01. Asbestos Risk
How Are Metal Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
The high-heat environments of metalworking facilities were common places to find asbestos. Companies used asbestos throughout much of the 20th century. The mineral was inexpensive and provided an effective heat-resistant barrier and insulator.
As asbestos materials become worn or damaged, the mineral within them can become airborne. Asbestos use in metalworking facilities may have exposed thousands of workers to the dangerous mineral.
Asbestos was actively used in metalworking facilities until the 1980s. New regulations in the early 1980s led to asbestos use ceasing in many industries, including metalworking. However, there is no comprehensive asbestos ban in the United States. Without a ban, asbestos may still be present in older facilities.
Metal workers may have been exposed to asbestos in a number of ways. The mineral was used in facility construction, metalworking machinery and protective equipment. Many products in these settings could have led to occupational exposure.
Asbestos exposure in the metalworking industry may have led to serious illnesses among workers, such as mesothelioma.
What Asbestos Products Put Metal Workers at Risk?
Due to the high-heat nature of metalworking, asbestos products were used throughout facilities. Types of products used in metalworking facilities that may have had asbestos include:
- Construction products: Construction companies often built with asbestos materials. At metalworking facilities, the mineral could be found in wall and ceiling tiles, insulation and cement.
- Metalworking and refining equipment: Some of the tools workers used were reinforced with asbestos. For example, aluminum industry professionals came into contact with asbestos in smelting pots used to refine the ore.
- Protective gear: Workers often wore protective aprons and gloves that contained asbestos.
Metal workers may have been exposed to asbestos from:
- Aprons
- Asbestos blankets
- Asbestos board
- Asbestos cement
- Asbestos cloth
- Asbestos gloves or mitts
- Asbestos insulation
- Asbestos paper
- Building materials
- Electrical wires
- Fire-resistant materials, including protective clothing
- Gaskets
- Refractory brick
- Spray-on asbestos fireproofing
- Welding rods
As these products were damaged, aged or degraded, they may have released asbestos fibers into the air.
Some metal workers, like structural ironworkers, had jobs at construction sites where they used asbestos. They may have applied an asbestos coating to metals such as steel beams. This coating made the metals more fire resistant and durable.
Welders also used asbestos products outside of metalworking facilities. These workers often wore asbestos-containing protective equipment and used welding rods coated in asbestos.
Asbestos products were used in metalworking factories across the United States. Various product manufacturers supplied the asbestos materials to the metalworking industry.
Occupational asbestos exposure can lead to dangerous illnesses, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Individuals who think they may have been exposed to asbestos on the job should seek attention from a mesothelioma doctor.
Common Places Metal Workers May Find Asbestos
Metal workers may have been exposed to asbestos in a number of locations around their work sites. Locations in the workplace that often exposed metal workers include:
- Aluminum plants
- Areas with active metalworking
- Boiler rooms
- Ceilings
- Construction sites
- Demolition sites
- Furnace rooms
- Shipyards
- Smelting areas
- Steel mills
Contact with asbestos in any of these settings could lead to an asbestos disease. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. However, prolonged exposure in concentrated amounts can pose an increased health risk.
Metal Workers and At-Risk Trades
Many different professionals in the metalworking industry may have been exposed to asbestos. The means of exposure may have varied according to job duties.
Many other metal workers may have come into contact with asbestos. For example:
- Metal lathers could face exposure from sanding and smoothing plaster or asbestos cement.
- Machinists could face exposure from working with asbestos insulation and paper to wrap electrical wires and steam pipes.
- Welders could face exposure from asbestos-containing welding rods used to join metals together.
Any person present while asbestos particles were airborne risked exposure. Fibers tended to come loose when employees were grinding, drilling or sanding materials for use.
At-risk trades in the metalworking industry include:
- Assemblers and fabricators
- Blacksmiths
- Boilermakers
- Engineers
- Industrial workers
- Insulators
- Ironworkers
- Machinists
- Metal machine workers
- Pipefitters
- Sheet metal workers
- Shipyard workers
- Smelters
- Solderers
- Tool and die makers
- Welders
Professionals were not the only ones at risk of asbestos exposure. Family members may also have come into contact with the material. Workers may have accidentally brought home fibers on their clothing and belongings, potentially exposing loved ones to asbestos. This is called secondary asbestos exposure. Just as with direct contact, it can lead to asbestos diseases.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Mesothelioma Risk
Mesothelioma Risk for Metal Workers
Workers exposed to asbestos often have an increased risk for lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. Several studies have connected asbestos exposure in the metalworking industry to asbestos diseases.
For example, a 2017 study of nearly 13,000 welders found elevated risks for:
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma cancer
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) and the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) also researched metal workers and their mesothelioma risk. In this study, researchers found sheet metal workers are also at high risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestosis. The risk was especially elevated for workers employed before asbestos regulations were enacted.
Several U.S. government agencies enacted legislation in the 1980s to prevent further asbestos exposure. The main governing bodies for asbestos regulations are:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Despite these asbestos regulations, individuals working with older products or in older buildings may still be at risk of exposure.
03. Compensation
Compensation for Metal Workers With Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos-exposed individuals may be eligible to seek compensation if they develop an asbestos disease. Asbestos attorneys can help individuals understand their legal options and gather evidence. For instance, they may be able to bring legal action against asbestos companies.
In 2003, U.S. Steel avoided paying a $250 million jury verdict through a post-trial settlement agreement with a longtime employee. The man had worked in one of the company’s mills for more than 30 years. His duties there exposed him to asbestos, and he later developed mesothelioma. The settlement amount was not disclosed.
There are also other options for compensation. Besides an out-of-court settlement, cases may also end in a lawsuit verdict. Individuals may also be eligible for an asbestos trust fund claim or workers’ compensation.
Victims can use compensation from lawsuit verdicts and settlements to help with treatment costs. It can also cover other expenses and lost income.
Lawyers at an experienced mesothelioma law firm can help individuals decide which option is best for their situation.
04. Common Questions
Common Questions About Asbestos and Metal Workers
-
Can asbestos be found in metal?
- Asbestos is a mineral found in deposits underground. Metals themselves are not thought to present exposure risks. However, some companies have sprayed the mineral on metal to provide fireproofing. This asbestos coating was often used on steel beams during construction. One example of this use was the World Trade Center.
-
Are welders at risk for mesothelioma?
- Welders may have an increased risk for mesothelioma according to some research. Welders often work with high heat and must use equipment to protect themselves. This may include asbestos products like welding aprons, blankets and gloves. The welding rods they used also had an asbestos coating to keep them from catching fire.
