Get in Touch
Have questions? Call or chat with our Patient Advocates for answers.
Engineers work on diverse projects, from shipyards and Navy ships to buildings and large-scale construction sites. During their work they may encounter many asbestos products, including insulation, cement, ceiling tiles and sheets, increasing their risk of developing mesothelioma.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: June 20, 2023
Engineers find solutions to technical problems with the application of scientific and mathematical principles. They are employed in diverse fields that historically used different types of asbestos products, including construction, industrial and marine sectors, oil and gas, power generation and chemical production. Asbestos was used in these fields because of its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical corrosion.
There are hundreds of asbestos products engineers may have been exposed to throughout their careers because engineers work in a variety of fields that used asbestos for many different purposes.
Most engineers in the U.S. today don’t encounter asbestos as often as they did in the past, but some engineers remain at risk. Industrial and chemical engineers work in facilities that may still contain old asbestos products. Environmental and mining engineers who work on job sites that contain naturally occurring asbestos are at risk of exposure if proper safety precautions are not taken. Marine engineers overseeing the breakdown of old asbestos-containing vessels are also at risk.
There are more than 25 engineering specialties, including:
Civil and industrial engineers are among the most at risk of exposure to asbestos because asbestos was so widely used in construction and industrial settings.
Get help finding a top attorney who can get you the compensation you deserve.
Get Help NowSometimes engineers directly handled asbestos when designing machinery or electrical systems or inspecting or installing equipment that contained asbestos. But more often engineers were indirectly exposed working at job sites where asbestos products were used.
Engineers often oversaw work at construction, civil, industrial and environmental job sites that used many different types of asbestos products. When other workers directly handled these products, they released asbestos fibers into the air. Depending on the working conditions of the facility or job site, asbestos fibers could accumulate and lead to dangerous exposure for everyone nearby, including engineers.
Engineers were exposed to different asbestos products, including:
Aerospace engineers were exposed to asbestos insulation and gaskets used in planes and spacecraft to prevent fires. Electrical panels and wiring on aircraft also contained asbestos.
Civil engineers used asbestos-containing products in all construction applications through the 1980s. Asbestos sheets and boards, a combination of asbestos and Portland cement, were used in buildings for false ceilings, partitions, sign boards and wall insulation. Asbestos was found in many different building materials, including flooring, ceilings, roofing, siding, adhesives, joint compounds and more. Civil engineers were also exposed to asbestos cement pipes that were used as boundary wall pipes, rainwater pipes, ventilating pipes and plumbing pipes.
Older cast-iron switch gear used in electrical engineering designs contained asbestos flash strips, separators and rope gasket door seals. These are products that can have a high asbestos content. Electrical engineers who serviced or inspected electrical panels could have been exposed to asbestos in the panels and wire insulation.
Industrial engineers working at industrial job sites may encounter old asbestos materials in machinery, insulation throughout the facility and around boilers, and in old asbestos cement pipes.
Mechanical engineers were exposed to asbestos insulation and asbestos gaskets used in different types of machinery.
Nuclear engineers were exposed to asbestos through their work on sodium-cooled reactors, which were insulated with asbestos-containing pipe coverings, asbestos valve packing and powdered asbestos that was mixed with water to repair damaged insulation.
Marine engineers were exposed to asbestos-containing boilers, insulation and gaskets that were used throughout vessels of all types, from small boats to large naval vessels.
Engineers were exposed to a wide range of asbestos products made by many different manufacturers. Companies such as Combustion Engineering and Johns Manville made construction materials and boilers with asbestos that exposed civil and industrial engineers. Manufacturers such as General Electric and A.B.B. Lummus Global made electrical equipment containing asbestos that exposed electrical engineers.
Scientific research has shown higher rates of asbestos-related diseases among engineers because of the occupational exposure they’ve endured. According to a 2022 report by the European Commission, over 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure also causes lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer and asbestosis.
If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it is important to find a specialist so you have access to the best treatment. Doctors specializing in mesothelioma and lung cancer work at some of the best treatment centers in the country where you can participate in innovative clinical trials.
We have more than 50 years of combined experience helping mesothelioma patients.
Chat NowEngineers have successfully brought asbestos lawsuits against manufacturers using asbestos in products.
Engineers who develop asbestos-related diseases have a right to file personal injury lawsuits and claims with asbestos trust funds. Those who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma have a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to get compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can advise whether you qualify to file a lawsuit, and you may additionally be eligible to file multiple claims with asbestos trust funds depending on your exposure history.
Recommended ReadingYour web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are looking for mesothelioma support, please contact our Patient Advocates at (855) 404-4592
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
Whitmer, M. (2023, June 20). Engineers and Asbestos Exposure. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/engineers/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Engineers and Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com, 20 Jun 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/engineers/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Engineers and Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com. Last modified June 20, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/engineers/.
Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families doesn’t believe in selling customer information. However, as required by the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you may record your preference to view or remove your personal information by completing the form below.