Carpenters & Asbestos Exposure

Why Carpenters Are At Risk of Asbestos Lung Cancer

Carpenters who worked between the 1930s and the early 1980s were often exposed to asbestos on the job, long before its health risks were publicly known. Many job sites that carpenters worked at used asbestos materials, and as they worked to build frameworks, fit drywall, or perform many other duties, they could have released toxic fibers into the air.

Any carpenters nearby who breathed in or swallowed asbestos fibers could go on to develop lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases 10-50 years later.

Quick Facts on Lung Cancer, Carpenters & Asbestos Exposure

• Carpenters who worked in the construction industry faced a “particularly elevated” risk of mesothelioma, a cancer only caused by asbestos, as noted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• Roughly 1 in 10 carpenters exposed to asbestos develops cancer, according to The Institute of Cancer Research.
• More than 40% of carpenters risked exposure to asbestos on construction sites, according to a report cited by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• There’s no way to lower the risk of asbestos-related diseases in carpenters already exposed, though screening options can potentially catch lung cancer sooner.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide if someone you love worked as a carpenter and now has lung cancer. You’ll find information on treatments, asbestos risks, and financial compensation.

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List of Products Containing Asbestos in the Carpentry Industry

Carpenters could have been exposed to asbestos every day. A wide range of products that they used on various job sites contained asbestos to help with fire resistance and durability.

Asbestos-containing materials used by carpenters include:

• Cement asbestos board
• Drywall
• Fire-resistant boards
• Floor tiles
• Joint compound
• Patching plasters
• Spray-on insulation
• Surfacing textures
• Roofing material and siding

Routine carpentry tasks, such as hammering, sawing, or sanding, could easily disturb the asbestos fibers within these products and release fibers into the air. Without proper protective equipment like respirators, carpenters could breathe in the fibers.

Carpenters may not have known that they were working with asbestos, or that asbestos was a carcinogen (cancer-causing material). Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks for decades, putting you and many others in danger of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and more.

“Everybody in the family’s life just changed dramatically from that day, and started a journey that nobody wanted to go on.”

— Denise, daughter of a carpenter with mesothelioma

At-Risk Jobs From Asbestos in the Carpentry Industry

Carpenters could have worked at a wide range of job sites where asbestos was used, including construction sites, shipyards, and more. As a result, thousands of carpenters risked exposure to asbestos at their jobs on an everyday basis.

Carpentry jobs at risk of occupational exposure to asbestos include:

• Cabinet installers might have been exposed to asbestos through adhesives, fiberboards, finishes, and other woodworking materials during cabinet making.
• Finish carpenters installed molding, paneling, and trim, often sanding surfaces. This put them at risk of asbestos wood dust exposure.
• Flooring installers handled tiles and insulation that may contain asbestos and risked releasing fibers when cutting or removing them.
• Formwork carpenters worked with concrete forms and fire-resistant boards that were made with asbestos.
• Furniture carpenters risked regular exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances like formaldehyde during the furniture making process.
• Renovation and demolition carpenters had some of the highest exposure levels when tearing out walls or fixtures in older buildings.
• Rough carpenters built frameworks and worked closely with insulation, drywall, and cement board, all of which may have contained high concentrations of asbestos.
• Sawmill workers and sanders could have been exposed to asbestos released in wood dust particles. Wood products, particularly ones made by the furniture industry, often relied on asbestos to help with fireproofing.

While asbestos-containing materials aren’t used in new construction or carpentry materials today, some carpenters may be at risk if they work on older buildings or materials.

Thousands of buildings and components built with asbestos years ago are still in place today, and toxic fibers could be released without proper precautions.

Secondhand Risks of Asbestos in the Carpentry Industry

Carpenters themselves weren’t the only ones put at risk of lung cancer from asbestos exposure. Many carpenters accidentally exposed their families to asbestos secondhand, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

After a long day’s work, carpenters could come back home with their hair, clothing, skin and tools covered in asbestos-contaminated dust. This meant that their loved ones risked exposure to the fibers, too, and could go on to develop lung cancer or mesothelioma later in life as a result.

Risk of Lung Cancer and Other Asbestos-Related Diseases in Carpenters

It typically takes 10-50 years for asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer to develop after you were first exposed. Because of this, you could be in danger of serious illnesses even today if you worked as a carpenter decades ago, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Common asbestos-related diseases that affect carpenters include:

• Asbestos lung cancer: You’re at an increased risk of lung cancer if you smoked and were exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer even if you didn’t smoke.
• Asbestosis: This isn’t cancer, but rather a very dangerous lung disease. This illness limits your lung function, eventually leading to death.
• Mesothelioma: This is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that forms in the linings of your lungs, abdomen, or heart. It’s only caused by asbestos exposure.

You may not fully remember working with asbestos-containing materials as a carpenter. However, if you’re facing lung cancer or mesothelioma, it’s important to consider that on-the-job asbestos exposure decades ago may have played a role in your diagnosis.

If you’re concerned about your health but aren’t feeling sick, ask your doctor about getting a lung cancer screening and notify them that you may have worked around asbestos. A screening can help check for cancer before you start to develop any symptoms, meaning you could get more aggressive treatments to improve your life expectancy.

Compensation Options for Insulators with Lung Cancer

You may qualify for financial compensation if you or a loved one worked as a carpenter and now has lung cancer through different options. Explore which ones you may qualify for below.

Asbestos lung compensation options include:

• Asbestos lung cancer lawsuits: You could potentially receive over $1 million from lung cancer lawsuits. These are filed against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products you were exposed to.
• Asbestos trust funds: You may qualify to file trust fund claims to pursue compensation without a lawsuit. There’s over $30 billion available across dozens of trusts.
• VA benefits: The VA provides benefits like over $4,000 in monthly compensation and free or inexpensive medical care to veterans with asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and more. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos while serving.
• Wrongful death lawsuits: If someone you love passed away from asbestos lung cancer, you may be able to pursue wrongful death compensation worth over $1 million in some cases.

“I wouldn’t have a thing if it wasn’t for my ability to hold the companies who harmed me accountable in court.”
– Forrest, former carpenter with mesothelioma

For best results, work with asbestos lung cancer attorneys after a diagnosis. These experienced lawyers can make the process much easier by handling all the legal legwork for you. This means you can focus on getting treatments while still recovering compensation.

Get a free case review now to connect with carpenters asbestos exposure lawyers who can pursue lung cancer compensation for you.

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Carpenters & Asbestos Exposure Risks: Get Help Now

If you or someone you love has developed lung cancer after working in the carpentry industry, asbestos exposure could be responsible.

An asbestos lung cancer diagnosis can be devastating, especially since it could have been prevented if companies had disclosed the risks. At Lung Cancer Group, we’ll do all we can to support you and your family through your lung cancer journey.

We’re ready help you:

• Explore treatment options for lung cancer
• Recover compensation for any bills
• Get the support and care you deserve

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 to speak with a member of our team today.