Insulator Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure Lawyers

For most of the 20^th century, nearly all insulation products contained asbestos due to its heat-resistant and fireproofing qualities. This put insulators at an especially high risk of exposure to asbestos and later developing asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma.

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

Our Case Results: Insulators

• $7 million settlement: Union insulator, mesothelioma (MO, IL)
• $1.2 million settlement: Union insulator, lung cancer (TX)
• $750k settlement: Insulator and pipefitter, lung cancer (IL, TX)

SWMW Law proudly serves insulators across the country. Call (855) 744-1922 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

How Insulators Were Exposed to Asbestos

Insulators were tasked with measuring, cutting, installing, sealing, and replacing insulation across a vast range of industries and in many types of jobsites.  Just a few examples include industrial manufacturing facilities, steel mills, refineries, chemical plants, powerhouses, US Naval ships and maritime vessels, government and municipal buildings, construction and building sites, and even residential buildings.   

Until the 1970’s, nearly all insulation products contained asbestos because it was an effective way to provide heatproofing and fireproofing, but all the while putting countless insulators at risk of exposure. 

Any time asbestos insulation was manipulated or disturbed, it risked releasing millions of toxic asbestos fibers into the air. Cutting was especially disruptive to the material, and asbestos insulation usually needed to be cut to size to fit pipes, boilers, turbines, furnaces, pumps, or valves before being sealed with asbestos gaskets and packing.

Whether thermal pipe, block, cement, spray-on, loose-fill, foam, or millboard insulation, asbestos commonly appeared in insulation used in structures constructed in earlier decades. At one time, insulators were called “asbestos workers” because of how closely linked asbestos was to insulation materials. 

In addition to all these hazards, insulation was often installed in small, enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces like boiler rooms, below deck in naval ships, and even in confined residential spaces. Without proper ventilation or protective garments, insulators who worked in these tight spaces were at an even higher risk for inhaling higher quantities of asbestos.  

Tragically, most insulators 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 Insulators

Insulators 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 insulators.

Insulation

• Thermal Pipe
• Thermal Block
• Insulating and Refractory Cement 
• Spray-on
• Loose-fill
• Foam
• Millboard

Mechanical Products and Equipment

• Boilers
• Compressors
• Furnaces
• Tanks
• Vessels
• Turbines
• Pumps
• Valves
• Gaskets
• Packing
• Firebrick
• Steam Pipes
• Chemical Pipes

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. 

Studies Show Increased Risks of Mesothelioma, Asbestos-Related Disease Among Insulators

Decades of research have confirmed the link between insulation work and the development of serious chronic health conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Some examples include:

• A 2013 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine that analyzed over 2,300 long-term North American insulators found asbestosis in 61% of workers and increased risks of lung cancer. The study’s finding of a 5.2% lung cancer mortality rate among insulators who never smoked was the largest number of lung cancer deaths among nonsmoking, asbestos-exposed workers ever reported. 
• A 1988 study published in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine found that among several thousand asbestos insulation workers in the U.S. and Canada who died between 1967 and 1984, mesothelioma was the cause of death in nearly 10% of cases. In the general population, mesothelioma causes just 0.01%-0.07% of all deaths. 
• A 1968 study which found a significant connection between occupational asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking among nearly 400 insulators in the New York City metro area. Researchers at the time estimated that insulators with a history of both smoking and asbestos exposure had a 90% increased risk of dying from lung cancer compared to individuals who never smoked and were never exposed to asbestos in the workplace.