Pipefitters, Plumbers, and Asbestos Exposure

Plumbers are particularly vulnerable to the hazardous effects of asbestos, a dangerous substance that can cause serious health issues such as mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos can come from many sources, including but not limited to asphaltic cement pipes, pipe wrap insulation, and joint compounds. Plumbers and pipefitters are more likely to work with these materials than workers in other professions and thus put themselves at greater risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. Long-term exposure is linked with the highest probability of developing mesothelioma, but even brief contact with asbestos can be enough to trigger an adverse reaction in some cases.

You may be entitled to compensation if you are a plumber or pipefitter who developed mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. Contact us online or call (855) 744-1922 to start exploring your legal options today.

How Are Plumbers & Pipefitters Exposed to Asbestos?

Asbestos was historically employed in the construction of a variety of structures due to its fireproofing and thermal insulation properties. It could often be found lining pipes, boilers, ducts, tanks, or even used as an additive in cement. When plumbers carried out routine activities such as sawing, sanding, and cutting the asbestos-wrapped insulation material, drilling into asbestos-containing products, and joining pipes or sanding block insulation, microscopic fibers would be released into the air around them. 

Plumbers and pipefitters are often tasked with cutting and drilling pipes to specified lengths and sizes for various locations in a home or other structure. Unfortunately, when asbestos-laden pipes are disturbed, dangerous fibers can be released. These particles, when inhaled, can accumulate in the lungs and cause inflammation, scarring, and ultimately mesothelioma cancer and other serious diseases.

Plumbers are also at risk of being exposed to asbestos when they work with pumps, valves, and gaskets that may contain the substance. In order to maintain pressurization and flow of liquids, these components need to be installed and secured with gaskets. Over time, the components can become worn out and need to be changed. During this process, the asbestos fibers present in these products can easily be inhaled by the professionals handling them. Even if only a small amount is inhaled, the damage caused by its presence can take years before manifesting itself in various diseases.

Asbestos Products Associated with Plumbing and Pipefitting

In the United States, plumbing and pipefitting tasks often require the use and repair of asbestos-containing products, as this dangerous substance was widely used in many components during the mid-20th century - primarily between the 1940s and 1970s. It is thus still commonly found in household parts, pipes, boilers, insulation materials, and other components of plumbing systems. Plumbers performing maintenance on these older components can be at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers if they are not properly protected from the harmful material.

Some examples of asbestos-containing materials that plumbers and pipefitters could encounter include: