Toxic exposure occupations
70 occupations with documented exposure histories. If your job is on this list — or close to it — you may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds, the VA, or product-liability claims.
Currently, up to 32 million people are regularly exposed to toxic substances in occupational settings across the country. Toxic exposure is unfortunately common in many workplaces, affecting firefighters, military personnel, farmers, and factory workers, among others.
Abatement workers
The main activity of the people working in the asbestos abatement industry entails removing the asbestos remnants from buildings and other contaminated structures as it still poses a risk for the people that unknowingly interact with the contaminated materials.
Aircraft workers
In this industry, asbestos was mainly used for insulating electrical components on planes and other aircraft but its use was extended to brake pads and adhesives. By performing maintenance work around these machines, people were exposed to asbestos fibers when they needed to change damaged wiring or engine components where asbestos was found in a friable state making it easy to crumble and release particles around the workers.
Airport firefighters (AFFF)
Airport firefighters are occasionally exposed to high-volume AFFF during training and drills. They also perform maintenance work and respond to emergencies with ARFF vehicles equipped with aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Even as AFFF is being discontinued due to the presence of cancer-causing PFAS chemicals, many airports are still using AFFF, and ARFF vehicles may still contain traces of toxic chemicals.
Asbestos miners
Miners and the communities based around asbestos, vermiculite and taconite mines are at the greatest risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. As a miner, you came in direct contact with large deposits of this carcinogenic mineral. When these deposits were mined, airborne concentrations increased greatly. Upon inhalation of the fibers, asbestos causes significant irritation to the lungs and bronchioles.
Asbestos products manufacturers
The main activity of the asbestos plant workers was processing the raw asbestos fibers into finished products that could have been distributed and sold. Working with raw asbestos raised exponentially the level of exposure for the people in this line of work.
Auto mechanics
Prior to the 1970s asbestos was used as the main insulation material in common parts like brakes, gaskets, transmission parts. You may not be aware but even in present-day asbestos still exists in older cars. A common job performed by mechanics is the brake and clutch replacement. The process of installing new brakes requires the mechanic to file, sand and drill the brake pads and linings to get them on the car creating dangerous dust in the process.
Aviation ordnancemen
Aviation ordnanceman is a military rating present in the U.S. Navy. People who serve as aviation ordnancemen have to perform duties such as handling and servicing weapons and ammunition carried on aircraft, inspecting, maintaining and repairing the aircraft’s mechanical and electrical ordnance system, as well as stowing, assembling and loading aviation ammunition which includes aerial mines, torpedoes, bombs, missiles and rockets. While asbestos exposure was moderate in aviation ordnancemen, they are not exempt from the risk of developing a serious disease over time.
Aviation structural mechanics
The primary duty of aviation structural mechanics was to maintain aircraft structural components such as flight surfaces and controls, hydraulic and pneumatic control, landing gear systems, air conditioning, pressurization and other utility systems, including seat and canopy ejection systems and components. Because they would often handle asbestos products directly, without protective equipment, their exposure was moderate and they are now at significant risk of developing a serious disease such as lung cancer.
Beauticians (Toxic hair relaxers)
Health risks associated with chemical hair relaxers not only affect hairstylists but also other professionals working in the beauty and personal care industry, such as beauticians. Like hairstylists, beauticians also come in contact with dozens of chemicals, including toxic hair relaxers, on a regular basis. Unlike hairstylists, beauticians have a broader set of skills. They can work as hairdressers, hair colorists, manicurists, pedicurists, wax technicians, just to name a few. However, like hairdressers and hairstylists, they are also at risk of developing severe health conditions as a result of repeated, long-term exposure to harmful chemicals in beauty products.
Boatswain’s mates
The rating of boatswain's mate is one of the oldest in the U.S. Navy, dating back to 1794. Boatswain's mates were responsible for the operation and maintenance of a ship's exterior equipment, seamanship, anchoring, mooring, cargo handling, deck maintenance, and damage control, duties that placed them in regular contact with asbestos containing materials and AFFF.
