's Asbestos Control Program works to protect the public from asbestos exposure. The program is responsible for making sure the provisions of the Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Asbestos Control are followed. In addition, the Rhode Island Asbestos Act defines schools as high-priority buildings when asbestos is involved. Although regulations do not require asbestos removal from schools, asbestos-containing materials must be identified and maintained. This applies to other public buildings as well.

Many jobsites in Rhode Island used asbestos products that may have exposed workers to asbestos. While the state has taken steps to limit asbestos exposure and to ensure safe handling of asbestos in the future, asbestos-related diseases remain a concern because of the long latency period between the initial exposure and the onset of symptoms.

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