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How Can a Building Inspector Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Building inspectors inspected buildings as they were being completed at various stages. Asbestos was once included in thousands of products that were used to construct homes, commercial buildings and factories. Building inspectors may have come in close contact with asbestos that was used as insulation and in various construction materials. This placed them at an increased risk of being exposed to asbestos and potentially developing mesothelioma due to this exposure.
Building inspectors often inspected various construction sites for commercial and residential properties. Asbestos filler was often used in a variety of construction materials due to it being resistant to heat and fire. It is also durable, which made it seemingly ideal for many uses. Inspectors may have been exposed to asbestos found in building ceilings, insulation, electrical wiring insulation, pipes, appliances, floor tiles, roofing materials and paint. Asbestos was also used in materials masons used, including fire bricks, mortar and cement.
Additionally, asbestos was often used in industrial settings where building inspectors may have worked. It was used to insulate boilers, machinery and the facilities in industrial settings. Asbestos dust has been found to be in high concentrations in homes and construction sites built before the 1980s.
Building inspectors often inspect buildings that are being demolished or renovated. Walls may be removed and asbestos may be exposed during these processes. Additionally, asbestos fibers can become dislodged during the construction process. Additionally, asbestos dust can materialize from these materials.
Building inspectors today may still be exposed to asbestos when they inspect older buildings where these materials were used. Over time, these products may become degraded and cause asbestos fibers to break off. When conducting an investigation, building inspectors could breathe in these microscopic fibers.
Typical job duties of building Inspectors include:
- Read and review construction plans
- Approve satisfactory building plans
- Monitor construction sites to make sure work is being completed properly
- Inspect plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and other systems of the home or building
- Perform inspections of the interior and exterior of a building
- Use various survey instruments
- Verify aspects of structures
- Test the structural integrity of the building
- Issue citations and stop-work orders if work is not completed correctly or is not permitted
- Provide feedback regarding their inspections
Inspectors may complete general duties and work on a variety of different projects, or they may focus on inspecting certain buildings and structures, such as homes, dams, bridges, or factories.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Building Inspectors
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 117,300 construction and building inspectors were employed in 2018. These professionals are in an industry with an expected growth rate of 7%, which is faster than the average occupational projection. States with the highest employment rates for building inspectors include:
- Texas
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
Similar Occupations as Building Inspectors
Similar occupations as building inspectors include the following:
- Architects
- Carpenters
- Construction managers
- Electrical engineers
- Electrical technicians
- Electricians
- OSHA specialists
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Real estate appraisers and assessors
- Steamfitters
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Building Inspectors and Mesothelioma
Building inspectors and professionals in similar occupations have filed claims related to asbestos exposure. For example, a San Diego building inspector filed a lawsuit in 2018 after it alleged that city employees were allowed to remain in office space where they could have been exposed to asbestos. The lawyer who filed the suit said that up to 550 employees could join the litigation.
Building inspectors and others who were exposed to asbestos may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer who produced asbestos products that caused their mesothelioma and other medical conditions or others who are legally liable for their exposure. Many of the companies that made asbestos products have set up special trust funds to pay damages for claims related to asbestos exposure.
Studies Related to Building Inspectors and Asbestos
While there are not studies specifically related to building inspectors and their risk of being exposed to asbestos, there have been several studies that have discussed the connection between asbestos and other construction-related professionals, such as:
- “Mortality among unionized construction plasterers and cement masons” is a 2001 study that evaluated 12,873 members of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association and found that the risk for lung cancer among plasterers who entered the union after 1970 and the risk for stomach cancer was elevated for cement masons who entered the union after 1950.
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that most occupational exposure today occurs during repair, renovation, removal or maintenance of asbestos-containing products that were installed many years ago, all of which are processes that building inspectors may be involved in.
- Recent studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that 70% to 80% of asbestos exposure during the 1900s was due to construction work.
- “Domestic Asbestos Exposure: A Review of Epidemiologic and Exposure Data” studied how people were exposed to asbestos, including through construction work.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Building Inspectors
Building inspectors may have used products that contained asbestos, such as:
- Dry cement powder
- Insulation
- Shingles
- Mortar
- Cement siding
- Joint compound
- Floor tiles
- White tape
- Boiler insulation
- Glues, adhesives and sealants
- Popcorn ceiling texture
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Building Inspectors
Building inspectors may have used asbestos products by some of the leading manufacturers of insulation and other asbestos-containing construction materials, such as:
- 3M
- Abex Corporation
- P. Green Industry
- Babcock, Wilcox & Company
- Celotex Corp.
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Dana Corporation
- Federal-Mogul Corporation
- Foster Wheeler
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
- Georgia Pacific
- Honeywell
- Johns Manville
- T. Thorpe and Son, Inc.
- National Gypsum Corporation
- Owens Corning Corporation
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Raybestos-Manhattan Company
- UNARCO
- Union Carbide
- R. Grace & Co.