Boiler workers/boiler technicians
The risk of you coming in contact with the asbestos fibers was extremely high, boilers customarily containing numerous forms of asbestos insulation. The boilers not only required the use of asbestos insulation, but also required that the insulation is applied at the home where the boiler was installed putting not only the boiler workers in danger of asbestos exposure but those who lived in the house as well.
Boilermakers
As a boiler maker, you had to work in factories where assembling these machines was required on your part. This environment quickly became toxic when asbestos was introduced as preferred insulation for boilers and their parts.
Brakemen (Railroad industry)
Brakemen assist in the movement and handling of railcars during yard and road operations that place them between moving equipment weighing tens of thousands of pounds. These workers couple and uncouple railcars during train assembly, operate track switches to direct car movements, and signal engineers while standing feet away from rolling stock. Frequent lifting, pushing heavy equipment, and working on uneven surfaces result in injuries that accumulate over time.
Brick, cement and stone masons/builders
Spending the majority of time on construction sites, masons have worked directly with asbestos-containing materials or had them in their proximity. During their work, they risked being exposed to asbestos every step of the way. Asbestos dust was created when brick masons would mix asbestos-containing cement and cut bricks down for size. Asbestos fibers would also be released into the air when these workers would sand the materials using power tools.
Carpenters
Carpenters who worked in the construction or home remodeling industries were exposed to large quantities of asbestos dust through the application and removal of building products. The exposure risks greatly increased when they were using a power saw. By cutting different materials and products, it was very likely that a large amount of asbestos fibers containing dust to be generated. This made the environment where carpenters used to work incredibly dangerous.
Chemical mixers (Paraquat)
Chemical mixers employed in the agriculture industry face exceptionally high risks for exposure to paraquat, one of the most dangerous chemicals used in this line of work. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that primary exposure occurs during the mixing, loading, and application process, placing chemical mixers at the epicenter of potential harm. Despite paraquat being classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide requiring certification to mix, handle, and apply, the risk remains too great even for licensed professionals.
Conductors (Railroad industry)
While coordinating train movements and overseeing crew operations, conductors are exposed to health and safety hazards immediately and over time. They walk on uneven ballast between active tracks, mount and dismount moving rail cars, and operate coupling equipment in conditions where a momentary lapse can lead to severe injury or death. Combined with irregular schedules and on-call work requirements, injuries occur frequently on the job due to its physical demands.
Damage controlmen
In the U.S. Navy, damage controlmen act as maintenance and emergency repair specialists. They are responsible for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological, and radiological warfare defense. Their maintenance work exposed them to asbestos throughout the ship, while their firefighting duties brought them into regular contact with AFFF.
Debris removal workers (9/11)
Debris removal workers who cleared rubble from Ground Zero, including sanitation workers and landfill personnel, developed serious illnesses from handling contaminated materials during the cleanup operation. Thousands of volunteers, sanitation departments, and construction crews worked tirelessly to clean up the debris generated by the collapse of the towers. The hands-on nature of debris removal created intense exposure scenarios. Workers loading trucks, sorting materials, and managing contaminated rubble at the site and Fresh Kills landfill were in constant contact with toxic dust that contained dangerous levels of asbestos and carcinogens.
Demolition workers (9/11)
During demolition and cleanup following the collapse of the World Trade Center, demolition workers encountered high levels of toxic contamination. Many hazards were encountered by demolition workers when they removed contaminated materials and destroyed damaged structures. Working in enclosed spaces and handling contaminated debris directly exposes them to high levels of toxins. Working in demolition constantly exposed workers to asbestos fibers and carcinogens.
Electricians/ electrician's mates
Until the beginning of the 1980s, electricians were exposed to asbestos fibers incorporated into building materials. Aboard Navy ships, Electrician's Mates also worked on the electrical systems that supported fixed firefighting equipment, including AFFF fire suppression systems.
