Asbestos Exposure As A Health Hazard

During the course of reading this week’s material, the Demand-Control (Support) model of Psychosocial Work Environment and Health as well as the adulteration of scientific evidence in the workplace due to corporate greed and placing profits over health (Zoller, 2009) gave me a greater understanding of certain malpractices and consequent avoidable health issues in the workplace. In particular, a book written by Paul Brodeur about the asbestos industry during the 1980s discusses some of the unfavorable conditions under which factory employees had to work (Brodeur 1985.) As if that was not enough, evidence submitted in court during one of the most widely covered toxic tort litigation cases in the asbestos industry showed how an industry giant like the Manville Corporation ensured that the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure were securely hidden from workers (Richards, 1978.) The company showed a shocking lack of responsibility and clearly placed profits over human life and health (Brodeur 1985; Richards 1978) as discussed by Zoller et al (2009.)

Over time, attention was drawn to the dangers of asbestos exposure due to the sheer volume of lawsuits, the deteriorating health and consequent deaths that occurred due to extended periods of work in asbestos factories (Brodeur 1978.) One can only imagine the psychosocial stress which the socioeconomically disadvantaged (Krieger 2010) had to endure while working in a place like the Johns-Manville Corporation. The psychosocial stress suffered by the employees can be explained using the Demand-Control (Support) model of Psychosocial Work Environment - workers had little to no control over their schedules and work, the necessary support (Ahonen 2016) especially provision of proper ventilation was lacking and yet management expected excellent delivery.

There have been many advancements since the 1980s but more research is necessary to protect the comparatively socioeconomically disadvantaged to forestall a future occurrence of the Manville Corporation debacle.