Asbestos Exposure of Industrial Workers

Industrial workers, including welders, millwrights, and smelters, play crucial roles in specialized production processes. However, their work environments often expose them to asbestos, a mineral notorious for its association with various health risks, including mesothelioma.

Asbestos, due to its exceptional heat and chemical resistance properties, was widely used in factories and plants throughout much of the 20th century. This mineral found its way into numerous industrial products, especially those subjected to high temperatures or corrosive chemicals.

As a result, asbestos was a common component in a multitude of products that industrial workers frequently handled. Given the widespread use of asbestos, many trades within the industrial sector continue to face the risk of asbestos exposure.

Key Facts About Industrial Workers

In the year 2020, the United States had approximately 8,519,410 industrial workers. These individuals are at risk of both historical and ongoing asbestos exposure, leading to a heightened risk of asbestos-related diseases. Similar occupations, such as metalworkers, refinery workers, machinists, chemical workers, and power workers, also share this risk.

Industrial workers may have been exposed to asbestos through various tasks, including forging metals, extracting metals from ores, casting liquid materials, sandblasting, oil refining, smelting metals, welding, soldering, and various other activities involving metals. These job duties have placed a significant number of individuals at risk of occupational asbestos exposure, potentially leading to asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos Products That Pose Risks for Industrial Workers

Industrial workers encountered asbestos in a wide range of products essential for their job responsibilities. For instance, asbestos-insulated gaskets were integral to the oil refining process, connecting pipes used to transport crude oil.

These products encompassed adhesives, asbestos cement, asbestos textiles, asbestos ceiling and floor tiles, boilers, caulking compounds, construction products, fire-resistant materials (e.g., fire blankets), gaskets, insulation, joint cement, personal protective equipment (e.g., asbestos gloves), pipes, pipe coverings, pipe insulation, pipe wrappings, plastics, pumps, refractory products, roofing materials, valves, and vinyl sheet backings. These asbestos-containing products played critical roles in industrial machinery across various worksites, and asbestos was also commonly present in the structures of industrial buildings. This dual exposure source significantly heightens the risk for industrial workers.

Manufacturers Associated With Asbestos Exposure for Industrial Workers

Numerous asbestos companies were involved in manufacturing and using asbestos materials and products. These companies include A.P. Green Industries, Afton Pumps, AK Steel Corporation, CBS Corporation, CertainTeed Corporation, Crane Company, Doe Run Resources Corp., Duquesne Light Company, Durez Plastics, Duro Dyne Corporation, Eastern Refractories Company, Foster Wheeler Corporation, Garlock Sealing Technologies, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Goulds Pumps, Halliburton Company (as DII Industries), Honeywell International, Ingersoll Rand Company, Owens-Corning Fiberglas, Riley Stoker Corporation, Sterling Fluid, United States Steel Corporation, Vulcan Iron Works, Inc., and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The operations of these companies potentially exposed thousands of industrial workers to asbestos, placing them at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma.

Common Sites of Asbestos Exposure in Industrial Settings

Asbestos was pervasive in many American manufacturing plants, power plants, and factories, both in products and building materials. Consequently, workers in these settings faced a high risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos could be found in various locations within industrial workplaces, including boiler rooms, ceilings, construction sites, demolition sites, manufacturing floors, and any area containing asbestos materials. Disturbance of asbestos-containing materials could release airborne asbestos fibers, increasing the risk of inhalation or ingestion. Poorly ventilated or enclosed areas were particularly hazardous, as they could concentrate asbestos fibers in the air, heightening the likelihood of exposure.

Industrial Workers and At-Risk Trades

The category of industrial workers encompasses numerous trades, making it challenging to estimate the exact number of industrial workers with asbestos exposure. For instance, those working in power plants may also fall under the industrial worker classification.

At-risk industrial trades comprise electricians, industrial machinery erectors, insulators, furnace operators, machine operators, maintenance and repair workers, mechanics, millwrights, molders, pipefitters, welders, and others. These professionals may have encountered asbestos during their daily tasks or around asbestos-contaminated worksites.

For instance, maintenance mechanics were responsible for repairing machinery and replacing worn-out parts, potentially coming into contact with asbestos pumps, valves, or gaskets. These components often required cutting, grinding, or scraping, leading to asbestos exposure during routine maintenance activities.

Spotlight on Molders and Asbestos Exposure

Industrial workers known as molders faced significant asbestos exposure risks. During cold molding, a process used to rapidly produce thousands of pieces with minimal scrap, asbestos was commonly used. The mixing of products for cold molding occurred in open hoppers, allowing airborne asbestos dust to form during the process. Asbestos was also incorporated into plastic molding processes for reinforcement.

Moreover, industrial workers could inadvertently expose their loved ones to asbestos, as fibers could be carried home on clothing and belongings. This secondary asbestos exposure placed family members and close associates at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma Risk for Industrial Workers

Industrial workers who frequently encountered asbestos products during their work were highly susceptible to developing asbestos-related diseases. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1999 revealed that industrial and chemical workers had the highest mesothelioma mortality ratio among all occupations. Additionally, data from the same year showed that industrial workers faced an increased risk of peritoneal mesothelioma, highlighting the significant health risks associated with industrial occupations and asbestos exposure.