Emergency medical personnel (9/11)
The 9/11 exposure of emergency medical personnel at Ground Zero has resulted in cancers and chronic diseases among FDNY EMS workers and others. When thousands of injured people were treated in contaminated conditions by EMS teams during the disaster response, they provided critical medical care. EMS workers face an exceptional risk due to the nature of their work. The work of medical personnel was more challenging than that of other emergency responders, which could keep a safe distance from hazards. In order to save lives, medical personnel had to come into immediate contact with contaminated patients, debris, and toxic dust.
Engineers
As an engineer you usually oversee the production process in a factory. Even though most of the time engineers didn’t handle directly the asbestos-contaminated materials, they were exposed to the asbestos dust spread on the worksite. Before the late 1970s, asbestos exposure was most common in the following engineering specialties: civil, stationary, industrial, mechanical, electrical and aeronautical.
Engineers (Railroad industry)
When operating locomotives weighing thousands of tons and maneuvering complex rail systems, engineers make split-second decisions that determine whether trains arrive safely or derail catastrophically. During their extended shifts, locomotive engineers breathe diesel exhaust that accumulates in enclosed spaces and monitor multiple control systems at once. Having to operate trains for 10 to 12 hours at a time and disruptions to sleep patterns can lead to fatigue that impairs judgment and reaction time.
Farmers (Paraquat)
In the United States, farmers face some of the highest risks of paraquat exposure. These workers regularly handle one of the most widely used yet highly toxic herbicides in modern agriculture, which operates on approximately 2 million commercial farms covering 922 million acres. Under demanding conditions, farmers cultivate, harvest, maintain, pack, and plant crops while managing livestock under hazardous pesticide residues. Farmers can still be exposed to paraquat through spray drift, direct contact with treated crops and soil, spills, splashes, and malfunctioning equipment, even if they follow best management practices.
Farmworkers (Paraquat)
Designated as ‘essential workers’ by state governments, farmworkers represent one of the most vulnerable groups to paraquat exposure in the United States. With approximately 3 million farmworkers nationwide, including 2 million family farmworkers and 1 million hired farmworkers, these individuals work in jobs ranked among the most dangerous occupations. Farmworkers apply over 8 million pounds of paraquat annually on more than 100 types of crops, including row crops, orchards, fruits, and vegetables.
Firefighters (9/11)
The World Trade Center collapse exposed firefighters to unprecedented levels of toxins, which continues to threaten their health decades later. Despite being surrounded by toxic air on September 11, 2001, these brave first responders risked their lives to perform rescue operations. There was no comparison between the intensity of exposure firefighters experienced at Ground Zero and that encountered in typical firefighting operations. As a result of the collapse and the hours that followed, the highest concentrations of carcinogens and hazardous materials were inhaled by those who arrived during the initial hours after the incidence.
Fuel industry firefighters (AFFF)
Firefighters in the fuel and petrochemical industries face the most hazardous environments in their workplaces. These industries usually require them to work near tank farms, plants, and storage facilities where there is always a threat of large-scale liquid fire. Industrial firefighters are often exposed to high volumes of AFFF during routine tests of fire suppression systems.
Glass manufacturers
Asbestos exposure occurred to a moderate extent in glass manufacturing workers, as they would often have to assemble metal sheets, insulation and paneling with glass components. For this reason, people who worked as glass manufacturers before 1980, when asbestos was properly regulated in occupational settings, are at high risk of developing a disease as a result of exposure. Glass manufacturers were also exposed to asbestos from the machinery and equipment they had to use for the making of the products, which were insulated with asbestos to prevent overheating.
Gunner's mates
The rating of gunner’s mate was established in 1794, making it one of the oldest in the U.S. Navy. People who served as gunner’s mates were responsible for operating and maintaining guided missile launching systems, underwater explosive weapons such as torpedoes, rockets and missiles and the systems employed to launch such weapons, namely gun mounts and other equipment, as well as small arms magazines. Since they would also make mechanical, electrical and electronic casualty analysis and repair, maintain, test and calibrate ordnance equipment, their asbestos exposure was quite high.
