Potlatch paper mill employees exposed to asbestos
Paper production is an energy-intensive process that depends on sustained high heat, steam, and pressure across every stage of manufacturing. Throughout much of the twentieth century, asbestos was the material of choice for insulating the boilers, steam lines, dryers, turbines, and processing equipment that kept paper mills running. Its heat resistance and fireproofing properties made it standard across the pulp and paper industry, and Potlatch facilities were no exception.
Potlatch mill workers came into contact with asbestos through the equipment they ran, the systems they serviced, and the buildings around them. Asbestos containing insulation, gaskets and packing materials deteriorated over time or were disturbed during repairs and shutdowns, releasing microscopic fibers into the air that workers inhaled without a clue it was happening.
Among paper mill workers, maintenance employees tend to have faced the greatest asbestos exposure due to the regular repair and replacement of insulation, machinery components, and steam systems containing asbestos. A Swedish study documented higher rates of pleural mesothelioma among former paper mill workers, many of whom had spent their careers in maintenance roles where asbestos equipment was a daily reality.
Potlatch workers in a variety of job classifications could have been exposed to asbestos, including:
- Paper machine operators and pulp mill operators
- Maintenance workers, millwrights, and pipefitters
- Boiler operators, mechanics, and machinists
- Electricians, welders, and insulators
- Engineers, laborers, utility workers, and janitorial personnel
How Potlatch workers were exposed to asbestos
Potlatch paper mill workers were exposed to asbestos during normal operations as well as during scheduled maintenance shutdowns. Steam system repairs, replacement of gaskets and packing, servicing of pumps and valves, and removal of insulation from boilers and dryers all presented a direct risk of exposure. Those helping with mill renovations or cleaning equipment during shutdowns also encountered significant exposure as asbestos-containing materials were disturbed and fibers became airborne.
Beyond maintenance activities, workers throughout the facility were at risk simply by spending years in buildings where asbestos-containing construction materials, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and pipe coverings were present. Asbestos fibers that became airborne during any disturbance could remain suspended in the air for extended periods, reaching workers far from the original source.
Some of the machinery and equipment at Potlatch facilities most likely to have contained asbestos included boilers, steam pipes, digesters, paper dryers, drying machines, turbines, compressors, pumps, tanks, heat exchangers, valves, and electrical switchgear.