Written By: David Statman
Asbestos Exposure for Boilermakers and Boiler Technicians
Boilermakers and boiler technicians spent shifts in hot temperatures operating or repairing boilers, which involved immense amounts of heat. Asbestos is a counteragent to heat, absorbing it and insulating materials. Many boilers and boiler rooms on U.S. military ships included asbestos for insulation, which was a hazard for boilermen on these vessels.
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Important Facts About Asbestos Exposure for Boilermakers and Boiler Technicians
- Asbestos was present in engine rooms on U.S. Navy ships due to the high temperatures. Boiler technicians and boilermakers were exposed to asbestos and likely did not wear protective equipment.
- Boiler technicians reportedly account for many cases of mesothelioma cancer among U.S. Navy veterans.
- Mesothelioma Guide spoke with a Navy veteran who worked for approximately four years in ships’ engine rooms. He described the heavy usage of asbestos on the boilers and piping leading to the boilers. Unfortunately, he passed away due to mesothelioma.
Asbestos Hazards in Boiler Rooms: Boilers, Insulation, and Piping
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is capable of absorbing and resisting heat. These properties made asbestos highly valued anywhere a fire was possible. It became an industrial protectant and building material during the 20th century for wires, pipes, boilers, insulation, ovens and much more.
Although asbestos was often used for its durability, it is fragile. Because of its friability, asbestos can easily break apart and send toxic dust into the air. Once the tiny asbestos fibers enter the air, they can be easily inhaled or swallowed. This will allow the sharp fibers to travel to the lining of the lungs or abdomen, potentially causing irritation, cell mutation and tumor formation.
Boiler rooms were essential parts of military ships. Also called fire rooms, these locations are where water is brought to a boil before being transferred to the adjacent engine room for powering the ship. Boilers require high temperatures, and asbestos can effectively insulate boilers to keep heat inside.
Other Asbestos-Containing Materials in Boiler Rooms
Asbestos hazards in boiler rooms weren’t limited to just the boilers themselves. There were many ways to implement asbestos in a flammable room like a boiler room. Asbestos may have been in the insulation within the walls of the boiler room, the floor, the ceiling, piping and more. The use of asbestos in boilers and boiler rooms makes boilermakers and technicians among some of the high-risk occupations for asbestos exposure.
In one study published in the International Journal of Radiation Biology, boiler technicians were mentioned as facing a high risk of exposure. Another scientific journal article states pipe and boiler insulation contains more asbestos than any other building material.
Here’s an overview of the asbestos-containing materials that could affect boilermakers:
- Boilers
- Floors/floor tiles
- Ceiling/ceiling tiles
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Valves
- Deaerators
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Types of Boilermakers and Boiler Technicians Exposed to Asbestos
Boilermaking involves the construction, installation, and repair of boilers and other large vessels made of iron or steel.
Boilermakers and boiler technicians can be exposed to asbestos in various settings. Boilers and boiler rooms riddled with asbestos can be present in old buildings – homes, commercial and industrial facilities, hospitals, schools, breweries, and factories – plus military ships, steam ships, and cruise ships.
Boilermakers and boiler technicians who served in the military are at a significant risk of exposure as military ships were full of asbestos during the 20th century.
How Were Boilermakers and Technicians Exposed to Asbestos in Boilers?
Building, repairing, and replacing boilers were the main causes of occupational asbestos exposure for boilermakers and technicians. Asbestos is a fine mineral. When intact, it’s not dangerous. When disturbed, the mineral breaks apart. Tiny fibers float in the air and can be swallowed or inhaled, which can lead to health issues.
Even the slightest unsettling action can cause asbestos to break. Hammering, cutting, sanding, or taking apart boiler parts like insulation, gaskets, and valves can be dangerous. Worsening the situation is this work is often done in cramped and poorly ventilated spaces.
Repairing old boilers is the most common way boilermakers and technicians today are exposed, as new boilers are not made with asbestos.
Secondary asbestos exposure can also happen for the family and friends of boilermakers and technicians. Spouses, children, and siblings could be exposed when boilermakers carry loose, sharp asbestos fibers into the home or car after work.
Health Risks for Boilermakers and Boiler Technicians
Asbestos was used to preserve and insulate building materials. However, exposure to the substance can lead to serious health conditions. Asbestos hazards in boiler rooms can lead to several types of cancer: lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and a rare cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause asbestosis, which is a deadly lung-scarring disease.
When asbestos was being used throughout various industries, the health risks were unknown to the workers and other users. The companies responsible for manufacturing and distributing asbestos products knew of the hazards of asbestos and did not disclose the risks to the public or their employees.
Mesothelioma Among Boiler Technicians
Mesothelioma is a rare but ferocious type of cancer. Military personnel who worked in boiler or engine rooms on ships face a higher-than-usual rate of mesothelioma. This cancer forms in the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity. There are approximately 2,500 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and most have a life expectancy of 12-14 months.
Around 33% of mesothelioma cases are among military veterans, some of which were boiler technicians. Boiler room techs and other U.S. Navy ship jobs like firemen, pipefitters, shipfitters, water tenders, millwrights, and machinists accounted for 55% of mesothelioma deaths among U.S. Navy veterans.
