Overview
Welders faced asbestos exposure through welding products containing asbestos and from working in environments where asbestos was pervasive. Working in shipyards, power plants, and industrial facilities, welders regularly encountered asbestos insulation and protective materials.
Asbestos in Welding Products
| Product | Application | Exposure Level |
|---|---|---|
| Welding blankets | Fire protection | High |
| Electrode coatings | Flux stabilization | Moderate |
| Heat shields | Worker protection | Moderate |
| Protective gloves | Hand protection | Moderate |
| Welding curtains | Spark containment | Low-Moderate |
How Welders Were Exposed
Direct Product Exposure
Welders used asbestos products daily:
- Positioning asbestos blankets to contain sparks
- Wearing asbestos gloves for hand protection
- Working behind asbestos welding curtains
- Handling electrodes with asbestos-containing coatings
Environmental Exposure
Welding work often required disturbing asbestos materials:
- Cutting through insulated pipes and equipment
- Welding structural steel near spray-on insulation
- Repairing vessels and tanks with asbestos linings
- Working in shipboard engine rooms and boiler spaces
Welders frequently had to burn or cut through asbestos insulation to access areas for repair. This released extremely high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the immediate breathing zone.
Industries Employing Welders
Welders worked in virtually every industry with asbestos:
- Shipyards: Ship construction and repair
- Power plants: Boiler and piping work
- Oil refineries: Process equipment
- Steel mills: Structural work
- Construction: Structural steel
- Automotive: Manufacturing and repair
Related Occupations
Welders worked alongside:
- Pipefitters — Pipe welding
- Boilermakers — Boiler construction
- Ironworkers — Structural steel
- Sheet metal workers — Metal fabrication
- Shipyard workers — Ship construction
Military Welders
Military welders, particularly in the Navy and at naval shipyards, faced intensive exposure:
Naval welders worked in confined shipboard spaces filled with asbestos. Veterans may qualify for VA disability benefits in addition to other compensation options.
Health Consequences
Welders are at elevated risk for:
- Mesothelioma: Cancer of the chest or abdominal lining
- Asbestosis: Progressive lung scarring
- Lung cancer: Risk multiplied by combined exposures
- Pleural disease: Thickening of lung lining
Legal Options
Welders diagnosed with mesothelioma may pursue:
Asbestos Trust Funds
Manufacturers of welding products containing asbestos have established trusts for compensation claims.
Additional Claims
- Product liability lawsuits: Against welding product manufacturers
- Premises liability: Against facility owners
- VA benefits: For military service exposure
- Workers’ compensation: Through employer coverage
An experienced attorney can help identify all potential sources of compensation based on your specific work history and product exposure.