Hairstylists (Toxic hair relaxers)
Every day, hairstylists apply, mix, rinse, and handle numerous chemical products to help clients achieve that perfect-looking hair. However, many remain unaware that doing so would expose them to potentially harmful ones like those found in hair relaxers. Research has since established a link between toxic hair relaxers and adverse health effects. In turn, hairstylists face great risks of developing serious health conditions.
Heavy equipment operators
Heavy equipment operators served in the military and were responsible for working with heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects. They would undergo rigorous training to qualify for this job. By using bulldozers, cranes and graders, heavy equipment operators would perform their duties in the military. They would also operate crawler and wheeled tractors with dozer attachments, motorized graders, backhoe loaders, scoop loaders, hydraulic excavators and towed or self-propelled scrapers.
Herbicide applicators (Paraquat)
Herbicide handlers, sprayers, and applicators face daily exposure to paraquat in large quantities and over sustained periods, making them among the most at-risk occupational groups for developing Parkinson's disease. Originally marketed in 1962 as Gramoxone, paraquat is described by the U.S. EPA as a controlled or restricted-use herbicide utilized exclusively in commercial farming and agricultural settings. Despite containing a blue pigment to prevent confusion with food products, the chemical remains highly dangerous to those who handle it professionally.
Hull maintenance technicians
When it comes to asbestos exposure, hull maintenance technicians who served in the Navy before 1980 are one of the military ratings at the highest risk of developing a terrible disease. Responsible with producing, installing and repairing metal structures on the ship, as well as with extinguishing fires, they would also wear old firefighting equipment, which was laden with asbestos. In the case of hull maintenance technicians, asbestos exposure occurred during training, too.
Ice cream plant workers
Surprisingly, people who worked in ice cream plants before 1980 were moderately exposed to asbestos, as the equipment they would operate contained the toxic mineral. One of the most notorious ice cream manufacturers which employed asbestos during the last century is Sealtest Ice Cream, which was founded in 1935 by the National Dairy Products Corporation, a precursor of Kraft Foods, Inc. At the moment, Unilever holds the rights to Sealtest Ice Cream. The ice cream plant in Buffalo, New York exposed workers to asbestos to a considerable extent, which is why numerous former employees took legal action against it.
Instrumentmen
While the rating of instrumentman was disestablished in 1999, people who had this job in the military before 1980 are nowadays at high risk of developing a serious disease as a consequence of asbestos exposure. Instrumentmen would perform their job in the area where they were deployed, depending on the country’s need for defense and safety. However, they would spend significant time inside military ships, where exposure to asbestos was unavoidable.
Jewelry manufacturers
Surprisingly, asbestos was highly present in the jewelry manufacturing industry, as a person recalls having a bucket of loose asbestos fibers under the soldering bench, which were moistened and subsequently used to hold together the components they had to solder. For this reason, people who had a job in the jewelry manufacturing industry before 1980 are at significant risk of developing a serious disease as a result of asbestos exposure. Furthermore, the facilities they would perform their work in were laden with asbestos to prevent the risk of fire, as asbestos is excellent for insulating structures.
Laborers
The laborers risked exposure to asbestos when they were loading and unloading products containing asbestos or removing the debris produced by deteriorating asbestos materials. In a construction environment or factories, huge amounts of asbestos dust gather and particles are released into the air being continuously inhaled by laborers and the rest of the construction crew and factory workers.
Longshoremen
Between the 1940s and the 1980s, many of the ships’ parts were made using asbestos or were insulated with it due to its fire-resistant properties. This meant that there were high levels of exposure to the toxic fibers for everyone found onboard.
