Asbestos Exposure among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers
In April 2007, the EPA released the final brochure entitled “Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers.” This brochure is intended to provide information for both career automobile mechanics and individuals who work on their own vehicles. The updated brochure contains guidelines of how to avoid being exposed to asbestos, a carcinogenic fiber that was used in brake products and is known to cause mesothelioma and other lung diseases.
The brochure updates a prior publication “Guidance for Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto Mechanics” commonly referred to as the “Gold Book” which was issued in 1986 prior to the enactment of the official OSHA guidance to brake and clutch workers. Under OSHA there are different requirements for employers whose automotive shop performs work on more than five brake or clutch jobs per week and those performing less.
While home mechanics are not required to follow OSHA regulations, the brochure discusses that these work practices are identical to the EPA Asbestos Worker Protection Rule and urges use of them by home mechanics to reduce their potential risk of developing any asbestos-related diseases.
The thrust of the guidelines is to avoid generating airborne asbestos fibers by prohibiting the use of compressed air for cleaning, avoiding high speed drilling, grooving, cutting beveling of brake linings, and promoting use of negative-pressure/HEPA vacuum system enclosures and avoiding taking dirty, dusty work clothes into the home.
We have represented many auto mechanics who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos through their work. If you are a mechanic or like to work on cars, especially if it involves brake and clutch work, please read the brochure and take all precautions. Mesothelioma is a fatal and painful cancer, and the only way to prevent it is to avoid all exposure.
If you have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us for advice and help at www.mesothelioma-attorney.com or by calling toll free 1-888-855-9052. Our mesothelioma attorneys only handle asbestos lawsuits, making us experts in this field and in getting help for our clients in a timely and successful manner.
To read the entire contents of the 2007 Best Practices brochure visit www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/brakesbrochure.html
