During the driving process, asbestos fibers collect in the brake drum as the brake shoes are being applied to the drum, thus creating friction. When maintenance work is scheduled on the vehicle the asbestos will be released in the auto shop, endangering its workers.
It is common for a long time to pass from being exposed to asbestos fibers to the onset of an asbestos-related disease. In this case, lung cancer may not show up until ten years after the mechanic was exposed to asbestos.
Auto mechanics also served in the military, being responsible for maintaining and repairing the systems and equipment present on the vehicles, such as the wheels and the engine. They were also in charge of repairing small equipment, such as a forklift or a transport vehicle. In the military, auto mechanics served in the U.S. Air Forces and the U.S. Army. Because numerous automotive components, such as brakes and gaskets, were manufactured with asbestos before 1980, veterans who served under this rating are now at high risk of developing a serious disease, such as lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Relevant job titles
- assembler
- repairman
- brake mechanic
- grinder
- gasket worker
- accessories technician
- apprentice technician
- auto detailer
- auto mechanic helper
- dismantler
- engine performance technician
- installation mechanic
- vehicle operator
- motor vehicle operator
- motor vehicle mechanic
- maintenance mechanic
- motor inspector
Asbestos-related cancer eligible for filing a claim
If you developed one of the following cancers as a result of occupational exposure, you are eligible for compensation. If you are too ill, a family member can help you with the legal process. In the unfortunate event that you pass away before recovering compensation, your surviving family members will receive compensation on your behalf.
If, however, you struggle with non-cancerous pleural diseases such as asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening, COPD (emphysema & chronic bronchitis), pleurisy, lung nodules, lung spots, asthma, pneumonitis, tuberculosis, rounded atelectasis or lung scarring, please seek a second or even a third opinion as the rate of misdiagnosis is very high among the victims of asbestos exposure.
Companies that exposed auto mechanics to asbestos
- General Motors
- Raybestos/Raymark Industries, Inc.
- Ferodo
- Johns-Manville
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
- Uniroyal Holding, Inc.
- Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
- Abex Corporation
- Allied Signal, Inc. / Bendix Corporation
- Borg Warner Automotive
- Ford Motor Company
- John Deere Industrial Equipment Company
- North American Rockwell Corporation
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Northrop Grumman
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Kelsey-Hayes Company
- U.S. Steel
- Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)
Labor union members are also eligible
Asbestos products handled by auto mechanics
By repairing or replacing asbestos-containing auto components such as brakes, heat seals, clutches and gaskets, mechanics who worked before the 1980s are now at risk of being affected by serious diseases. The heat and friction resistance of asbestos made it a very convenient material to be included in numerous automotive parts. However, as these components age, asbestos becomes brittle and fibers are more likely to be released into the air when a disturbance occurs.