Asbestos and Carpenters

Asbestos exposure in carpenters has long been an issue in the construction industry. The exposure led many to develop deadly diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. Even today, carpenters working in older buildings risk exposure to asbestos materials.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

Carpentry and Asbestos

Asbestos use in construction materials peaked in the middle of the 20th century. Yet, even today, asbestos exposure remains a real concern for carpenters.

Carpenters often work on remodeling projects with structures built with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Carpenters must sand, cut through, and remove asbestos products that contain asbestos, such as insulation and tiles.

Carpenters generally protect themselves today by wearing the appropriate safety gear. In the past, though, many carpenters had no protective gear. They inhaled dangerous asbestos fibers that flew around that area each time they worked.

Many workers would even go home covered in asbestos dust, putting family members at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases via second-hand exposure.

Studies on Carpenters and Asbestos

Many studies confirmed what was already suspected by scientists: carpenters have a higher than average chance of asbestos exposure. 

In 1983, over 100 buildings across the U.S. were included in a study involving fireproofing insulation. The majority of the buildings in the study were created with asbestos-containing insulation, specifically chrysotile asbestos.

When carpenters began renovating the buildings, they were exposed to around 16 asbestos fibers (dry) per cubic centimeter of space. 

The amount was more than triple the amount of asbestos they were exposed to before starting the projects, which measured at around two fibers per cubic centimeter.

A study published in 1995 by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated that pleural plaques were the most prevalent type of asbestos-related injuries sustained by over 600 of the 7,349 carpenters who participated in the research.

Sometimes it takes only months of asbestos exposure for carpenters to develop an asbestos illness.

For instance, a 2010 Danish study showed that a man who developed fluid buildup in both lungs had no other cause that a doctor could find, aside from working around asbestos for about six months during the 1970s.

In Britain, a study concluded that around 1 in 10 people who worked as carpenters during the 1960s will die from asbestos-related illnesses, particularly malignant mesothelioma. 

Professor Julian Peto, one of the lead researchers on the study, carried out by Cancer Research UK, stated that for several years, asbestos was used with wild abandon in the carpentry industry, and former carpenters are now paying a huge price for the mistakes of others.

“Huge quantities of these asbestos materials were brought in from South Africa. It was being sawed up on every building site without any control at all. It just wasn’t appreciated that exposure was heavier and it was far larger numbers of people exposed. It was an error by science and society. We have shown that the risk in some occupations, particularly the building industry, is higher than we previously thought. If you are exposed in your 20s you have a huge lifetime risk of mesothelioma.”

Julian Peto

Asbestos Manufacturers

Several manufacturers supplied asbestos-containing products to the carpentry industry in the past. Some of the major asbestos-producing companies were:

• Georgia-Pacific Company: Georgia-Pacific primarily supplied drywall adhesives and joint compounds to the carpentry and construction industry.
• National Gypsum: National Gypsum supplied adhesives, blocks of cement, plaster, and roofing materials to the carpentry and construction industry.
• Congoleum Corporation: This company mostly supplied different types of asbestos-containing flooring products to the carpentry and construction industry.
• Johns Manville: Johns Manville faced some of the biggest lawsuits over asbestos exposure after supplying insulation, roofing materials, siding, cement board, and wallbaord made with asbestos.

These companies, as well as a number of other companies, have faced numerous asbestos lawsuits. 

Congoleum Corporation had so many lawsuits against it that it organized an asbestos trust fund to compensate future claimants.

To learn more about trust funds, refer to our article, Mesothelioma Trust Funds.

Contact a mesothelioma law firm if you worked as a carpenter during peak asbestos use. They can help you determine your legal options.

Additional Information and Resources for Asbestos Victims

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.