Mechanics and Asbestos Exposure

Throughout much of the 20^th century, mechanics who engaged in hands-on work with brakes, clutches, and other friction components were routinely exposed to asbestos. As a result, established research has long held that mechanics are more likely to develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. 

If you or someone you love developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related health condition, past employment as a mechanic may allow you to seek compensation for your losses.

SWMW Law is nationally known for fighting on behalf of asbestos exposure victims across the country. Our team has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for mechanics, families, and workers in at-risk occupations and has prevailed in high stakes cases against powerful corporations and insurance carriers. If you have a potential case, we want to help.

SWMW Law serves mechanics and families nationwide and offers FREE consultations. To speak with an attorney about your legal options, call (855) 744-1922 or contact us online.

How Mechanics Were Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used widely in a variety of products and materials during most of the 20^th century. Because it was durable and resistant to heat, asbestos was also widely used in the automotive, industrial, aviation industries to build parts and components that could withstand friction and reduce the risk of overheating and causing fires.

But while asbestos worked well for its intended purpose, it proved to be devastatingly hazardous to human health. Thanks to decades of research, we know that asbestos is a carcinogen, it is the only cause of mesothelioma, and any exposure – no matter how small – is unsafe.

We also know people in certain professions are more likely to be exposed to asbestos due to the nature of their work and, as a result, are more likely to be diagnosed with devastating cancers and diseases later in life. Mechanics – including both auto mechanics, industrial mechanics, aircraft mechanics – are among these at-risk occupations because they routinely handled asbestos-containing materials and engaged in work that increased their exposure risks. 

Auto Mechanics and Heavy Mechanics Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos was a favored insulant used in a broad range of applications where materials were subject to heat, fire, and corrosive substances. This includes essential vehicle components such as brakes, clutches, and gaskets. 

According to researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), the auto industry relied heavily on asbestos from the 1940s to well into the late 20^th century. Automakers and auto-parts manufacturers used chrysotile asbestos, one of the two primary types of asbestos, on their production lines and particularly in friction components such as brake pads, linings, and clutches. 

For mechanics who plied their trade during this period, “shadetree” mechanics who performed auto repair work at home, and mechanics who worked on older cars into the 21^st century, asbestos-containing brakes and clutches would have been a significant source of asbestos exposure. 

Some of the work performed by auto mechanics that would have exposed them to asbestos include:

• Installation of asbestos-containing brakes and clutches
• Sanding or grinding brake pads or clutch components
• Servicing or repairing brakes and other vehicle components
• Performing blowouts of brakes and brake pads
• Operating brake lathes to grind brake shoes
• Weaving or manufacturing brake linings 
• Cleaning, brushing, or vacuuming asbestos dust
• Relining brake shoes 

Automobile and heavy equipment mechanics were often exposed to asbestos while installing asbestos-containing brakes and clutches, which often required mechanics to sand and grind brakes to ensure a proper fit. This created airborne asbestos-containing dust that could then be inhaled or ingested. 

Exposure also occurred during repairs that required mechanics to remove or replace brakes filled with dust, which accumulates naturally in wheel wells and is removed by blowing it out. 

As researchers have noted, vehicles with asbestos-containing brakes produce dust that contains two major components – forsterite (a non-fibrous magnesium silicate that is created by the heat and pressure brakes apply to chrysotile asbestos and on its own isn’t toxic); and a great deal of chrysotile asbestos that is not converted to forsterite by the braking process. In fact, UW-Madison researchers found that a single nanogram of brake dust contained 90,000 unaltered chrysotile asbestos fibers, and that measurable quantities of asbestos could be found as far as 75 feet from where a blowout was performed.  

Because mechanics and other auto workers were routinely exposed to asbestos dust in brakes, clutches, and other vehicle components, they also placed their spouses and families at risk of secondary exposure, which occurs when workers in high-risk occupations bring asbestos fibers from their jobs into their homes on their clothes, skin, and hair. As part of UW-Madison’s research, researchers identified several cases involving women married to auto workers who developed mesothelioma through secondary exposure.