Mesothelioma and Drill Press OperativesINDEX...HOME Good Sites When Are Drill Press Operatives Exposed to Asbestos? Drill Press operatives are machinists who use a drill press to drill holes in substances. Some drill press operatives were exposed to asbestos through having to create asbestos based products such as asbestos brake linings. When the drilling was taking place, a large amount of asbestos dust would be released into the air, and could be inhaled by the drill press operatives, leading to Mesothelioma. Drill press operatives use fixed drills known as drill presses to drill holes in metal and non-metal materials. Before the dangers of asbestos became known, one of the materials that drill presses were used to drill holes in was asbestos or asbestos containing products. Drill press operatives who were involved in making asbestos brake linings, for example, would drill holes in asbestos during the course of their work. The Dangers of Asbestos to Drill Press Operatives During the drilling process, large amount of dust is released into the atmosphere. When drilling asbestos, tiny particles of asbestos would be released into the area surrounding the drill press operative. If inhaled, it could lead to Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos and Modern Times Today, drill press operatives are generally not exposed to asbestos, as asbestos is either banned or is being phased out in many countries. People are also becoming more aware of the dangers of asbestos, and where exposure to asbestos may occur, they are starting to take precautions to prevent the risk of inhaling airborne asbestos. |