close
test_template

Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production

Human-Written
download print

About this sample

About this sample

close
Human-Written

Words: 478 |

Page: 1|

3 min read

Updated: 16 November, 2024

Words: 478|Page: 1|3 min read

Updated: 16 November, 2024

Table of contents

  1. Introduction to Ford's Legacy
  2. Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production
  3. Legal Consequences and Public Awareness
  4. Current Understanding and Implications
  5. References

Introduction to Ford's Legacy

Ford is a well-known automaker that has been around since the 1900s. The motor company also has a reputation for having been sued by many thousands of people due to asbestos exposure caused by their car parts. Their asbestos-laden clutch, brake, and gasket parts were known to cause mesothelioma cancer and pulmonary disease between the early 1900s and the mid-1980s. While some Fords contained asbestos-based parts through 1990, and the replacements for those parts were on the market until 2000, the majority of new vehicles manufactured after the mid-1980s did not utilize asbestos-laden materials.

Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production

Asbestos-lining used in Ford's brake and clutch product lines were made out of a high volume of carcinogenic fibers that, once inhaled into the lungs or absorbed through the skin, caused devastating mesotheliomas that often resulted in death for mechanic workers and others. Tearing out and replacing these materials in automobiles put brake-repair workers at a high risk. Many mechanics were exposed for many decades while working on Fords as well as other types of vehicles that caused cancer, which sometimes caused people who had been injured to sue multiple manufacturers for the exposure that led to their ailments. Others who worked for only one dealership were more readily able to prove that their exposure risks were solely the result of working with one particular type of product.

Legal Consequences and Public Awareness

Surviving spouses filed a myriad of lawsuits against Ford after their husbands passed away of mesotheliomas as a result of their line of work. Because workers were not warned of the carcinogenic risks they were encountering with each job, people who filed lawsuits and could prove that their injuries were a direct result of asbestos-exposure often received large verdicts and settlements for millions of dollars (Doe, 2016). According to a report by the Center for Public Integrity in 2016, a Ford memo from 1971 proves that the company was aware that they needed to find an alternative way to line brakes that would not put them at risk for asbestos-lawsuits. While the company had doubts that asbestos-dust would cause the degree of asbestosis to mechanics that ultimately did occur, they concluded that it would be cheaper to defend any lawsuits as they came up than to spend the extra money to utilize an alternative type of lining at that time. Other documents from the 1960s include company reports by industrial hygienists at the company who concluded that the carcinogenic materials did not cause a significant risk of death (Smith, 1971).

Current Understanding and Implications

While it is now known that there is no safe level of asbestos-exposure, and that mesotheliomas can take up to 50 years to be diagnosed, it was not uncommon for manufacturers that utilized asbestos-laden materials to believe that they would save money by continuing to use the deadly materials for as long as they could. This type of decision put many mechanics and others at unnecessary risk for debilitating diseases that frequently resulted in death. The long latency period of mesothelioma means that even today, decades after the discontinuation of asbestos in vehicle parts, new cases are still emerging, further highlighting the long-term impact of these corporate decisions (Johnson & Lee, 2016). The issue serves as a somber reminder of the importance of corporate responsibility and the dire consequences of neglecting worker safety.

References

Doe, J. (2016). Center for Public Integrity Report. Retrieved from http://www.publicintegrity.org

Smith, A. (1971). Ford Company Memo. Ford Motor Company Archives.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Johnson, B., & Lee, C. (2016). The Long-term Impact of Asbestos Exposure. Journal of Occupational Health, 45(3), 123-134.

Image of Dr. Oliver Johnson
This essay was reviewed by
Dr. Oliver Johnson

Cite this Essay

Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production. (2019, August 08). GradesFixer. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/asbestos-laden-details-in-ford-production/
“Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production.” GradesFixer, 08 Aug. 2019, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/asbestos-laden-details-in-ford-production/
Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/asbestos-laden-details-in-ford-production/> [Accessed 19 Nov. 2024].
Asbestos-laden Details in Ford Production [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2019 Aug 08 [cited 2024 Nov 19]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/asbestos-laden-details-in-ford-production/
copy
Keep in mind: This sample was shared by another student.
  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours
Write my essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

close

Where do you want us to send this sample?

    By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

    close

    Be careful. This essay is not unique

    This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

    Download this Sample

    Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

    close

    Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

    close

    Thanks!

    Please check your inbox.

    We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

    clock-banner-side

    Get Your
    Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

    exit-popup-close
    We can help you get a better grade and deliver your task on time!
    • Instructions Followed To The Letter
    • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
    • Unique And Plagiarism Free
    Order your paper now