In this line of work, you had to frequently use a hammer in order to file the rough areas of these products, a process that made the asbestos fibers spread into the atmosphere. Applying insulation materials posed another threat to the lives of these workers as asbestos was heavily used at that time for its fire-resistant characteristics.
Another risk of asbestos exposure came from using a rope made from a mixture containing this poisonous mineral as a gasket for the boiler’s door. This entailed cutting up the rope and exposing the asbestos fibers, raising exponentially the risk of the worker inhaling them.
People that worked for an extended period of time as boilermakers find out in their later years that the exposure to asbestos fibers led to the degradation of their health. Because of their long incubation period, diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis are usually diagnosed after 30 or even 40 years, when the probability of finding a cure is extremely low.
Boilermakes were also present in the military, being responsible for manufacturing boilers which were subsequently installed on ships and submarines. They served mostly in the U.S. Navy. Because numerous boiler components, such as the pipes and the insulation, contained asbestos, exposure was inevitable, which now places veterans who served under this rating at high risk of developing a serious disease such as lung cancer or asbestosis.
Relevant job titles
- boilermaker helper
- boiler repairman
- boilermaker supervisor
- boiler and pressure vessel inspector
- boiler mechanic
- boiler technician
- bolt up fitter
Asbestos-related cancer eligible for filing a claim
If you developed one of the following cancers as a result of occupational exposure, you are eligible for compensation. If you are too ill, a family member can help you with the legal process. In the unfortunate event that you pass away before recovering compensation, your surviving family members will receive compensation on your behalf.
If, however, you struggle with non-cancerous pleural diseases such as asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening, COPD (emphysema & chronic bronchitis), pleurisy, lung nodules, lung spots, asthma, pneumonitis, tuberculosis, rounded atelectasis or lung scarring, please seek a second or even a third opinion as the rate of misdiagnosis is very high among the victims of asbestos exposure.
Companies that exposed boilermakers to asbestos
- GAF Corporation
- Combustion Engineering
- Babcock & Wilcox Company
- Plibrico Jointless Firebrick Co.
- Rust International Inc.
- Weirton Steel
- U.S. Steel
- Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)
Atlanta, Georgia - Georgia
- Miura America Co, Limited
- Hurst Boiler & Welding Co, Inc.
Buffalo, New York - New York
- Oldman Boiler Works
Dallas, Texas - Texas
- Holman Boiler Works, Inc.
- Superior Boiler & Welding Co Inc.
- Bailey Boiler Works, Inc.
Ferrysburg, Michigan - Michigan
- Johnston Boiler Company
Fremont, California - California
- Nationwide Boiler
Kapolei, Hawaii - Hawaii
- Lattner Boiler Company
Omaha, Nebraska - Nebraska
- American Boiler Company
Palmer, Massachusetts - Massachusetts
- Bay State Boiler Inc.
Satsuma, Alabama - Alabama
- Mitternight Inc.
- ADCO Boiler Company
Seattle, Washington - Washington
- Fraser's Boiler Service Inc.
- Seattle Boiler Works
Labor union members are also eligible
Asbestos products handled by boilermakers
Similarly to boiler workers, employees who were in charge of assembling these devices face a serious risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma. Boilermakers would apply asbestos-containing insulation over the vessel and its pipes, file, and hammer the edges, as well as use rope, made with asbestos fibers as gaskets. The workspace would often be poorly ventilated, which only increased the extent of exposure. Raw asbestos was also employed in some instances.