Oil Refinery Workers and Asbestos Exposure

Prior to the 1980s, oil refineries and petrochemical facilities were filled with asbestos-containing materials and equipment that needed to withstand the demands of petroleum processing. Workers in these facilities were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis, increasing their risks of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

If you or someone you love developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related health condition, past employment as an oil refinery worker may provide grounds to seek compensation for your losses.

SWMW Law is a nationally recognized plaintiffs practice that has cultivated a reputation for fighting on behalf of asbestos exposure victims across the country. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for workers in refineries, chemical plants, and other at-risk occupations and have prevailed in high stakes claims against some of the nation’s largest corporations and insurance carriers. If you have a potential case, we have the experience and resources to help. 

SWMW Law serves oil refinery workers and families nationwide. To request a free consultation, call (855) 744-1922 or contact us online.

How Refinery Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

Workers in oil refineries are tasked with important jobs related to processing and refining petroleum (crude oil) into useful products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, heating oil, plastics, and more. Naturally, this type of work came with risks, including the prominent risk of fires and explosions. However, refinery workers of the 20^th century were largely unaware of another deadly hazard: exposure to asbestos. 

Prior to the federal government’s crackdown on asbestos in the 1980s, refineries and other petrochemical facilities relied heavily on asbestos because of its ability to resist extreme temperatures and reduce risks of fires and explosions involving petroleum and highly combustible byproducts. 

As such, refinery workers who were employed at nearly any point in the 20^th century were exposed to asbestos through a variety of products and equipment. This includes asbestos that was riddled throughout industrial equipment, as the mineral was once an essential means for providing insulation. Workers in refineries encountered asbestos insulation in boilers, furnaces, ovens, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, and reactors, as well as in and around the elaborate piping systems which typically transported hot fluids and steam between chemical processing units, distillations columns, and other refinery equipment. 

Asbestos was also prevalent in a variety of components that were regularly handled, repaired, and replaced by workers, including gaskets, sealants, valves, and sheets. Exposure risks were elevated when these materials broke, degraded, or were otherwise damaged by the immense demands of petroleum processing, as the repairs necessary to fix them often resulted in the release of asbestos fibers that could then be inhaled or ingested by workers. 

Apart from asbestos found in refinery equipment, piping, and machinery components, another major source of exposure came from the building materials used to construct refineries. As industrial facilities with unique demands, oil refineries and other petrochemical processing plants were filled with asbestos-containing building materials. Workers encountered asbestos contained in everything from the floors they walked on to the ceilings, walls, plumbing, piping, and heat-resistant paneling all around them. When these materials were damaged or when repairs involving cutting, sawing, sanding, or grinding were required, harmful asbestos fibers would be released throughout the worksite. 

Asbestos was also commonly used in safety equipment intended to protect workers from heat, fire, and corrosive substances. This includes gloves, aprons, fire jackets, aluminized safety suits, and other protective gear. While these products may have protected workers from immediate hazards, they contributed to their asbestos exposure and risk of developing asbestos-related diseases years down the line. 

Given the widespread use of asbestos in oil refineries, workers in a number of trades and support industries were exposed to asbestos found in these facilities. Some examples include:

• Insulators
• Operators and Engineers
• Boilermakers
• Maintenance workers
• Millwrights
• Mechanics and Machinists
• Steamfitters 
• Pipefitters and Plumbers
• Welders
• Electricians
• Construction workers