Asbestos and Plumbers

Asbestos and plumbers is a dangerous combination that put many workers at a high risk of developing an asbestos-related illness, such as mesothelioma. Although asbestos use is much less today, plumbers still work around older, asbestos-containing pipes made when asbestos was used heavily used in both residential and commercial products.

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.

About Plumbers and 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 throughout the late 1970s, asbestos was frequently used to insulate boilers, pipes, water tanks, and other products that plumbers often work with and around.

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.

Asbestos fibers are tiny, colorless, odorless, and microscopic. Plumbers can easily ingest or inhale tiny asbestos fibers without knowing.

The pumps and valves used to circulate water and give it pressure are frequently worked on by plumbers.

Even though these products are no longer made with asbestos, older pipes and valves are still in use today. Over time, the pipes can wear down, break apart, and release asbestos fibers.

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 and Asbestos

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. In turn, 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.

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.

Larry Stewart

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.

Stewart was also required to use the same asbestos-containing joint compounds during his own projects.

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.

Work with a mesothelioma lawyer or asbestos law firm if you worked as a plumber and now have an asbestos illness.

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 to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.