Plumbers are at risk of asbestos exposure and for developing an asbestos-related illness, such as mesothelioma. Although asbestos use is much less today, plumbers still work around older, asbestos-containing pipes. Plumbers with asbestos illnesses may be eligible for compensation through lawsuits and asbestos trust funds.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
How Plumbers Are at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Plumbers are responsible for many duties, including maintaining, repairing, and installing pipes and related fixtures used for waste disposal and water distribution.
Plumbers work in both commercial buildings and residential homes and sometimes work as part of a construction crew or work for a company responsible for repairing pre-existing plumbing problems.
Before the early 1980s, especially between the 1940s and the late 1970s, asbestos often insulated boilers, pipes, water tanks, and other products that plumbers work with.
Items needed for plumbers to perform their jobs correctly were once made with asbestos, including tools, cement, valves, gaskets, welding rods, and more.
Plumbers sand down, cut, remove, install, and repair asbestos-containing products to make pipes and other materials work correctly. These actions can release asbestos fibers into the air. Airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled, resulting in damage and later illnesses in some people.
Are Plumbers Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
Yes, plumbers are still at risk for asbestos exposure on the job. Asbestos is no longer used in construction but lingers in older buildings and materials.
When plumbers work in older buildings, they may encounter old insulation, asbestos cement, and other products with asbestos. They can be exposed when cutting into, sanding, or otherwise manipulating old asbestos pipes and other materials.
Old asbestos pipes and asbestos-insulated pipes pose the biggest exposure risk to plumbers. They cut into these pipes, which spreads asbestos fibers into the air. Without adequate protective gear, exposure is certain.
Asbestos Products Used By Plumbers
Even though these products are no longer made with asbestos, older pipes and valves are still used today. Over time, the pipes can wear down, break apart, and release asbestos fibers.
These are some of the common products made with asbestos that plumbers once handled regularly and may still encounter on jobs today:
- Insulation. Asbestos was once common in all types of insulation, including lagging, insulation that wraps around pipes carrying hot water or steam. Asbestos insulation was also found in boilers, ducts, and hot water tanks.
- Cement. Asbestos cement was also common in construction and was used to make many products, including pipes. When plumbers cut into old asbestos cement pipes, they risk exposure.
- Heat Shields. Water heaters and tanks often had asbestos heat shields around them to protect against heat exposure. Today, old heat shields can put plumbers at risk of exposure when they need to remove or replace them.
- Gaskets, Valves, and Pumps. Smaller pieces of equipment that go into plumbing systems can pose a risk to plumbers. Pumps, gaskets, valves, seals, and packing materials were often made with asbestos in the past.
- Joint Compound. Plumbers in the past often used joint compound that contained asbestos. Asbestos was used in these materials to resist heat and to add strength.
Manufacturers of Asbestos-Containing Plumbing Materials and Parts
Several manufacturers supplied asbestos-containing products to plumbing and construction companies.
These manufacturers are generally responsible when plumbers develop an asbestos illness. Some of the manufacturers that supplied asbestos to plumbing and construction companies include:
- Celotex Corporation
- Certainteed Products Corporation
- Eagle-Picher Industrie
- Garlock, Inc.
- GAF Corporation
- Gypsum
- Keene Corporation
- John Crane
- The Flintkote Company
- Union Carbide
Studies on Plumbers, Asbestos, and Mesothelioma Risk
According to a 2007 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The Annals of Occupational Hygiene (AOH), plumbers run a high risk of asbestos exposure while working and even after working, as asbestos fibers tend to stick to the hair, skin, and clothing.
The study indicates that maintenance workers, including plumbers, are exposed to amphibole asbestos more often than other types of asbestos.
Amphibole asbestos was once considered highly valuable for commercial use. This type of asbestos was used on parts and products that plumbers regularly come into contact with.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that amphibole asbestos poses a higher risk of developing cancer when compared to other forms of the mineral.
During the study, samples obtained confirmed that at least 68% of the workers involved in the research were exposed to significantly high asbestos levels.
Studies from Europe have also linked plumbers with higher rates of asbestos exposure and illness. One study found high rates of asbestosis in British plumbers. Another found an increased risk of mesothelioma in 24 different occupations in Sweden, with plumbers topping the list.
Asbestos Lawsuits and Plumbers
Many plumbers filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the manufacturers that supplied asbestos to their job sites after developing the disease. The majority of plumbers who filed lawsuits have been successful in winning their cases.
$7 Million for Mesothelioma
Larry Stewart, who worked as a plumber from the late 1960s until he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2007, filed against Union Carbide and won over $7 million in economic and non-economic damages.
Stewart was responsible for grand-scale commercial and residential projects, which brought him into contact with drywallers. Drywallers once used asbestos-containing joint compounds while working, and Stewart’s lawyer successfully proved that, on many occasions, Stewart breathed in asbestos fibers for long periods.
The joint compounds were manufactured by Hamilton Materials but obtained by Union Carbide, a company that mined asbestos in Coalinga, California, and sold the asbestos as “Calidria.”
During the lawsuit, Stewart’s asbestos attorney showed proof that Union Carbide knew beforehand how dangerous asbestos is yet made no attempt to warn people who worked with or around their asbestos-containing products.
$8.45 Million for Mesothelioma Death
Robert Swanson died from mesothelioma after working as a plumber and a pipefitter. His career led him to be exposed to asbestos repeatedly.
Swanson’s family sued suppliers of asbestos products he used or was in contact with on his job sites. These included boilers, rope, cement, and gaskets made by Weil-McLain. The case went to trial, and a jury awarded the family $8.45 million for wrongful death.
What to Do if You Worked With Asbestos as a Plumber
If you worked as a plumber before the 1980s, you were at high risk for asbestos exposure. Even later, plumbers risked exposure to older asbestos products. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and screenings for cancer and asbestos illnesses.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help if you get a diagnosis of an asbestos illness like mesothelioma or lung cancer. They can review your work history and find companies responsible for exposing you to asbestos.
You might be eligible to file a lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim to seek compensation. An experienced asbestos attorney will explain your options and help you take the next steps.
Help and Resources for Plumbers
If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
