Asbestos Factory Workers

How Are Factory Workers Exposed to Asbestos?

Factory and plant workers faced daily exposure to asbestos from the machinery and materials they handled in the manufacturing processes that contained asbestos. When these materials became damaged, the workers risked inhaling asbestos fibers. 

Asbestos Exposure in Factories

Factory workers encountered asbestos through materials like insulation, machinery parts and protective equipment. Common sources include:

• Asbestos-containing gaskets, seals and valves
• Insulation for pipes, boilers and furnaces
• Machinery brake pads and clutches
• Raw asbestos used in manufacturing

Airborne fibers created a hazard for workers who inhaled them daily. The consistent exposure increased their risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Pleural mesothelioma survivor Antonio L. moved from Ecuador to New Jersey in 1969 and worked at a corrugated cardboard factory. Antonio often spent hours sweeping the asbestos dust that collected at the factory. He worked there for 35 years. Eventually, Antonio developed mesothelioma.

Asbestos Exposure in Plants

Plant workers were exposed to asbestos at work in much the same way as factory workers. But they also faced risks specific to plant operations. Common sources include:

• Building materials like cement and roofing
• Conveyor belts made with asbestos
• Insulation for large industrial ovens, kilns and boilers

Frequent handling of these materials without proper protection created exposure risks. Workers in factories and plants faced an elevated risk of mesothelioma and asbestosis because of the increased use of asbestos in industrial operations.

Asbestos Manufacturing Process

The asbestos manufacturing process exposed workers to hazardous conditions at every stage. Each step often released harmful asbestos fibers into the air.

• Mixing and Weaving: Workers mixed asbestos with other materials or wove it into textiles. Manufacturers used these materials for fireproof clothing and insulation.
• Molding and Cutting: Workers shaped and trimmed products, creating dust laden with asbestos fibers.
• Raw Asbestos Handling: Workers unloaded and moved raw asbestos, releasing fibers into the air.

The highest levels of asbestos exposure happened in poorly ventilated areas. The process left workers with lifelong health issues from inhaling asbestos fibers.

Asbestos Products Associated With Machinists and Factory Workers

Asbestos products linked to factory and machinist jobs include car parts, insulation and protective materials. Manufacturers used them for their durability and heat resistance. These products exposed workers to dangerous fibers during routine handling and maintenance.

• Brake pads and clutches
• Fireproof protective gear
• Gaskets and seals
• Insulation for pipes and machinery

Exposure occurred during installation, maintenance or repair, which disturbed asbestos fibers. Workers were often unaware of the dangers and lacked proper protective equipment.

Asbestos Products Associated With Asbestos Factory Workers

Factory workers worked with or near asbestos yarn, rope and various asbestos-containing products that contributed to their exposure. These items were integral to many industrial operations and often released hazardous fibers.

• Adhesives
• Asbestos cement
• Asbestos rope
• Asbestos yarn
• Brake pads
• Industrial machinery components
• Pipe insulation

Many different industries that manufacture asbestos products bought carded asbestos fibers. The yarn was also sold to textile mills for products like gloves for firefighters, fireproof curtains for movie theaters and heat-resistant ironing pads. 

The asbestos yarn was also used to make air conditioning duct connectors, pipe coverings, welder’s blankets and electrical cloth. Workers used asbestos rope as a packing material and gaskets in industrial settings. It was also used in pumps, compressors, seals and ships for its resistance to heat and chemical corrosion.

Asbestos Manufacturers and Plants

Many companies produced asbestos-containing products or operated asbestos plants, leading to widespread worker exposure among factory and plant workers. These companies played a significant role in the asbestos crisis.

• B.F. Goodrich: Made asbestos-containing conveyor systems, transport belts, and belt drives for factories.
• Flexitallic Gasket Company: Produced asbestos-containing spiral-wound gaskets for factories and industrial use.
• Honeywell: Manufactured asbestos brake pads and linings for factory machines.
• Johns Manville: Made construction materials, like asbestos cement, for building factories.
• Pneumo Abex: Produced asbestos-containing brakes and hydraulic parts for factory machinery.
• Raybestos: Manufactured asbestos brakes, clutches and valves for factory machinery.

The following companies operated asbestos plants in the United States:

• Amatex
• Bendix Corp.
• Keasbey & Mattison (Armstrong World Industries)
• Johns Manville
• King City Asbestos Corp.
• Molded Industrial Friction Corp.
• New England Asbestos Mining and Milling Company
• Raybestos-Manhattan
• Ruberoid Company (GAF Corporation)
• Union Carbide
• Vermont Asbestos Group
• W.R. Grace

These manufacturers and plants were major contributors to occupational asbestos exposure. They knew asbestos materials were dangerous. But they still exposed countless workers, causing them severe health consequences over decades.

Mesothelioma & Asbestos-Related Diseases in Factories and Plants

Industrial factory workers exposed to asbestos faced an elevated risk of developing diseases such as:

• Asbestosis
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma

Recent studies highlight the link between prolonged exposure and disease incidence. A 2022 European Commission report shows 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past asbestos exposure. A 2020 study of 8 asbestos plants in China found an increased incidence of mesothelioma in nearby residents.

In 2016, the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health published a study on 1,130 people who worked at an asbestos plant in Tyler, Texas, from 1954 to 1972. The study found that working at the plant raised a worker’s risk of dying from throat or lung cancer by 244%.

It’s essential to work with a doctor specializing in mesothelioma or lung cancer treatment. It can improve your chances of long-term survival. The prognosis for these conditions is poor. And most people live around one year with mesothelioma or lung cancer. A top treatment center specialist could help you live longer.

Compensation for Factory and Plant Workers Exposed to Asbestos

Factory and plant workers exposed to asbestos have pursued compensation through asbestos litigation and trust fund claims. Successful cases show that justice is available to those affected by asbestos-related diseases.

• In 2014, the widow of Joe Amento settled a claim after her husband died of pleural mesothelioma. Amento grew up near an asbestos plant in Ambler, Pennsylvania, which processed asbestos from Canada until 1987. The settlement amount remains undisclosed.
• By 2009, W.R. Grace faced over 950 asbestos lawsuits for exposing workers to contaminated vermiculite ore at processing plants across the U.S. The company later established a trust fund to compensate victims.
• In 2019, Union Carbide was ordered to pay $2.38 million in a wrongful death lawsuit to the estate of Willis Edenfield. He was a factory worker who developed pleural mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos at his workplace.
• A 2010 New Jersey jury awarded $30.3 million to the family of Mark Buttitta. He was a former factory worker who developed mesothelioma from direct and secondhand asbestos exposure at a General Motors warehouse.

These cases highlight the importance of experienced legal representation in securing claims for asbestos exposure and financial support for medical bills, lost income and other expenses caused by asbestos-related diseases.

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