Written By: David Statman
Asbestos Exposure for HVAC Workers
People who work with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning – also called HVAC workers, HVAC mechanics, or HVAC technicians – are at a risk of occupational asbestos exposure. HVAC equipment often contained asbestos to resist heat and prevent damage.
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Important Facts About Asbestos Exposure for HVAC Workers
- HVAC workers install, repair, or replace heating, cooling and ventilation in homes, schools, offices, hospitals and every other possible building where people spend time.
- HVAC equipment and parts potentially containing asbestos include insulation, gaskets, heat shields, casings, flexible duct connectors, and cooling towers. Asbestos in HVAC ducts and insulation is a primary concern.
- According to a report, HVAC workers are four times more likely than the general population to develop an asbestos disease called asbestosis.
Overview of HVAC Workers
HVAC mechanics, technicians and installers work on heating, ventilation and cooling systems in homes, schools, hospitals, factories, office buildings and more. Sometimes HVAC workers are referred to as HVACR workers to include refrigeration mechanics and installers. The types of HVAC jobs include technicians, engineers and specialists.
The worksites are often very hot or cold due to heating and cooling systems not working properly, or they are not yet installed. Some of the systems might be located outdoors. HVAC technicians and installers often work in cramped spaces within buildings.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 400,000 HVACR mechanics and installers in the country as of 2021.
Due to the range of temperatures in HVAC systems, they often required insulation materials. Asbestos was often the insulation material of choice, which means countless HVAC workers are at risk of occupational asbestos exposure.
Asbestos and Cancer
Asbestos is a natural mineral that forms in the earth’s soil. It was cherished for its durability and resistance to heat, so many industries acquired, manufactured, and used asbestos to build buildings, automobiles, military ships, airplanes, and more. Up until the 1980s, asbestos was advertised as a magic mineral.
Asbestos is also a cancerous substance and the only known cause of the rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos is durable and reasonably safe when it’s compact and whole. However, the mineral is made of countless fibers, almost like strands of fabric or wool. These fibers can splinter and break apart, which leads to weightless fibers contaminating the air we breathe.
Workers who install, repair, or replace asbestos-containing products – or who inadvertently disturb asbestos during other work – can release fibers into the air and swallow or inhale them. The fibers can travel to and get stuck in the thin linings around the lungs, abdominal cavity and heart. These linings, made of mesothelial cells, are where mesothelioma tumors form.
These dangers became public knowledge towards the end of the 20th century, and many victims of asbestos exposure and asbestos diseases filed lawsuits against the companies responsible for manufacturing and selling asbestos products for industrial use. This led to companies finding alternatives, the implementation of government regulations on the use of asbestos, and ultimately the phasing out of asbestos in most jobs.
The Environmental Protection Agency in March 2024 banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos. The ruling prevents companies from importing, manufacturing, distributing, selling, and using the mineral. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common of the six types of asbestos, the type most often associated with mesothelioma cancer cases, and the type most often used to insulate HVAC products.
Asbestos in HVAC Products
There are thousands of products known to contain asbestos. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Health specifies there are more than 3,000 products potentially containing the deadly mineral. Examples include asbestos in HVAC ducts and insulation.
Asbestos can be found in the following heating and cooling system/HVAC products:
- Boiler insulation
- Boiler breeching insulation
- Cooling towers
- Ductwork insulation
- Furnace insulation
- Gaskets
- Heat shields
- HVAC vibration dampeners
- Flexible duct connectors
- Pipe lagging insulation
- Pipe elbow insulation
- Tank insulation
- Tank casings
- Thermal taping compounds
HVAC asbestos risks were also present on military ships and in military housing. An investigation in 2020 found severe issues of asbestos in family military housing. Mesothelioma Guide’s Veterans Service Representative and veterans mesothelioma patient advocate, Carl Jewett, a military veteran and 24-year Navy Lieutenant Commander, can affirm from his experience that asbestos was rampant in military buildings. He even mentions HVAC equipment.
“I can remember military buildings that had asbestos in the floor tiles, drywall, HVAC room and even caulk around the windows,” he said.
