There are many obvious and not-so-obvious dangers when it comes to working in the auto industry. It’s important to be as aware as possible and use necessary safety wear and gear so that you can minimize injury and risks to your health in general.
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The Common Use of Asbestos in Industry
Asbestos is used in a variety of industries because it is flame-resistant and heat resistant. It’s used in pipes, different types of cloth, and in cement products among other things. It may be regulated in the United States today but there still are some products that contain this silicate mineral.
You may be surprised to learn that the automotive industry makes use of asbestos. When technicians are working on brakes and doing clutch repair this is especially an issue. Working underneath a car or truck already seems dangerous enough but when you consider the materials that are found within some parts of the vehicle, it definitely increases the risk level.
Long Term Exposure to Asbestos
Breathing in asbestos once or twice may not necessarily cause any serious harm. However, working with vehicles on a daily basis or even fixing something on your own vehicle regularly can lead to certain problems. It’s best that you wear as much protective gear as possible in order to protect yourself against breathing in the asbestos. Since the asbestos fibers can get onto your clothing and stick to it, you might wear a certain jacket and pants or overalls that you wash after every work shift. If working on your own car, you can asbestos exposure change out of your clothes and put them into the washing machine right away.
Being exposed to asbestos can lead to breathing it into your lungs and even the potential for the fibers to go elsewhere in your body. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart cavity and peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of your stomach/abdomen. There also are other types of cancer that come from asbestos exposure. You may not experience any symptoms for years and at this point, it often can be too late to have effective treatment.
Put Your Trust in Professionals
There is help for people who have been exposed to asbestos during their work duties. For example, you can find many resources when you click here. You deserve support and legal assistance so that you can get the compensation that you deserve.
