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Firefighters
Firefighters and Asbestos Exposure
Perhaps there is no more dangerous profession for asbestos exposure than that of the firefighter profession. Each day firefighters put their lives on the line helping others. Unfortunately, many of them are endangered by the potential for hazardous asbestos exposure and are not even aware of it. What many firefighters are gradually awakening to is the reality that asbestos can be encountered in many more aspects of the profession than they were previously aware.
Perhaps the most common place that a firefighter will encounter asbestos is in the initial stages of extinguishing a fire. Burning asbestos materials can damage asbestos to a point where the fibers are easily released into the air. Most protective equipment that firefighters use during this phase will mitigate or eliminate the exposure risk, but often in a real emergency the equipment may need to be surrendered to a victim or for another reason, at which time a true hazard risk from asbestos exposure becomes a reality.
The next most likely period during which asbestos exposure could occur is during the secondary stage of extinguishing a fire. As firefighters and other emergency workers suppress the last embers of fires, many of them forego the cumbersome protective equipment. Asbestos containing materials will often be disturbed during this period in making sure that the remaining fire is suppressed, even below the supposedly extinguished flames. When these materials are engaged with or overturned, exposure risk is at its highest. In essence, these secondary procedures should not be started without protective equipment until air quality tests deem that there is no pronounced asbestos risk.
Although less common, it is also possible that asbestos could be encountered within firehouses themselves. Many of these buildings are older municipal structures whose infrastructure required a resistance to temperature extremes. For this reason many of the piping and electrical fixtures were insulated with asbestos compounds, putting those who repaired or encountered these components regularly, at potential risk.
Asbestos was banned in the late 1970’s because there became an apparent clear connection between asbestos exposure and health complications, including mesothelioma cancer. Firefighters or anyone who worked in a profession commonly associated with asbestos exposure should be aware of the risk and seek medical consultation if they believe they were exposed. For more information complete the brief form on this page to receive a free mesothelioma and asbestos exposure information packet.