By cutting for fitting, a great deal of dust was generated, meaning that the workers were at risk of inhaling the dangerous dust containing the asbestos fibers.
In these men and women, asbestos-related cancer could have taken 10 years or more to manifest itself after the initial exposure whereas mesothelioma and asbestosis could take up to 30 or 40 years to begin showing signs and symptoms of the disease.
The equivalent of pipefitters, steamfitters, and plumbers in the military was the rating of utilitiesman. As a military occupation with a high risk of asbestos exposure, utilitiesmen were in charge of installing, maintaining, and repairing plumbing, heating systems, water treatment, refrigeration equipment, and fuel storage. Therefore, exposure to asbestos was tremendous, since this kind of equipment would contain large amounts of the toxic mineral. By disturbing it, asbestos fibers would become airborne and utilitiesmen would subsequently inhale and ingest them, which now places this military occupation among the most dangerous in this respect.
Civilian plumbers were sometimes sent to U.S. Air Force bases and U.S. Army bases to perform plumbing and pipefittings jobs and consequently were exposed to asbestos.
Relevant job titles
- pipefitter
- apprentice fitter
- pipefitter's helper
- pipe assembler
- pipe coverer
- steamfitter
- plumber
- maintenance plumber
- utilitiseman
- refrigeration repairman
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 steamfitters and pipefitters/utilitiesmen to asbestos
- Pittsburgh Corning Corporation
- Fibreboard Company
- United States Gypsum Company
- GAF Corporation
- A.P. Green Industries
- Yarway Corporation
- W.R. Grace
- Flexitallic Gasket Company
- AC & S, Inc.
- Eagle-Picher Industries
- Keene Corporation
- National Gypsum Company
- Flintkote Company
- Combustion Engineering
- ASARCO
- Dresser Industries
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Johns-Manville
- Celotex
- A.W. Chesterton Company
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
- Uniroyal Holding, Inc.
- Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
- Bartells Asbestos
- United States Mineral Products (Isolatek/CAFCO)
- Bell & Gossett Company
- Tyler Pipe Foundry
- Southern Company Services
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Campbell Soup Co.
- Pan American World Airways Inc.
- Occidental Chemical Corporation
- Taylor Forge & Pipe Works
- Danly Machine Corporation
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Continental Steel Corporation
- American Can Company
- Textron Inc.
- American Crane Corporation
- Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co.
- Wheelabrator Frye Inc.
- J.P. Stevens & Company
- Potlatch Paper Mill
- Weirton Steel
- U.S. Steel
Labor union members are also eligible
Asbestos products handled by steamfitters and pipefitters/utilitiesmen
For pipefitters/utilitiesmen, the exposure would have occurred when they were cutting and sanding down products such as asbestos paper, block insulation and fillers, while plumbers were also required to saw, drill through and join asbestos-containing products like pipes and insulation. Boilers, tanks, and ducts would also be laden with asbestos to ensure fire protection. Steamfitters would often come in contact with pumps, valves, and gaskets containing asbestos as well. The older the product was, the higher were the chances of exposure.