Asbestos and Construction Workers

Construction workers have high risks of occupational asbestos exposure. Although asbestos isn’t used as heavily in today’s construction industry as it once was, asbestos materials linger in older buildings. Construction workers are still at risk of exposure and asbestos illnesses.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related cancer, you might be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

How Are Construction Workers Exposed to Asbestos?

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Among the many risks are asbestos exposure. Asbestos posed a risk in the past and continues to harm workers in the industry today.

Construction workers are at risk for exposure because asbestos was once used heavily in materials used to construct buildings. This includes residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Asbestos is an efficient insulator and also strengthens materials. It was also, at one time, readily available and inexpensive. It was a material of choice in hundreds of construction products until approximately the 1970s.

Asbestos materials cause exposure when they deteriorate or are disturbed by handling, cutting, or sanding. These activities release tiny asbestos fibers that enter the air as dust. Whether they handle asbestos directly or not, workers in the area can easily inhale the fibers.

Inhaled asbestos fibers cause damage and inflammation to tissues in the body. In some people, this causes illnesses years later, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Construction workers who directly handled asbestos materials, especially those who cut or sanded them, had the highest risks of exposure.

Construction Materials Made with Asbestos

Nearly all materials that went into buildings in the past contained asbestos. Some of the main categories of construction materials made with asbestos include:

• Insulation
• Flooring
• Roofing
• Siding
• Drywall
• Joint compound and packing
• Textured paints
• Furnace and wood-burning stove components
• Products made with vermiculite

Are Construction Workers Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

Most construction materials manufactured and used today are asbestos-free. However, many buildings constructed before the 1980s still contain asbestos materials.

Modern construction workers still face risks of exposure to asbestos in older materials, including insulation, boilers, pipes, electrical conduits and insulation, roofing materials, siding, and vinyl flooring.

Construction workers who work around insulation in older homes and buildings have some of the highest risks of developing an asbestos-related disease. Removing and cutting into asbestos insulation releases a lot of fibers.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these construction materials might still contain asbestos if installed before 1981:

• Caulk
• Ceiling tiles
• Cement
• Heat-resistant textiles
• Industrial pipe wrapping
• Plaster
• Roofing
• Siding
• Spray-on coatings
• Thermal system insulation

Companies That Made Asbestos Construction Materials

Many different companies manufactured construction materials with asbestos. These are just some of the largest companies that made and distributed asbestos construction products:

• Bestwall Gypsum
• C.E. Thurston & Sons
• Celotex
• Congoleum Corporation
• Flintkote Company
• Johns Manville
• Kentile Floors
• National Gypsum
• Owens Corning
• Synkoloid
• W.R. Grace

Studies Show Link Between Asbestos and Illness in Construction Workers

According to a 2004 study published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, an estimated 1.3 million construction workers in the U.S. are still at risk for asbestos exposure.

Another study was conducted in Italy but illustrates how at-risk construction workers are for asbestos exposure. Researchers looked at the Italian disease registry to analyze exposure and asbestos illnesses.

They found that among 17,191 mesothelioma cases with known asbestos exposure, 3,574 were people who worked in construction. The number of affected workers in construction increased from the 1990s to the 2000s, indicating more people are being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

A study of construction workers in North Carolina looked at the cause of death for those who passed away between 1988 and 1994. The results indicated that they had higher cancer rates than other groups of workers, including higher incidences of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Another U.S. study investigated mesothelioma diagnoses and asbestos fibers in the lung tissue of thousands of workers. Out of 952 cases of mesothelioma, 251 of the workers were in the construction industry. Construction workers had high amounts of asbestos fibers in their lungs.

Types of Construction Workers at Greatest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

With asbestos materials lingering in older industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, thousands of workers are still at risk of exposure to asbestos.

According to studies, workers in the following occupations face risks of asbestos exposure and developing an asbestos-related disease.

Insulators

Workers who handle insulation materials have high risks of asbestos exposure. Asbestos insulation was used in all kinds of buildings, especially around pipes in industrial settings.

Workers who cut, remove, or repair old insulation face high risks of exposure. Their work is likely to cause asbestos fibers to come free from insulation, contaminating the air in the workspace.

Drywall Workers

While cutting and shaping drywall panels, drywall workers risk ingesting asbestos fibers that come loose. In addition, sanding down taping compounds results in high amounts of asbestos fibers releasing and permeating the air.

Today, drywall workers aren’t at risk when working on newer structures, but any home or building built before the 1980s may contain asbestos.

Roofers and Tilers 

Roofers and tilers who work on asbestos-containing shingles and tiles are exposed to asbestos fibers each time a tile or shingle is removed or repaired.

In the past, numerous roof and floor products were constructed with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Bricklayers

Bricklayers and masons once mixed asbestos into other materials to do their jobs. They may have cut into or ground down materials, which put them at risk for additional asbestos exposure.

Although bricklayers and masons today hardly ever use asbestos-containing products, thousands of people were previously exposed to asbestos daily.

Pipefitters

Pipefitters were responsible for sanding down and cutting products that contained asbestos, in addition to installing and fitting the pipes correctly.

Gaskets once contained asbestos, and some pipefitters are responsible for sanding them down to fit.

Pipefitters can be exposed to various asbestos-containing products while working, including Aircell asbestos paper, silica mixed with asbestos, laminated sponge felts, and joint compounds.

Other construction-type occupations at risk of asbestos exposure include:

• Carpenters
• Home renovators
• Plumbers
• Wrecking crews
• Demolition crews
• Labor helpers
• Painters
• Plasterers
• Plumbers

Protecting Construction Workers from Asbestos

Because construction workers still face high risks of asbestos exposure, it is essential to be aware of protective measures. OSHA regulates workplace safety, including issues related to asbestos exposure. Some of the asbestos safety protections OSHA ensures for workers include:

• Asbestos exposure limits cannot exceed 0.1 fibers per square centimeter of air.
• Employers must share information with workers regarding asbestos risks and clearly label areas in the workplace that contain asbestos.
• Employers must monitor workplaces regularly for asbestos and damaged asbestos materials as well as air levels.
• Workers must be provided with safety training and protective gear when working around asbestos.
• If exposed to asbestos, workers must be given medical surveillance benefits.

Construction Workers and Asbestos Lawsuits

Many construction workers filed mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos suppliers and manufacturers after developing asbestos illnesses.

For example, in 2012, John Doherty, a New York resident who worked as an acoustical construction worker and a carpenter, filed an asbestos lawsuit after spending years working around asbestos at the World Trade Center.

For around 15 years, Doherty shaped, cut, and installed asbestos sheetrock and tiles in both towers.

Doherty developed asbestos-related lung cancer due to working around asbestos products for numerous years during the 1960s and early 1970s. He was employed by the Port of New York Authority but did contract work for construction companies.

Doherty sued Tishman Realty and Construction Co., claiming that the site manager knew workers were being exposed to asbestos yet didn’t provide any protection or advise them of asbestos exposure.

The Supreme Court upheld Doherty’s case and ruled in his favor. Unfortunately, the former contractor passed away due to complications with his disease.

Seeking Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in the Construction Industry

If you worked in construction and now have an asbestos disease, let a mesothelioma lawyer guide your next steps. You could be eligible to file a lawsuit against asbestos companies to recover damages.

If the companies responsible for your exposure went bankrupt, you probably qualify to make a claim with an asbestos trust fund to receive compensation.

An experienced asbestos attorney can review your work history and determine which companies could be held liable for your asbestos illness. You likely have multiple options for seeking compensation.

Additional Information and Resources for Construction Workers

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related cancer, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.