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How a Mechanic Can Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
Mechanics inspect, maintain and repair cars and light trucks.
Because asbestos is a good insulator and protects against fire, it was used in several automotive parts, including brakes, hoodliners and gaskets. Mechanics who worked on vehicles that contained these materials could have been exposed to asbestos when removing or replacing these items. Some automotive products today still contain asbestos, despite the well-known dangers of this material. Mechanics were more likely to be adversely affected by asbestos because it is most dangerous when it becomes brittle and breaks off, which was more likely in vehicles where the material wore out until it was replaced.
Common job duties of mechanics include:
- Use computerized diagnostic equipment or manual inspections to identify mechanical problems
- Perform tests on parts and systems to ensure they work properly
- Repair or replace worn parts, including brake pads, sensors and wheel bearings
- Perform repairs according to customer or manufacturer specifications
Perform basic care and maintenance on vehicles, including rotating tires, changing oil and checking fluid levels
Locations in the United States with the Highest Employment Rates for Mechanics
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 770.100 workers employed in the job category of “automotive service technicians and mechanics.” States with the highest employment rates for mechanics include:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Similar Occupations as Mechanics
Some occupations that have similarities to the job duties of mechanics include:
- Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians
- Automotive body and glass repairers
- Diesel service technicians and mechanics
- Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians
- Small engine mechanics
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Mechanics
There have been several lawsuits filed by mechanics who were exposed to asbestos through the course of their work. Some of these include:
- In 2016, the family of a former mechanic employed by Caterpillar, Inc. received a $12.5 million verdict against the company. The man worked as a mechanic for the company from 1969 to 1978 when he often engines, valves, clutches, brakes and gaskets, all of which included asbestos. The man died in 2014 from lung cancer.
- A former Ford Motor Co. mechanic and his wife sued the auto manufacturer, alleging that he was exposed to asbestos when handling automotive parts. In 2019, a Missouri jury handed down a verdict of $8.4 million to the pair after they found the company responsible for the man’s mesothelioma.
- An Alameda County jury in California in 2012 returned a verdict of $6.825 million against Ford Motor Co. in favor of a 69-year-old career mechanic who often handled brakes, clutches, gaskets and other parts made by the manufacturer that contained asbestos in them. The jury found the company was guilty of defectively designing their products, failing to warn of product defects and negligence.
- In 2019, an L.A. jury awarded $34 million to a mechanic against Ford Motor Co, which included $8.5 million in compensatory damages and $25.5 million in punitive damages after finding that the company acted with fraud, oppression and malice.
- In 2002, a New York County Supreme Court jury awarded the family of a deceased mechanic $53 million against 36 companies after the man died from mesothelioma by being exposed to asbestos while working with the companies’ products.
Studies Related to Mechanics and Asbestos
There have been a few studies that have researched the potential dangers related to asbestos exposure. Research conducted on the dangers of brake dust revealed that average fiber concentrations were higher among brake workers than control subjects and the concentration of tremolite fibers was higher than chrysotile concentration in lung tissue samples of those subjects who were examined. The main researcher who conducted the study found that brake mechanics have a significant amount of asbestos fibers in the tissue of their lungs which is caused by their occupational exposure to brake and other friction products. This refuted the findings of previous research that concluded that brake dust does not cause mesothelioma.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Mechanics
Mechanics may have come into contact with various automotive parts that contained asbestos, such as:
- Brakes
- Hoodliners
- Clutches
- Gaskets
- Heat seals
- Valve rings
- Packing
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Jackets
- Masks
- Shields
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Mechanics
Some of the manufacturers that made automotive parts that mechanics used or that otherwise exposed mechanics to asbestos include the following:
- Advance Auto Parts
- Austin Auto Parts, Inc.
- AutoZone
- Bendix
- Canton Auto Parts, Inc.
- Caterpillar
- Daimler Chrysler
- Federal Mogul
- Fisher Auto Parts Company, Inc.
- Ford Motor Co.
- Forest City Auto Parts Company, Inc.
- General Motors, Inc.
- Genuine Parts Company
- Globe Foreign Auto Parts, Inc.
- G&T Auto Parts of Mid Orange, Inc.
- LAS Replacement Parts, Inc.
- L M Scanlon, Inc.
- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
- Pep Boys
- Pneumo Abex, LLC
- Potsdam Auto Parts, Inc.
- Raymark Industries
- Ren Auto Parts
