Mesothelioma Exposure Investigation
How a Jobsite Exposure Investigation Works
Remembering the plant, building, construction project, railroad, utility, school, hospital, shipyard, shop or other workplace can be the beginning of a detailed exposure investigation.
How the Investigation Develops
From memory to evidence
Define the place
The investigation begins by identifying the facility or project as precisely as possible.
- Facility name and city
- Building, department or unit
- Approximate years
Reconstruct the work
The next step is understanding what the person and nearby trades actually did.
- Trade and employer
- Maintenance or construction tasks
- Shutdowns, renovations or demolition
Identify equipment and materials
Machines, systems, products and suppliers can then be narrowed.
- Equipment manufacturers
- Material categories
- Contractors and supply houses
Look for corroboration
Memories are evaluated with other available evidence.
- Coworkers and witnesses
- Records and literature
- Other jobsite evidence
Questions
Common questions
What if the plant no longer exists?
The site can still be investigated using remembered details and available historical evidence.
Does the exact building matter?
It can. Different buildings or departments may have had different equipment, contractors and materials.