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How Can a Molder Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Molders make and use molds to create a variety of products from plastics and polymers. Some molders are considered injection molding when they inject plastic into a pre-cast mold after it is made soft through heat exposure. Others used a cold molding process that blended polymer cement and asbestos fiber to make the product stronger. This process allowed manufacturers to produce thousands of pieces. Asbestos was often used during the plastic molding process to reinforce the product. Large amounts of asbestos dust were discharged in the mixing area when these processes were used.
The molding process often used asbestos, so until the late 1970s, many workers would handle asbestos-containing molding compound. Workers were most at risk when they added asbestos fibers to products since so many of the fibers were airborne during this process. Additionally, open mixers and hoppers that were present in the molding chambers. Hoppers mixed ingredients in the open, so toxic dust was often created during this process and not contained. This exposed those nearby to dangerous asbestos, chemicals and additives.
Not only were these workers potentially exposed to asbestos, the consumers who purchased the finished product containing asbestos plastics were also at risk. All aspects of the plastic molding process could have exposed workers to asbestos
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Tool and Die Makers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 41,320 molders, shapers and casters currently employed in the United States. States with the highest employment level for this classification of workers include:
- California
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Florida
Similar Occupations as Molders
Similar occupations as molders include:
- Compression machine operators
- Injection molding technicians
- Industrial machinery mechanics
- Metal and plastic machine workers
- Millwrights
- Molding operators
- Plastic manufacturing technicians
- Press machine setters, operators and tenders
- Sheet metal workers
- Waste operators
- Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Molders and Mesothelioma
In 2010, a former chemist sued several companies after being diagnosed with mesothelioma that was caused by asbestos exposure that occurred while he was employed at a plastic manufacturing company where he worked with asbestos friction products. The defendants included Ford Motor Company, which supplied a friction assessment screening test machine that caused asbestos dust to form in the area where he worked. The New York jury found Ford and other defendants liable for his asbestos exposure and awarded him $2.5 million.
Individuals who develop mesothelioma may have a variety of legal options, including filing a workers’ compensation claim, asbestos trust fund claim or product liability lawsuit.
Studies Related to Molders and Asbestos
While the literature for the potential asbestos exposure for molders is limited, there have been several studies conducted on asbestos exposure around various products, which would be comparable for molders who worked with the same products and environments as those surveyed. For example, a 2015 British Medical Journal analyzed the data concerning asbestos-related deaths in Belgian workers that occurred between 2001 and 2009. Researchers found that metal product factory workers were 87% more likely to die of mesothelioma, compared to the general population.
A 1983 study found that machinists have a high risk of developing mesothelioma due to their exposure to asbestos on the job. Multiple studies show that individuals working in packing, textile, and friction plants are at a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma. One study assessed date regarding factory workers at a Raybestos Manhattan plant who manufactured various asbestos-containing friction parts. The small study identified seven mesothelioma cases.
A study of auto part factory workers found that these workers had significantly higher mortality rates related to lung and laryngeal cancer, compared to the general population. The workers often came in contact with asbestos when creating drum brakes and linings.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Molders
Asbestos was often included in plastic products when high temperatures were used or for electrical applications. Some of the most common applications for asbestos plastics include:
- Electrical components – Asbestos plastic was used for electrical panels, switchboards and circuit breakers.
- Automotive parts – Various manufacturers used asbestos plastic to manufacture a variety of automotive parts, including pads to line brakes, the steering wheel and the arc chute.
- Aircraft and weapon systems – Lightweight asbestos plastics were often used in aerospace applications, including for drop tanks, missile casings and nose cones.
- Consumer products – Asbestos plastic was used to manufacture a variety of consumer goods, including cookware, tools and appliances.
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Molders
Some of the largest manufacturers of asbestos plastics that molders may have come in contact with include:
- Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation
- American Petrofina
- Armstrong World Industries
- Celotex
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Combustion Engineering
- Durametallic Corporation
- Flintkote Company
- Garlock Packing Company
- Greene, Tweed & Company
- Indianapolis Paint & Color Company
- Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
- Mobile Oil Corporation
- TBA Industrial Products Limited
- Tile-Tex Company
- United Gilsonite Laboratories
- R. Grace & Company
