Construction Workers Families & Asbestos Exposure

In 1992, a law was passed that required the government to look at contamination of workers’ homes from substances workers unknowingly brought home on their clothing and equipment from the workplace. Specifically, the law called the Worker’s Family Protection Act of 1992 directed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to study this problem.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health worked with several other federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in carrying out its study. Information was gathered from state and federal agencies, professional associations, and published reports. The report included information from 28 different countries and 36 states within the United States.

In 1995, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health issued its report. The report found that many different contaminants have caused serious health problems for workers’ families. Asbestos was among the contaminants cited in the study. The study found that the problem of asbestos entering workers’ homes was a worldwide issue that resulted in all kinds of asbestos-related diseases including the deadly cancer, mesothelioma. The report also stated that there were at least 100 known cases of workers’ family members dying from mesothelioma in the United States. It concluded that while asbestos is used less frequently then it once was -- asbestos exposure and the potential for mesothelioma remain a risk for family members of construction workers.

The report also listed recommendations on precautions that should be taken by workers who are exposed to asbestos so that they minimize the danger to their families. It is recommended that workers shower and change out of their work clothes prior to coming home. It is further recommended that work clothes be kept separate from other clothes and remain on the job site. Family members should be discouraged from visiting job sites and, as always, workers should take every precaution to minimize their own exposure.