Sawyer Asbestos Exposure

Look in any dictionary and you’ll most likely find that the term “sawyer” refers to a person whose occupation involves sawing timber into planks or boards.  While that definition is somewhat old-fashioned – generally used prior to the twentieth century – for decades sawyers played a large part in the building of homes across the country.

Today, the word sawyer usually refers to someone who works with stone, as opposed to a carpenter, who works with wood.  Sawyers cut stone, concrete slab, and other such items used in a construction site.

Sawyers and Asbestos

For decades, sawyers worked with asbestos-cement sheets and pipes, often cutting or sawing them to fit their needs.  When cutting these pieces, sawyers would create asbestos dust which, in reality, was a cloud of minute asbestos fibers being released into the air.  Sawyers and others working in the area would then inhale the asbestos.  Those who practiced this occupation rarely wore protective face masks.  Those who did usually wore the thin, disposable type, which are often not enough to protect them from breathing in asbestos dust.

After the asbestos warnings of the 1970s, the use of asbestos-cement sheets greatly decreased but sawyers who may be working on old buildings could still be at risk for inhaling asbestos, especially during any demolition procedures.

Because a sawyer often worked quite closely with asbestos products, they are at high-risk for developing diseases like mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung.  If you were a sawyer and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to learn about your legal rights as well as educate yourself as to the ins and outs of the disease.  For all the facts, order the helpful Mesothelioma Information Kit available from this website.