Electricians and Asbestos Exposure

For nearly a century, asbestos was used in manufacturing and building materials across many industries because it was inexpensive, lightweight, strong, and heat resistant. Electricians have been at significant risk for asbestos exposure, and this happened frequently when electrical workers removed and displaced thermal insulation on turbines, generators, and boilers; cut, manipulated, and installed insulated cables, wires, conduit, and breaker boxes; and, repaired and maintained electrical motors and switches.

 This exposure led to thousands of electricians being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a devastating and incurable disease caused solely by exposure to asbestos. 

At SWMW Law, our award-winning trial team has fought on behalf of countless steelworkers diagnosed with life-altering illnesses resulting from asbestos exposure on the job. If you or a loved one worked in the steel industry and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we want to help. 

SWMW Law proudly serves construction workers, building trades workers, and families across the country. Call (855) 744-1922 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

How Electricians Were Exposed to Asbestos

Electricians faced asbestos exposure in multiple ways and have one of the highest rates of mesothelioma among all craftsmen and construction trades. Industrial jobsites, such as power plants, refineries, and steel mills; residential and commercial buildings; U.S. Navy and maritime vessels; and municipal buildings, for example, utilized asbestos-insulated turbines, generators, cables, wires, breakers, and boxes in their electrical supply systems.

Felted asbestos insulation is commonly found around older wiring and in breaker boxes. Any wiring installation, maintenance, or repair work risked releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Simply accessing electrical wires or equipment often required cutting or drilling through asbestos-insulated walls. Being present on a worksite during any kind of renovation also contributed to an electrician’s risk of asbestos exposure. 

Industrial and commercial electricians often worked in pipe racks alongside asbestos-insulated pipes, resulting in massive exposures to asbestos. Installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical equipment regularly exposed electricians to asbestos on their clothes and in their lungs. 

Tragically, most electricians were never made aware of the dangers of asbestos or the long-term health consequences of exposure. Many spent their entire careers performing work in, and around, buildings that put their health and livelihoods at risk. 

Sources of Asbestos Exposure for Electricians

Electricians faced risk of asbestos exposure through a variety of asbestos-containing products and materials. A partial list of asbestos-containing products reveals how widespread asbestos use and exposure has been for electricians.

• Turbines
• Cables and Wires
• Electric Boards
• Motors
• Switches
• Bakelite
• Control Panels
• Generators
• Cement Pipe Conduit
• Relays
• Circuit Boards
• Breaker Boxes
• Arc Chutes and Shields
• Boilers 
• Heating Units

At highest risk for first-hand asbestos exposure are those who worked directly with or alongside asbestos-containing materials; however, we know today that there is no safe amount of asbestos exposure. Even the smallest amount of exposure increases the chances of developing asbestos-related diseases.