Asbestos was cheap, strong and fireproof, so it went into almost everything for most of the twentieth century. Insulation, cement board, floor tiles, roof shingles, gaskets and brake linings all used it. The people who cut, installed and repaired those materials breathed the most of it. Some trades still do, because older buildings are still being renovated, repaired and torn down today.
This article looks at the jobs that carried the highest asbestos exposure risk, why each one was risky, and what workers can do to limit exposure now. It is general information. Anyone who suspects a past exposure should raise it with a health professional.
At Mold Removal Winnipeg, we get called by contractors and property owners who open a wall and find something they did not expect. That is the right instinct. Stopping work and testing costs far less than cleaning up a building full of loose fibres.
Why Some Jobs Carry More Risk
Risk from asbestos rises with two things: how much a person breathes in, and how long the breathing goes on. Drilling one hole in an old wall is a different situation from cutting asbestos board five days a week for years. Every job below follows that pattern. The work disturbed asbestos regularly, often in tight spaces with poor airflow. The illnesses linked to that exposure are described in our article on asbestos-related health conditions.
Jobs With the Highest Exposure Risk
Construction and Renovation Workers
Asbestos was standard in insulation, fireproofing, cement sheeting, flooring and roofing. Cutting, drilling, sanding or demolishing those materials releases fibres. Renovation and demolition crews still run into it, because plenty of Winnipeg properties were built well before the material was phased out. Testing before the first cut is the only reliable way to know.
Firefighters
Asbestos was used heavily in fireproofing, so the buildings firefighters enter often contain it. Heat, water and structural collapse break that material apart and push fibres into the air. Sorting through debris after the fire is out carries risk too.
Shipyard Workers
Ships used asbestos in boiler rooms, pipe lagging, fireproofing and flooring. Much of that work happened in confined compartments with little airflow, so fibres concentrated instead of dispersing. Building, repairing and dismantling ships all disturbed the material.
Oil Refinery and Power Plant Workers
Refineries and power plants run equipment at high heat, and asbestos insulation was wrapped around pipes, boilers and turbines. Maintenance meant stripping that insulation off and putting new material back on. Both steps release fibres. If you manage an aging mechanical room, book an inspection before maintenance starts. Call (204) 789-1514.
Other Trades With Raised Risk
Exposure was never limited to those four groups. Other work that commonly disturbed asbestos includes:
- chemical plant workers
- factory and mill workers
- miners
- insulators, pipefitters and plumbers
- boiler and furnace technicians
- electricians pulling wire through older walls and ceilings
- auto mechanics handling older brake linings and gaskets
- demolition and abatement crews
Asbestos turns up in more parts of a building than most people expect. Our guide to where asbestos is found in a house covers the usual hiding places.
Exposure That Follows Workers Home
Fibres do not stay on the job site. They settle into coveralls, boots, hair and tool bags, then travel home and end up in the laundry and on the furniture. Family members of asbestos workers have been exposed this way without ever setting foot on a work site. Changing on site, washing work clothes separately and leaving boots at the door closes that path.
How To Lower Your Risk On the Job
If your work takes you into older buildings or industrial sites, treat unknown material as suspect until it has been tested.
- Find out which materials on site contain asbestos before work begins.
- Wear proper protective equipment, including a fitted respirator rather than a dust mask.
- Follow the safe work procedures and regulations that apply to the job.
- Never dry sweep or use compressed air near suspect debris.
- Keep work clothing out of the family laundry.
- Report damaged material instead of working around it.
If a job site turns up something nobody can identify, stop work before anyone takes another swing at it. A few hours of delay is cheaper than a contaminated building.
If You Think a Job Exposed You
Bring it up with a doctor. Tell them what you worked with, for how long, and roughly when. Symptoms reported with asbestos-related conditions include shortness of breath, chest pain, a cough that will not clear, and unusual tiredness. Those symptoms have many ordinary causes, so a health professional is the right person to sort them out. It also helps to write down your work history while you still remember the sites and dates.
Testing Comes Before Removal
For a property owner or site manager, the next step is simple. Have suspect material tested. If asbestos is confirmed, have it removed by certified technicians who seal off the area, control the dust and dispose of the waste correctly. Never hand that job to an untrained crew. Our asbestos removal and abatement team handles testing, containment and removal across the city. If you want the full picture, our ultimate guide to asbestos walks through testing, removal and disposal in more detail.
Book Asbestos Testing for Your Property
Nobody should have to guess whether the building they work in is safe. Mold Removal Winnipeg is available 24/7, our technicians are IICRC certified, and we work with insurers. Call (204) 789-1514 or reach us through our contact page to arrange asbestos testing and safe removal.
