Overview
Ironworkers, tradespeople who erect structural steel, install reinforcing bars, and work on metal construction, faced significant asbestos exposure from fireproofing materials, welding products, and structural insulation. Asbestos spray-on fireproofing was standard for protecting steel structures from fire.
Asbestos in Ironwork
| Product | Application | Exposure Level |
|---|---|---|
| Spray-on fireproofing | Structural steel protection | Very High |
| Welding blankets | Fire protection during welding | High |
| Fireproof coatings | Steel beam protection | High |
| Deck insulation | Metal deck assemblies | Moderate |
How Ironworkers Were Exposed
Fireproofing Exposure
Asbestos spray-on fireproofing was applied to structural steel:
- Ironworkers worked while fireproofing was being applied nearby
- Overspray contaminated entire work areas
- Fibers remained airborne in enclosed buildings
- Touch-up work disturbed dried fireproofing
Welding Operations
Ironworkers performed extensive welding:
- Used asbestos welding blankets for fire protection
- Cut through steel with asbestos coatings
- Worked with asbestos heat shields
Even ironworkers who didn’t directly handle asbestos products were heavily exposed when spray fireproofing was being applied to steel structures they were erecting.
Work Environments
Ironworkers faced exposure on high-rise office buildings and hotels, in industrial factories and power plants, in shipyards erecting ship structural work, on bridges and infrastructure projects, and during renovation and demolition. Between 1940 and 1980, crews erecting commercial high-rises in New York, Illinois, and California worked directly underneath spray crews applying W.R. Grace Monokote fireproofing, which coated every incoming beam with asbestos.
Related Occupations
Ironworkers worked alongside:
- Welders, Structural welding
- Carpenters, Building construction
- Laborers, General assistance
- Operating engineers, Equipment operation
- Boilermakers, Industrial structures
Related Industries
Health Consequences
Ironworkers face elevated risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest or abdominal lining; asbestosis, a progressive scarring of the lungs; lung cancer, with risk multiplied among smokers; and pleural disease that thickens the lining around the lungs.
Legal Options
Ironworkers diagnosed with mesothelioma typically pursue several tracks in parallel. Fireproofing and building-material manufacturers including W.R. Grace and Johns Manville established asbestos trust funds through bankruptcy reorganization. Trust claims often run alongside product-liability suits against solvent fireproofing manufacturers, premises-liability claims against building owners, general-contractor liability claims against prime contractors, and workers’ compensation through a former employer.