Throughout the world and for much of the 20^th century, workers in a variety of occupations – mostly men – were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, yet many never even realized that this exposure was hazardous to their health. As such, cases of mesothelioma continue to increase in many countries, with Australia and England topping the charts for the highest rates of this asbestos-caused cancer.

A recent article in the South Wales (Australia) Courier Post profiles the plight of a long-time power plant worker, who was charged with the task of “mechanical fitter”, a job that exposed him to asbestos every day.

“I knocked off the existing lags with a hammer, and it would break away into clouds of fine dust,” said Robert Maurice Jones in a statement prior to his death earlier this year. “It was a normal daily occurrence. It was impossible to avoid it. I would then arrange for a lagger to re-lag (the machinery) with asbestos.

“The asbestos powder was emptied into a bucket with water. That resulted in clouds of asbestos. As it dried off, more dust was released into the environment,” Jones added, noting that no one wore masks.

Jones told his attorney that fellow power station workers, especially apprentices, would have “snowball fights” with the asbestos, spreading the fibers throughout the plant, unaware that what they were doing was harming their health and the health of others.

The Australian power plant scenario is not specific to that country. Throughout the United States, until the late 1970s, workers at U.S. power plants and at other jobsites suffered asbestos exposure regularly, yet, in many cases, no one informed them that the material was dangerous or provided proper protective gear to prevent inhalation of fibers. As a result, many developed asbestos diseases.

Occupations at high risk for asbestosis and mesothelioma include carpenters, engineers, pipefitters, oil refinery workers, railroad employees, shipyard workers, and many others. Often, their employers were well-informed that the asbestos they encountered every day was dangerous. As a result, many who’ve been sickened by asbestos have filed suit against their former employers as well as U.S. asbestos products manufacturers, seeking the compensation due them for medical bills as well as pain and suffering.

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