Industrial Workers and Asbestos Exposure

For much of the 20^th century, asbestos played an important role in industrial settings. It could be found in a variety of industrial products, as well as in machinery, building materials, and protective equipment that needed to resist high temperatures and provide protection against corrosive substances.

As a result, industrial workers in factories and other facilities involved in specialized production were regularly exposed to asbestos. This exposure, especially at industrial levels, greatly increased workers’ risks of developing life-altering diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. 

SWMW Law is a nationally recognized trial practice known for fighting on behalf of victims and families who’ve suffered losses due to occupational asbestos exposure. If you or someone you love were an industrial worker and later contracted mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we can help explore your options for recovering compensation. 

SWMW Law proudly serves industrial workers and families nationwide. Call (855) 744-1922 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

How Industrial Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

As a critical part of our nation’s workforce, industrial workers performed their jobs in factories, plants, and facilities filled with potential hazards, including heat, chemicals, and heavy machinery. However, as we know today, industrial settings posed another major hazard to laborers and trades workers: asbestos.

In fact, asbestos was so prevalent in industrial settings during the 20^th century that industrial workers are now recognized as one of the leading at-risk occupations for asbestos exposure and the development of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. 

Industrial occupations associated with an elevated asbestos exposure risk include:

• Mechanics 
• Millwrights
• Machinists
• Welders
• Textile workers
• Factory workers
• Smelters
• Forepersons
• Assembly line workers 
• Bricklayers
• Chemical plant workers 
• Construction workers
• Line managers 
• Machine operators 
• Maintenance technicians 
• Plant operators 
• Plumbers and pipefitters 
• Production engineers 
• Welders

These and other industrial workers faced pronounced risks of asbestos exposure in the course of their employment – from the materials and machines they used to the buildings they worked in and the personal protective equipment (PPE) they wore. 

Favored for its durability and resistance to heat and corrosion, asbestos was the mineral of choice for insulation. And given the high temperatures and corrosive chemicals used in factories and plants, it was found in a variety of products used by industrial workers, including pipe coverings, gaskets, valves, caulking compounds, refractory cement, plastics, pumps, and more. 

Industrial workers handled these asbestos-containing products regularly, as they were often necessary to the performance of their job duties. Laborers in oil refineries, for example, used asbestos-insulated gaskets to construct piping systems that transported crude oil.  Workers in metalworking factories used asbestos-containing metal molds and casts. Workers in some factories, including those that manufactured building materials and other products in which asbestos was used as an additive, also handled raw asbestos and asbestos products at various points in the production process.

Industrial workers may be exposed to asbestos in the following ways: 

• Installing, repairing, or replacing asbestos-containing materials 
• Maintaining products or equipment that contains asbestos 
• Operating machinery that contains asbestos 
• Using power tools or machinery to cut, drill, score, or grind asbestos-containing materials
• Wearing PPE that contains asbestos-treated materials
• Working in poorly ventilated areas in which asbestos was present 

Another source of asbestos exposure for industrial workers came from the factories and plants in which they worked. These facilities were large environments with special functions and were filled with building materials, specialized machinery, and large-scale plumbing, boilers, and HVAC and piping systems that were riddled with asbestos. As such, the exposure risk was high for mechanics, trades workers, and maintenance workers who operated or serviced these systems, especially if they were required to cut, remove, or otherwise disturb asbestos-containing materials, which releases asbestos fibers into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. Many industrial facilities in the past also lacked adequate ventilation, thereby exacerbating the risks posed by airborne asbestos dust. 

In addition to asbestos-containing products, machinery, and buildings, many industrial workers were also exposed to asbestos found in PPE. This includes gloves, aprons, fireproof pants, and jackets that contained asbestos and asbestos-treated textiles.