Jerry Samuels, a military veteran who passed away due to mesothelioma, worked in these boiler rooms for around four years during his Navy service. He regularly was exposed to asbestos in boilers and other engine room equipment. In an interview with MesotheliomaGuide, he said that he and other seamen did not wear protective equipment because they were unaware of the dangers of asbestos.
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Blacksmiths has a page dedicated to asbestos dangers. Moffitt Cancer Center lists boilermakers and boiler technicians as one of the jobs facing the highest risk of asbestos exposure during the 20th century.
Identifying and Removing Asbestos in Boilers and Boiler Rooms
Identifying asbestos can be difficult for untrained boilermakers and technicians. Most workers today do not know what asbestos looks like, or do not automatically think a substance they encounter is asbestos. Many workers incorrectly assume asbestos is no longer present even in old boilers due to the public knowledge of the dangers.
Even tougher is trying to remove or seal asbestos safely. Boilermakers and technicians should never try to remove or seal asbestos on their own. They should call an asbestos professional – someone who will test to determine if the substance is asbestos, then take proper action.
Sometimes the safest decision is sealing asbestos, which can keep it from being released into the air. Other professionals may remove asbestos.
Always wear protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and disposable shirts and pants when working on old boilers and in old buildings or Navy ships with boiler rooms. If you encounter a substance that might be asbestos, stop work immediately and call an asbestos abatement company. They will properly seal or remove and dispose of the mineral – sealing off the area and double-bagging the mineral to prevent exposure for yourself and other workers.
What Boilermakers and Technicians Can Do About Their Mesothelioma
Most of the companies involved in asbestos production were in the industrial sector, which often includes heavy labor and machinery. These jobs were very hands-on, and the people working in these environments were unknowingly exposed to asbestos daily and then also exposing their families to the toxic dust through their person and clothing.
Protective equipment or health warnings generally were not provided to employees or consumers, and the companies responsible need to be held accountable.
Legal and VA Claims for Boilermakers and Technicians
Boilermakers and boiler techs can take action if they have mesothelioma. They have two options, and both many be available depending on the case:
- Veterans Affairs (VA) claims, if they’re a U.S. military veteran
- Legal claims, such as lawsuits or asbestos trust funds (for veterans and non-veterans)
VA claims provide a monthly benefit to veterans with mesothelioma. This amount has helped many boilermen who developed this cancer from their military service.
Legal claims may include an asbestos trust fund payment or a lawsuit. Mesothelioma lawsuits can end in a settlement or a verdict. Asbestos trust fund claims are payments to victims whose exposure was caused by a now-bankrupt company.
If you’d like to discuss your options as a former or current boiler worker with mesothelioma, contact our patient advocate team. Navy veteran Carl Jewett is available at cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com.
Sources & Author
- Asbestos. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Retrieved from: https://boilermakers.org/news/health-safety/safety-corner/asbestos. Accessed: 01/12/2021.
- Moffitt Cancer Center. Mesothelioma Causes. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/cancers/mesothelioma/causes/. Accessed: 01/12/2021.
- A 26-Year-Old Male with Mesothelioma Due to Asbestos Exposure. Case Reports in Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2011/951732/. Accessed: 01/12/2021.
- Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Mortality among Atomic Veterans. International Journal of Radiation Biology. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30513236/. Accessed: 01/12/2021.
AI Summary of Asbestos Exposure for Boilermakers and Boiler Technicians
This page provides a comprehensive overview of asbestos exposure specifically for boilermakers and boiler technicians. It explains how asbestos was commonly used in boiler rooms, especially on ships, because of its heat-resistant and insulating properties. These workers often operated or repaired boilers in high-temperature environments, which put them at risk of coming into contact with asbestos-containing materials without protective gear. Many of these materials, such as insulation, piping, and boiler components, contained asbestos, and any disturbance of these could release tiny fibers into the air, which could then be inhaled or swallowed. This type of exposure was particularly common during repairs or maintenance when asbestos materials were handled or disturbed in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces.
The page emphasizes that asbestos was used not only for the boilers but also in surrounding materials such as floors, ceilings, pipes, and valves, which increased the chances of exposure among those working in these environments. Boilermakers and boiler technicians may have been exposed both during their construction, repair, and replacement of boilers, and incidentally through secondary exposure if asbestos fibers were brought home on clothing or equipment, affecting their families as well. The health risks linked to asbestos exposure are significant and include respiratory conditions like asbestosis, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and the rare but aggressive cancer called mesothelioma. The page underscores that many veterans who served on military ships, especially in boiler rooms, faced high risks of asbestos inhalation, with some developing mesothelioma even decades after exposure.
It also notes that identifying asbestos can be challenging for untrained individuals, and that the safest approach is to rely on professionals for testing and removal. Because most asbestos-containing materials are now outdated and no longer in use, most risks come from old boilers and ship equipment. The page encourages those affected to understand their exposure risks and offers guidance on legal options and VA benefits that may be available. Overall, the information aims to reassure and educate individuals and families, emphasizing the importance of professional assistance and the need for awareness about the hazards of asbestos in occupational settings involving boilers and ship maintenance.