Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
This is a summary of occupations and how they relate to asbestos exposure. Please follow the associated link, to see more detail for any one of these occupations. If you wish to see actual statisitcs in regards to mesothelioma and occupations, it can be found in the mortality data section by industry and occupation for the United States. If you are a navy veteran, please see our veterans section under asbestos in the United States section.
Listing
Auto Mechanics – brake pads and clutches contained asbestos
Boiler makers – asbestos insulation was wrapped around the boilers
Bricklayers – certain bricks, most notably firebricks, contained asbestos
Building Inspectors – regular exposure to construction sites containing asbestos
Carpenters – flooring, roofing, insulation, and joint compound contained asbestos
Construction Workers – Various hazards in jobsite relating to asbestos.
Drywallers – joint compound contained asbestos
Electricians - electrical wiring coverings contained asbestos and were required to cut insulation to do work
Furnace Workers - insulating firebrick and gunnite contained asbestos
Glazers – glazing equipment contained asbestos material
Grinders – grinding equipment contained asbestos material
Insulators – virtually all insulation products contained asbestos
Iron workers– insulating firebrick and gunnite contained asbestos
Laborers – performed same work as tradesman exposed to asbestos
Longshoremen – insulation of ships’ boilers contained asbestos
Maintenance workers – job sites contained asbestos
Merchant marines – insulation of ships’ boilers contained asbestos
Millwrights – various trades performed by millwright exposed them to asbestos
Miners - working in old iron-ore mines exposed them to asbestos.
Operating Engineers– insulation of pipes contained asbestos
Painters– painted in areas containing asbestos products
Plasterers – joint compound contained asbestos
Plumbers – pipes were insulated with asbestos material
Roofers – roofing tiles contained asbestos
Sand blasters– blasted metals containing asbestos products and in areas containing asbestos products
Ship Building and Repairing - hazards found in older ships and the Hampton Roads area asbestos exposure
Sheet Metal Workers - exposed to asbestos through working in manufacturing plants
Steam or pipe fitters – insulation of boilers and furnaces contained asbestos
Tile setters – tiles contained asbestos
U.S. Navy veterans – boilers were insulated with asbestos material
Welders – welded through or cut pipes wrapped with asbestos material