Risk of Asbestos Exposure for Aircraft Mechanics and Production Workers
Most aircraft mechanics and production workers who built or performed maintenance on planes between World War II and 1980 were exposed to asbestos. During that time, asbestos was widely used in the aerospace industry because of its fire retardant nature, capacity for sound absorption, tensile strength, and its resistance to heat, friction and electrical and chemical damage. Before the U.S. government began severely limiting its use, asbestos was routinely used in airplane parts, including brakes and insulation, and was frequently added to airplane glues and epoxies. Even today, airplane brake lining is allowed to contain small amounts of asbestos. Asbestos exposure has been linked to diseases including mesothelioma, throat cancer and lung cancer, and a person can develop an asbestos-related illness up to decades after their initial exposure. When asbestos exposure adversely affects an aerospace worker’s health, an experienced asbestos attorney can help that worker fight for compensation to which he or she may be entitled under the law.
Even though asbestos use has declined, aircraft mechanics and production workers continue to be at risk of asbestos exposure. They can inhale asbestos particles when they perform maintenance on older planes with asbestos-containing products, when they replace an aircraft’s asbestos-containing parts with asbestos-free ones, or when they service an airplane’s brakes. Each time a plane with asbestos-containing brake lining stops, some of the asbestos in the brake system grinds to dust, which is then released into the air when a worker services the brakes. In addition, when workers cut, grind, sand or remove airplane parts with asbestos-containing glues or epoxies, the asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Once asbestos is in the air, a worker risks inhaling the harmful substance, especially if precautions like wearing facemasks or respirators are not taken. Asbestos-related illnesses can appear decades after exposure, meaning older aerospace workers with no signs of illness remain at risk of developing health complications from their prior asbestos exposure. When asbestos exposure causes disease, an asbestos lawyer may be able to help.
Families of aerospace workers also have an increased risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Husbands, wives and children of aircraft mechanics and production workers may have been exposed to asbestos secondarily. When asbestos particles attach to a worker’s clothing, those particles can then be carried into the worker’s household, and anyone who is exposed to the contaminated clothing risks inhaling asbestos. Early detection of an asbestos illness can increase one’s chances of survival, making it important for aerospace workers and their families to promptly seek medical attention if they beginning showing symptoms of a respiratory illness like mesothelioma. For aircraft mechanics and production workers with known asbestos exposure, regular testing for asbestos-related diseases may be recommended by a healthcare professional. If you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, discuss your case with a qualified mesothelioma lawyer who will fight to protect your rights.
If you worked in the aircraft industry and you or a family member has developed an asbestos-related illness, contact a mesothelioma attorney today to learn about your legal rights.