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What is an Aerospace Worker?
The term “aerospace worker” refers to a broader category of employees in the aerospace or aviation industry, including aerospace engineers, aircraft mechanics and other individuals who worked on aircraft. Aerospace engineers may consist of research aeronautical engineers who are responsible for testing prototype equipment, design engineers who plan new concepts based on research, manufacturing engineers who construct aircraft, and maintenance engineers who repair and maintain aircraft. These workers are often highly trained and may have advanced educations. This is a highly technical field. Many aerospace workers have military backgrounds but many others worked for private corporations. The aviation and aerospace industry is comprised of hundreds of thousands of workers who worked on anything from small aircraft to commercial jetliners. Additionally, they may have worked on space shuttle systems, satellites and probes.
Aircraft mechanics are included within this general job category. These individuals are responsible for disassembling and rebuilding engines, maintaining electrical and navigational components, providing appropriate fluid levels in fuel and hydraulic systems, repairing and replacing aircraft brakes, replacing parts in aircraft with new parts and systems, and inspecting aircraft for mechanical issues.
How Can an Aerospace Worker Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Most aircraft used asbestos to some degree. The use of asbestos in aircraft manufacturing dates back to the 1940s. The material was lightweight, was an excellent insulator and was durable. It is also highly resistant to fire, so it was often used to protect the rest of the aircraft from hot sources of heat. In fact, many aerospace engineers specified asbestos as the best material to use for temperature and noise sensitive applications. During World War II, the use of asbestos in aircraft spiked as more planes were being built and repaired. The use of asbestos in aircraft continued until the 1980s when the public became aware of its dangers.
When aerospace engineers, aircraft mechanics and other aerospace workers worked inside the space vessel, they could have been exposed to asbestos. Any time that asbestos is moved, there is a risk that the fibers will become airborne. Once this occurs, nearby workers or bystanders can inhale these deadly fibers. Aircraft mechanics and other aerospace workers that were responsible for removing or repairing components were at direct risk of being exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure was also common for military personnel or individuals who were contracted by the military to work on their aircraft. Aircraft often contained asbestos insulation and fire protection. Aircraft maintenance workers were often transported on aircraft carriers that were lined with asbestos materials. Workers may have been exposed to asbestos when working on the following types of aircraft and aviation systems:
- Military propeller airplanes
- Military jet transport airplanes
- Military fighter planes
- Military interceptor planes
- Military bombers
- Surveillance planes
- Air transport vehicles
- Helicopter
- Missiles
- Guidance systems
- Spacecraft
- Exploratory craft and interstellar probes
Aerospace workers were also exposed to asbestos by using products that contained asbestos on aircraft, such as brake linings or insulation materials.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Aerospace Workers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the states with the highest employment levels of aerospace workers are:
Similar Occupations as Aerospace Workers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, similar occupations as aerospace workers include:
- Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
- Aviation electricians or mechanics
- Electrical engineering technicians
- Industrial engineers
- Materials engineers
- Mechanical engineers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Aerospace Workers and Mesothelioma
There have been a few notable verdicts in favor of aerospace workers who have filed lawsuits against product manufacturers after developing mesothelioma caused by occupational exposure to asbestos, including an $18.5 million verdict for an aerospace plastics molder in California after the jury found the asbestos manufacturing company responsible for his exposure to asbestos.
Studies Related to Aerospace Workers and Asbestos
There have been a few studies regarding the aerospace workers and asbestos, such as Aircraft maintenance and mesothelioma, which describes the connection between the two and notes the asbestos exposure risk through brake repair and similar jobs on aircraft.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Aerospace Workers
Some of the applications of asbestos in the aerospace industry include:
- Brake linings, pads and shoes
- Airframe sound insulation in engine and exhaust compartments
- Coatings for electrical lines and hydraulic hoses
- Insulation for noise and temperature control, including in areas surrounding cockpits and passenger areas
- Insulation for fireproofing around engines and fuel tanks
- Engine gaskets and control valves
- Heat blankets and shields around jet engines
- Glues and sealants
Brake linings, pads and shoes are the most significant threat to aircraft mechanics because small particles in these components are released every time a mechanic opened the enclosures, causing deadly airborne asbestos dust to fill the air.
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Aerospace Workers
Some of the manufacturers of asbestos products used by aerospace workers and the products they made include the following:
- Abex Corporation – brake linings
- Allied Signal, Inc. – brake linings
- Bendix Corp. – brake linings
- Dexter Corp. – aerospace adhesive
- Hysol Aerospace & Industrial Adhesive Co. – Epoxy
- Johns Manville Corporation – gaskets