Machinists/ Machinist's Mates
Machinists were frequently in danger of using materials that contained asbestos. In this line of work, the machinist would cut, drill and grind metals creating poisonous asbestos dust in the process. Machinists would also operate power and heat systems and repair broken machinery. They would use power tools such as drill presses, grinders, and milling machines in order to produce metal parts to precise specifications. It was not unusual for these workers to be wearing protective gear and blankets made with asbestos.
Military firefighters (AFFF)
Military firefighters, a unique field in military and firefighting, face extremely high levels of exposure to AFFF and the cancer-causing chemicals in it. AFFF has been widely used in hundreds of military installations for over five decades, and cumulative exposure may lead to high PFAS levels in blood serum. Documented AFFF use may be from using a portable AFFF extinguisher, working with an installed AFFF fire system, or operating a tactical firefighting truck.
Millwrights
As a millwright, you had to perform the majority of your work in construction-related jobs and as a result, you were exposed to dangerous quantities of asbestos for an extended period of time. The machines that required the millwright's attention were using asbestos-containing insulation in order to prevent heat damage. While working on these types of machinery, millwrights would frequently have to cut and fit asbestos coated metal and gaskets for the job the be complete.
Oil rig & refinery workers
The workers in this line of business used to work under a constant threat from asbestos exposure as the working process implied the use of extreme heat. Due to these conditions asbestos insulation and asbestos made parts were used to prevent the danger of a fire starting on the working sites but brought in the lives of the workers the danger of breathing constantly in an asbestos-filled atmosphere.
Painters
The entire process of preparing the walls for painting is a very important part of a painter’s job. Painters remove old layers of paint, which might contain particles of asbestos. After this is done, the wall needs to be sanded, and have plaster and spackle applied to it. During this process, the worker is exposed to asbestos dust and asbestos-containing products.
Paper mill workers
The paper mill workers were put in direct contact with the asbestos fibers, dangerously increasing the risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. The plants where these people worked used raw asbestos as an important ingredient for their products. One of the steps in the production of paper was the drying of the pulp. The workers had the pulp placed on drying machines that would spread around excess asbestos-containing material.
Paramedics (9/11)
During the 9/11 response, paramedics were exposed to toxic chemicals that can cause serious illnesses. Paramedics worked in extremely hazardous conditions while treating injured victims, triaging them, and transporting them to hospitals. Since the nature of their work exposes them to some of the highest levels of exposure, these workers experienced some of the highest levels of exposure. Medical emergency care requires close contact with contaminated surfaces for prolonged periods of time in dusty environments. Within minutes of the attacks, paramedics began treating casualties at the World Trade Center.
Police officers (9/11)
After the September 11 attacks, contaminated-air and toxic-debris-exposed law enforcement officers at Ground Zero have had devastating health consequences. Throughout the crisis, NYPD, Port Authority Police, and other law enforcement agencies provided security, conducted search operations, and maintained order. Those who responded immediately after the towers fell suffered severe toxic exposure at Ground Zero. It was the first responders who encountered the highest concentrations of airborne carcinogens, while those assigned to prolonged security details accumulated dangerous levels of toxins over time.
Printing press workers
People who worked in printing presses before 1980 now face a high risk of developing cancer as a result of heavy asbestos exposure. In printing presses, asbestos was present in components such as gaskets and rollers which, when disturbed, would release toxic fibers in the air. Subsequently, workers and everyone who was in close proximity to the source would inhale or ingest asbestos. The Linotype, one of the most important machines to modern printing, made use of large amounts of asbestos.
Radiomen
Radiomen were primarily in charge of transmitting and receiving radio signals, as well as processing all types of telecommunications through multiple transmission media aboard aircraft facilities. The rating of radioman was established in 1921 and falls under data processing technician today. Asbestos exposure was moderate in aviation radiomen, as the equipment they worked with contained various components manufactured with the mineral.
