01. Asbestos Risk
How Are Electricians Exposed to Asbestos?
Electricians may have been exposed to asbestos in electrical and construction products. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Electricians are responsible for assisting with electrical system design, installation and maintenance. This work brings professionals into contact with many asbestos products. For example, electricians may come into contact with asbestos through wires. These wires were often insulated with asbestos for heat and corrosion resistance. They may also encounter the mineral in construction products like drywall, insulation, ceilings or floors.
Thousands of products contained asbestos from the early 1900s through the 1980s. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced asbestos regulations to curb the mineral’s usage. However, electricians today may still face exposure and health risks from asbestos products installed before the 1980s.
What Asbestos Products Put Electricians at Risk?
Electricians may have come into contact with asbestos in electrical and construction materials. Installing, repairing or otherwise disturbing asbestos products can release airborne asbestos fibers.
Wires insulated with asbestos pose one of the most obvious risks. The energy running through wiring systems makes them high-heat environments. This can lead to overheating, electrical fires and breakdowns in electrical insulation.
Asbestos is strong and resistant to both high temperatures and corrosion. For decades, it was considered ideal for wire insulation. Manufacturers wove asbestos fibers into fabric or other insulating materials that wrap around wires. Electricians often handled this asbestos wire insulation.
Working as an electrician may have involved exposure to many other asbestos products. Electricians may have been exposed to asbestos from:
- Adhesives and sealants
- Arc chutes
- Asbestos felt
- Asbestos paper
- Cables and wires
- Circuit breakers
- Construction and building materials
- Drywall
- Duct adhesive
- Duct insulation
- Dust masks
- Electric boards
- Electrical panels
- Electrical wiring
- Fireproofing materials
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Generators
- Heating ducts
- HVAC systems
- Insulation
- Paint
- Panels
- Permaboard
- Plaster
- Popcorn ceiling coverings
- Preformed pipe wrap
- Thermal paper
- Turbines
- Valves
- Vinyl floors
- Wallboard
- Wire insulation
Electrical work around these materials may have released asbestos fibers. Although many asbestos products are durable, some products are highly friable. This means they crumble easily under small amounts of pressure. Materials can also become more friable with age or damage. High-friability products, such as loose-fill insulation, pose a larger health threat.
Electricians often have to use power tools to access wiring during maintenance. Cutting through asbestos-containing materials with these tools can release asbestos dust. Power tools also grind materials typically considered non-friable, making them more dangerous.
Hundreds of companies manufactured asbestos products. These companies were often aware of the dangers of asbestos but did little to protect workers.
Many of these companies are construction and building product manufacturers. However, some of them manufactured electrical system products specifically, including:
- General Electric
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Other asbestos companies manufactured products electricians were likely to come into contact with.
Common Places Electricians May Find Asbestos
Electricians are most likely to come into contact with asbestos in buildings. Many buildings were constructed before the 1980s when asbestos regulations were not in place. As a result, electricians who worked or still work in these older buildings may come into contact with asbestos.
Locations in the workplace where electricians might face exposure include:
- Attics
- Basements
- Boiler rooms
- Ceilings
- Commercial buildings
- Construction sites
- Electrical boxes
- Homes
- Industrial facilities
- Open walls
- Renovation sites
- Schools
Electricians in these areas may have encountered asbestos exposure ranging from low to high concentrations. However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Indoor work locations may present a larger risk, due to low ventilation. As a result, fibers may become concentrated in the air.
Other activities that may pose high exposure risks for electricians include:
- Replacing old wire insulation: Asbestos was often used in wire insulation for heat protection. Electricians are often responsible for replacing asbestos wire insulation or servicing the wires themselves. Disturbing these materials, which are often decades old, may release asbestos fibers.
- Servicing arc chutes: Arc chutes protect circuit breakers by insulating them and preventing sparks. Before the mid-1980s, they were made from asbestos-containing plastic molding compounds. These can release asbestos fibers if cracked by high-voltage sparks.
Electricians and At-Risk Trades
Electricians and other tradespeople may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure. Anyone who comes in contact with asbestos materials may risk asbestos diseases. However, those regularly working with these materials are at an increased risk of health issues.
At-risk trades in the electrical industry include:
- Computer, ATM and office machine repair workers
- Construction workers
- Drafters
- Electrical engineering technicians
- IT professionals
- Linemen
- Power station workers
These workers may have been exposed to asbestos while performing their duties. Installing, maintaining, removing and/or inspecting electrical systems could have caused exposure.
Workers were not the only individuals at risk from asbestos-containing electrical products. In some cases, the families and loved ones of electricians may have experienced secondary asbestos exposure. This can occur when workers carry home asbestos fibers on their person.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Mesothelioma Risk
Mesothelioma Risk for Electricians
Electricians exposed to asbestos may be at risk for serious diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
In one study, researchers evaluated the presence of asbestos fibers in exposed individuals’ lungs. This is called the lung burden. Lung burden often correlates with mesothelioma incidence and mortality.
The study’s authors found increased lung burden among plumbers, electricians and painters. This is in comparison to other construction workers and those without occupational exposure. The researchers found the highest asbestos fiber levels among those born between 1940 to 1954.
These individuals were likely exposed at peak asbestos use. However, asbestos exposure from older buildings can still affect electricians today.
03. Compensation
Compensation for Victims of Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Electricians with an asbestos disease may be eligible for compensation. Mesothelioma compensation can help asbestos victims cover medical costs and recover lost wages. Seeking legal action also holds asbestos companies responsible for negligence.
Mesothelioma lawyers can help patients determine which asbestos claim best suits their situation: lawsuits, trust fund claims or workers’ compensation.
Electricians and their families have filed many asbestos cases. The resolutions of these cases are not always made public. Often, this can be due to out-of-court settlements.
Notable cases involving electrician asbestos exposure include:
- In 2019, a former journeyman electrician filed an asbestos lawsuit. He filed the claim against Plastics Engineering Company (PLENCO) and Rockwell Automation Inc. for occupational asbestos exposure. He worked at the Navy Ship Repair Facility in Guam from about 1962 to 1985. During this time, he came into contact with asbestos products supplied by these companies.
- In 2014, a former apprentice electrician was diagnosed with pleural effusion and mesothelioma. The patient had been exposed to asbestos regularly between 1951 and 1953. During this time, the victim worked for Richard Klinger Limited. The apprentice electrician worked at the company’s factory in Orpington, Kent, UK. The patient’s case was settled out of court.
- A Charlotte, North Carolina, firefighter and electrician experienced asbestos exposure during his work at FJT Electric Inc. in 1996. His exposure at these jobs resulted in an asbestos disease. He was ultimately awarded about $3.9 million.
Electricians with an asbestos disease should contact a mesothelioma law firm to learn about their options for compensation.
04. Common Questions
Common Questions About Electricians and Asbestos Exposure
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Was asbestos used in old wiring?
- Yes, asbestos was used to insulate wires until the 1980s. Asbestos was wrapped around wires and then covered with cloth outer layers. The asbestos fibers helped protect against heat and corrosion. The related health risks led to limits on asbestos use, but old wires may still be wrapped with it.
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What does asbestos wire insulation look like?
- Wires with asbestos insulation may be wrapped with a layer of white fibers covered by fabric. If the insulation is crumbling, that may be another sign. Asbestos wire insulation is also likely older, from before the 1980s. Licensed professionals should always address potential asbestos materials.
