Peak Usage
1940-1990
Category
Industrial
Industries
3
About Welding Blankets
Welding Blankets was one of many products that contained asbestos during the 20th century. Welders wrapped hot metal in asbestos blankets daily. The heat released fibers into the air.. Manufacturers added asbestos to these products for its heat resistance, durability, and insulating properties.
Workers who manufactured, installed, maintained, or removed welding blankets were at significant risk of asbestos exposure. When these materials were cut, drilled, sanded, or disturbed, microscopic asbestos fibers became airborne and could be inhaled.
Who Was Exposed?
Several occupations faced elevated exposure risks from welding blankets:
Industries Affected
Welding Blankets was commonly used in these industries:
Asbestos Exposure Timeline
Understanding when asbestos was used in welding blankets helps establish exposure history:
- 1930s-1940s: Asbestos use began expanding in building materials and industrial products
- 1950s-1970s: Peak usage period when most asbestos-containing products were manufactured
- 1970s-1980s: Regulations began limiting asbestos use as health risks became public
- 1989: EPA attempted to ban most asbestos products (later overturned in court)
- Today: Legacy asbestos remains in millions of buildings built before 1980
Health Risks
Exposure to asbestos fibers from welding blankets can cause:
- Mesothelioma — Aggressive cancer of the lung lining, heart lining, or abdominal lining
- Lung cancer — Risk increases significantly with combined asbestos and smoking exposure
- Asbestosis — Chronic scarring of lung tissue from fiber accumulation
- Pleural plaques — Calcified areas on lung lining indicating exposure
Symptoms may not appear until 20-50 years after initial exposure, making early detection difficult.
Companies That Made This Product
Multiple manufacturers produced asbestos-containing welding blankets throughout the 20th century. Many of these companies have been sued by mesothelioma victims and have established bankruptcy trusts to compensate claimants.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help identify which manufacturers made the specific products you were exposed to and determine available compensation sources.
Browse asbestos companies →Compensation Options
If you were exposed to asbestos through welding blankets and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for compensation through:
- Asbestos trust funds — Established by bankrupt manufacturers to pay victims
- Personal injury lawsuits — Claims against companies still in business
- VA benefits — For veterans exposed during military service
- Workers' compensation — Through state programs for occupational exposure