Draftsmen

A draftsman, or drafter, works to draw a picture of the design of buildings, machines and other structures as well as those related to construction and mining. Each drawing must be perfectly precise, especially when the original blueprints are out-of-date or don't exist at all. Drafters can draw by hand or use drafting computer software.

Learning

Draftsmen traditionally learned at technical schools or community colleges, but today there are courses offered via the Internet. Technical school or distance learning choices are available, and getting a degree in drafting is cheaper than the typical university program.

Nonetheless, strong capacity for mathematical concepts is required. For a career in drafting, the person must also be fluent in mechanical drawing and have an ability to visualize in 3D. Computer-aided design programs are essential to modern drafting, so any drafter must understand these as well.

Draftsmen can specialize in mechanical drafting for designing products, work on highways and railroads, work for the government to design military vehicles and equipment, or lay out wiring plans, either for buildings or machines. Aerospace draftsmen focus on the design of various aircraft and even spacecraft.

On-the-job Risks

It is generally accepted that certain occupations are more dangerous than other ones. Even so, most of us in America today expect worker safety to be an important concern of employers, enforced by government agencies. Until relatively recently, however, when it came to exposure to asbestos, workers frequently labored unprotected by respirators or other safety gear in spaces where asbestos dust clouded the atmosphere.

Asbestos and Its Health Effects

What we call asbestos is actually a group of minerals that is divided into two categories. The most commonly used was "white" asbestos, or the serpentine type. Not normally associated with asbestos cancer or mesothelioma, it is a relatively soft variety of the mineral. However, when inhaled, serpentine fibers may cause irritation to the interior surfaces of the lungs. This in turn results in an accumulation of scar tissue, which is a leading cause of asbestosis.

The second category is known as amphibole asbestos; it is considered more deadly. An unusual, and generally fatal, disease linked to asbestos called mesothelioma is associated with exposure to asbestos, particularly the amphibole varieties. The pleural variety of mesothelioma, one which affects the tissue that lies between the lungs and the pleural cavity, is the most common. Less common types of mesothelioma include peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma; these diseases are also caused by extensive contact with amphibole asbestos.

The Strengths of Asbestos

Ironically, asbestos was utilized when erecting building and in the manufacture of many products due to its ability to save lives. In terms of insulating against fire and temperature extremes, very few things can equal asbestos, particularly chrysotile. In addition, the amphibole varieties possessed other useful characteristics. Amosite, for instance, has a high iron content, making it resistant to caustic chemicals. "Blue" asbestos, or crocidolite, was commonly found in areas with electrical equipment since it is highly resistant to electrical current. Depending on the application, various types of fibers were combined to form asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that protected people and property against fire, high temperatures, electrocution and caustic chemicals.

Asbestos did not offer a health hazard while it remained solid. As these ACMs aged, however, they were prone to becoming friable, or able to be reduced to powder by hand pressure alone. Friable asbestos is dangerous because in this form the particles can be easily dispersed in the air, where they can cause health problems after they are inhaled or ingested. Unfortunately, it wasn't just workers who were at risk; secondary exposure frequently happened when workers carried asbestos fibers home on their skin, in their hair, or on their clothing.

The Lurking Danger of Asbestos

Unlike typical job-related injuries, which are easily observed and known about immediately following the incident, asbestos-related diseases may take many, many years to manifest. It can also be challenging to identify asbestos-related illnesses since the symptoms can be mistaken for those of other disorders. New ways to combat mesothelioma are being discovered, and early detection provides the patient and his or her doctor the highest chance to beat the previously deathly form of cancer. Therefore, if you worked as a draftsman, or spent much time near someone who did, it is vital that you notify your health care professional about the possibility of exposure to asbestos. The mesothelioma survival rate is generally discouraging, yet early diagnosis and treatments like mesothelioma radiation can improve the prognosis for this disease.

Sources

Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)

Essortment-Career Tips: How to Become a Draftsman
http://www.essortment.com/career/draftsmancareer_scdf.htm

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) - Laboratories and Shops
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/ASB/acmimages3.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Disposal
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/HAZEXCEPTIONS/a.html