Asbestos Occupations

Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure

Although an individual may not be dealing with asbestos products directly, he or she may be exposed indirectly. For example, an electrician who works next to a drywaller who sands joint compound on a regular basis can easily breathe in millions of asbestos fibers. This same principle applies to family members of asbestos workers. Spouses and other people living in the household are often diagnosed with the diseases associated with asbestos. Asbestos may brought home on the clothing, hat, shoes and vehicles of a worker and then distributed throughout the house. A particularly heavy second-hand exposure can occur while doing a spouse’s laundry. This is generally referred to as second-hand asbestos exposure.