Railroad firefighters (Railroad industry)
Railroad firefighters suppress locomotive and railcar fires using Aqueous Film-Forming Foam that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals that persist in human tissue for decades after exposure. These emergency responders spray AFFF on fuel fires in rail yards, apply foam to chemical cargo spills, and train with the substance during regular drills without understanding the health consequences. PFAS are absorbed by the body through skin absorption when foam soaks through protective gear, through inhalation of droplets during application, and through the handling of contaminated equipment by firefighters.
Railroad workers
Railroad workers were constantly exposed to the harm presented by asbestos exposure, especially the people performing repair and maintenance jobs on parts of the train that were insulated with asbestos-containing products. If these materials needed to be cut, sanded or drilled into, asbestos dust would have been created releasing microscopic particles of asbestos into the near environment.
Remodelers
For remodelers, the risk of asbestos exposure is always present as they have to deal with structures built before the 1980s with materials that were made with this toxic mineral.
Roofers
The people that worked as roofers were under the threat of inhaling high amounts of asbestos fibers due to the common use of asbestos in roofing materials. As a roofer, you had to cut and saw asbestos-containing shingles and tiles, a process that would generate large quantities of asbestos dust. If you had to repair or replace an old roof, damaged and deteriorated asbestos materials would have been ripped off and you would have found yourself breathing in an asbestos-filled air.
Rubber factory workers
Rubber plants presented a serious level of exposure for its workers through the use of asbestos products on the building or production equipment. In these factories, asbestos was used in a variety of ways due to the wide range of products that contained this mineral.
Seamen
Seaman is a rating present both in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. They are responsible for the smooth operation of the majority of activities taking place on the ship. The duties they are in charge of include performing tasks concerning deck maintenance, small boat operations, navigation and supervising all military personnel assigned to a ship’s deck force or shore unit. The rating of seaman allows people who enter the military to achieve a higher rating. When it comes to asbestos exposure, seamen were exposed to a significant extent, since they would perform a wide range of activities aboard ships.
Sheet metal workers
People working with sheet metal were required to spend the majority of their time on construction sites infested with asbestos due to its heavy use in manufacturing construction materials.
Ship's servicemen /administrationmen
In charge of managing and operating the shipboard retail and service activities, such as the store of the ship, vending machines, barbershops, coffee kiosks, laundry and tailor shops, ship’s servicemen would ensure that the military personnel serving on the vessel had the most comfortable living conditions. As inventory specialists, they were also responsible with procuring and receiving stock for the store of the ship, maintaining the financial records and accounting systems, as well as ensuring that there were sufficient products stocked before the ship deployed. Their exposure to asbestos was low, since they would rarely handle dangerous products.
Shipyard workers
The people that worked on these sites performed a variety of tasks from designing the ships to repairing and maintenance work. These later activities involved them being around asbestos products. The piping system, boilers, and turbines were usually insulated with asbestos materials. Insulating products like asbestos cement needed to be mixed by hand and in this process, asbestos particles were released in a closed environment.
Shop workers (Railroad industry)
Locomotive and railcar repair workers operate in hazardous environments in which grinding sparks ignite clothing, overhead cranes fall heavy components, and pressurized systems rupture unexpectedly. A mechanic, carman, or technician crawls beneath equipment to access damaged parts, operates a lathe or mill that can catch limbs, and welds in confined spaces where fumes accumulate. The work involves lifting transmission assemblies weighing hundreds of pounds, cramping into positions beneath undercarriages, and manipulating power tools that transmit damaging vibrations to the hands and arms.
Signal workers (Railroad industry)
Signal workers install, repair, and maintain railroad signal systems and electrical infrastructure while balancing on ladders near live circuits and troubleshooting equipment feet away from moving trains. These technicians climb signal towers in severe weather, test energized components without adequate lockout procedures, and respond to system failures during overnight hours when fatigue clouds judgment. Historical occupational data shows that signal workers experience fatal injury rates more than twice the all-industry average due to the nature of trackside work and inadequate protection from passing equipment.
