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How Can Contractors and Building Managers Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Contractors, building managers, construction managers and project managers are a few terms that refer to this group of workers who coordinate, plan, budget, manage and supervise various construction projects from start to finish. They are ultimately responsible for the project and the safety of other workers on the job.
Asbestos was once used in more than 4,000 common construction materials, so there was plenty of opportunity for contractors and building managers to come into contact with asbestos, especially when they evaluated elements of the project that had not yet been completed where asbestos was exposed or when they worked on a job site where asbestos fibers were released during demolition and renovation work.
Contractors and building managers work closely with other workers in the construction industry, such as architects, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and civil engineers. These individuals often had an elevated risk of exposure to asbestos from the products that they used and worked with and contractors and building managers would have been exposed to the same types of products.
While building managers sometimes work in an office setting, they often spend many hours working on job sites to oversee the process. They might have worked on several construction projects at once. Many of them work long hours to ensure that deadlines are met, which increases their likelihood of being exposed to higher concentrations of asbestos and other toxins in their work environment.
Common duties of contractors and building managers include the following:
- Prepare cost estimates, budgets and work timetables
- Review and explain contracts to the client and other construction professionals
- Coordinate with architects, engineers and other tradespeople
- Assess project completion and quality standards
- Oversee the work of other construction professionals
- Comply with building and safety codes and other legal requirements
- Oversee the maintenance and repair of facilities
- Test electrical and plumbing installations and systems
- Ensure proper fire and safety standards are met
- Implement building policies and regulations
- Maintain building systems
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Contractors and Building Managers
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are currently 471,800 construction managers employed in the United States. This industry is expected to have a growth rate of 10% between 2018 and 2028, a much faster than usual rate compared to all industries. States with the highest employment rates for construction managers include:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- North Carolina
Similar Occupations as Contractors and Building Managers
Similar occupations as contractors and building managers include:
- Architects
- Architectural and landscaping managers
- Carpenters
- Civil engineers
- Construction workers
- Cost estimators
- Landscape architects
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Contractors, Building Managers and Mesothelioma
Various construction workers have filed lawsuits against the parties responsible for their exposure to asbestos. These legal claims often allege that the manufacturer of an asbestos product knew about the dangers of asbestos and failed to inform workers of these dangers. For example, a contractor who worked on the original Trade Center brought a lawsuit after he became ill from his work cutting and installing asbestos tiles and sheetrock in the towers. The Supreme Court of New York County upheld the ruling on the contractor’s behalf in 2012.
Studies Related to Contractors, Building Managers and Asbestos
There have been a number of scientific studies connecting the construction industry and asbestos exposure, including the following:
- An early 1979 study found airborne asbestos concentrations were formed when drywall workers sanded down drywall taping compounds, making them several times above the permissible level.
- Another study found elevated rates of lung cancer for carpenters, brick masons and painters.
- A study that sampled ten drywall taping compounds and fifteen spackling compounds found asbestos in all of the taping compounds and five of the spackling compounds.
- An American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study opined that more than 1.3 million construction workers are currently at risk of being exposed to asbestos. Those who work on structures built before the 1970s and demolition workers are at an increased risk.
- A study found elevated concentration of asbestos fibers in the air during masonry, carpentry and painting activities. These concentrations were five times greater than permissible limits.
- An Italian study of more than 950 workers who had mesothelioma found that 251 of the cases involved workers who completed various types of construction work.
- There have been several reports that construction workers and contractors exposed to asbestos have an elevated incidence of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
- A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that construction workers are at least five times more likely to develop mesothelioma, compared to the general population.
- A National Institutes of Health study found pleural abnormalities in 70% of construction workers studied who had spent at least 30 years in the construction industry.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Contractors and Building Managers
Contractors and building managers could have been exposed to a number of asbestos products while working on residential, commercial or public buildings and facilities. Some of the most popular construction materials that contained asbestos include the following:
- Insulation materials – Insulation is one of the most common places to find asbestos. Spray-on insulation often contained asbestos. Some of these products contained as much as 35% chrysotile asbestos while spray-on acoustic insulation contained up to 10% asbestos. Insulating cement also contained asbestos.
- Drywall products – Drywall boards, gypsum, joint compound and drywall tape products commonly contained asbestos.
- Floor tiles – Vinyl floor tiles and other types of tiles sometimes contained asbestos fibers. Additionally, many mastics and grouts contained asbestos.
- Roofing materials – Roofing felts and shingles often contained asbestos, as did ceiling texturizing products.
- Construction felts like Thermesh, Calcot and Syncot often contained asbestos.
- Fireproofing materials – Asbestos’ fireproof characteristic made it seemingly ideal for many applications, so many manufacturers added asbestos to their products to make them fireproof.
While many uses of asbestos existed before the 1980s and have since been banned in the United States, certain products are still permitted to contain asbestos in today’s structures. Shingles, pipes, vinyl floor tiles, cement sheets, non-roofing coatings, roofing coatings and millboard products are just a few of the products that may still be partially comprised of this dangerous material, placing the risk of mesothelioma on today’s contractors and building managers.
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Contractors and Building Managers
Asbestos products in the construction field were manufactured by many big names, including Johns Manville, Eternit, GAF, CertainTeed and National Gypsum. Many of these manufacturers have established special funds to pay damages to those who have been adversely affected by their products.