Sonar technicians
Known as sonarman until 1964, the military rating of sonar technician is also one of the U.S. Navy occupations at the highest risk of asbestos exposure. Responsible with underwater surveillance, as well as with repairing sonar equipment, sonar technicians would encounter plenty of asbestos while performing their job, as they were always inside the ships or submarines which were full of asbestos-containing products. Therefore, they now have a significant likelihood of developing life-threatening diseases.
Steamfitters and pipefitters/utilitiesmen
Between the 1940s - 1980s steamfitters, pipefitters and plumbers worked frequently with asbestos products and were considered to be a high-risk group for contracting an asbestos-related illness after extended exposure. The products that steamfitters, pipefitters, and plumbers worked with had to be cut or sanded down to meet size specifications for the projects they were handed.
Steelworkers
Exposure to asbestos was very common among the people who worked in steel factories. To trap impurities that rose out of the steel molds, hot tops were used on top of them. Due to the extreme heat, the hot tops were insulated with asbestos-containing insulation boards. The heat would burn these insulation boards turning them into ash. This would result in the workers installing them several times a day.
Tank fillers (Paraquat)
The exposure risks faced by tank fillers handling pesticides directly are some of the highest in agriculture, particularly when working with non-selective herbicides like paraquat. These workers perform critical tasks in pesticide application, including operating knapsacks and spraying chemicals onto crops. Farm activities carry greater risks than others, and pouring undiluted pesticides into spray tanks is one of the most dangerous. Contact with concentrated paraquat is far more likely to cause severe health effects than exposure to already-treated crops.
Textile mill workers
Although nowadays, specialized machinery replaced the majority of workers, many of the products processed in textile mills from the 1940s to the late 1970s were made using asbestos fibers. Textile mill workers may have handled directly the asbestos used to produce textiles. During the different processes like picking, carding, and weaving, the asbestos fibers were disturbed making them airborne and posing a grave threat to these workers.
Track maintenance crews (Railroad industry)
Maintenance crews perform inspections, repairs, and maintenance on railroad infrastructure while standing on unstable ballast and within feet of passing trains. In all weather conditions, workers lift rail sections weighing hundreds of pounds, bend beneath track equipment, and manipulate tie plates with hand tools. Federal Railroad Administration data reveals that maintenance workers sustain injuries at significantly higher rates during night and early morning shifts, when circadian rhythm disruption and exhaustion multiply the risk of accidents.
Volunteer firefighters (AFFF)
People might think that volunteer firefighters are safe from hazard exposure because they have fewer hours on duty, but the life of a volunteer firefighter is unpredictable. If you served as a volunteer firefighter for at least two years, you’re likely to have encountered toxic firefighting foam in training drills and responding to calls.
Welders
Welders were faced with a high risk of exposure to asbestos fibers. They were often required to use products that contained asbestos. The common welding rods contained asbestos and were coated with it. Dust and smoke were being generated through the welding process. The dust contained small particles of asbestos, nickel and chromium. Inhaling these asbestos particles was extremely harmful to the welders that were not aware of the major health risks asbestos exposure entailed.
Yard workers (Railroad industry)
In yards where multiple trains move simultaneously across dozens of parallel tracks, yard workers sort railcars, coordinate switching operations, and couple equipment. These employees climb between moving cars to operate hand brakes, step across rails where clearances measure only inches, and signal engineers while standing in the path of approaching locomotives. Federal Railroad Administration research reveals that rail yards account for a disproportionately large share of railroad injuries compared with other work areas, with approximately 80 percent of yard worker injuries resulting in one or more lost workdays.
Yeomen
The rating of yeoman is one of the oldest in the U.S. Navy, dating back to 1835. People who served in the military as yeomen were responsible for performing secretarial, administrative and clerical work, as well as operating modern office equipment such as word processing computers and copying machines and greeting visitors, answering phone calls and sorting mail. Their asbestos exposure was low, since they rarely handled dangerous products themselves. Instead, they would work in environments in which asbestos was present in considerable amounts.
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