How HVAC Workers Are Exposed to Asbestos
The primary methods of exposure to asbestos for HVAC workers are repairing or replacing old systems. During the 20th century, HVAC workers installed systems or parts with asbestos. Fitting, hammering, wedging, or other tasks could disturb and release asbestos. HVAC workers also are in tight, enclosed spaces, which means they are more likely to inhale fibers in the air.
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HVAC Workers Identifying Asbestos
Asbestos is no longer used in new HVAC products. The only concern today is HVAC workers finding asbestos persisting in old systems. This asbestos is a danger when examining, repairing, or replacing parts or the whole system. The presence of asbestos installed years ago is the primary source of HVAC workers today being exposed to the substance.
UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a HVAC company, details on its website what process the HVAC technicians and mechanics now take to keep themselves and the residents – or customers – safe from asbestos exposure.
When asbestos is found in HVAC products, it could lead to replacing all ventilation ducts or replacing just the central air handling unit with connections to the ducts. The company states it hires “certified asbestos removal professionals with proper equipment” to handle the mineral safely.
The company warns homeowners from trying to remove asbestos themselves in a do-it-yourself project.
Asbestos Health Concerns for HVAC Workers
Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer, a lung scarring disease called asbestosis, and a rare cancer called mesothelioma. According to the site, EC Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine data shows HVAC mechanics “are over four times more likely to have asbestosis-related health problems” than the general population.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity or heart. Studies link HVAC work to developing mesothelioma later in life. The cancer takes 20-50 years to form after exposure to asbestos, and the average survival is 1-2 years following diagnosis.
Asbestos Compensation for HVAC Workers
Asbestos lawsuits have been filed by former HVAC workers. One example involves a steamfitter who installed HVAC equipment and later developed mesothelioma.
According to the website Leagle, the plaintiff, William B., won the verdict against Wallace & Gale Co. He worked for the defendant company during the construction of Loch Raven High School in Towson, Maryland. He installed HVAC equipment, and was exposed to asbestos-containing insulation products during the construction work.
William B. worked on construction projects throughout his career, including the construction of Mercy Hospital, a building at the Edgewood Arsenal, the Mercantile Bank & Trust Building in downtown Baltimore, the BlueCross/BlueShield building in Towson, the USF&G Building (now the Transamerica Building) in downtown Baltimore, and residential projects.
HVAC workers can also file asbestos trust fund claims. These are legal claims filed against funds created by bankrupt companies that manufactured, sold, or used asbestos. Asbestos trust funds are bank accounts to quickly pay victims when the company responsible is no longer active.
How We Can Help HVAC Workers Exposed to Asbestos
Mesothelioma Guide has a team of experts who can help trace your job history back to instances of asbestos exposure. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, contact our team to discuss your medical and legal options.
Email karen@mesotheliomaguide.com to reach Karen Ritter, our registered nurse who has helped many mesothelioma victims get answers to their questions.
Sources & Author
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm. Accessed: 06/29/2023.
- Common Asbestos-Containing Products. Minnesota Department of Health. Retrieved from: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/asbestos/products.html. Accessed: 06/29/2023.
- What Happens if We Find Asbestos on the Job? UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. Retrieved from: https://www.ugihvac.com/en-us/what-happens-if-we-find-asbestos-on-the-job/. Accessed: 06/29/2023.
- Wallace & Gale Asbestos Settlement Trust v. Busch. Leagle. Retrieved from: https://www.leagle.com/decision/inmdco20180810335. Accessed: 06/29/2023.
AI Summary of Asbestos Exposure for HVAC Workers
HVAC workers, including mechanics and installers, play a vital role in maintaining the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes, schools, hospitals, and many other buildings. Due to the nature of their work, they are at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos, a mineral once commonly used in insulation and various components of HVAC systems. Many older systems still contain asbestos products such as insulation, gaskets, heat shields, ductwork, and other parts designed to withstand high temperatures. When HVAC technicians work on these systems, especially during repairs or replacements, they can inadvertently disturb asbestos materials, releasing tiny fibers into the air. Inhalation or ingestion of these fibers can pose serious health risks, including asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos was favored for its durability and heat resistance, but it is also the only known cause of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the linings of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. When asbestos fibers become airborne, they can become lodged in the thin linings of these organs, sometimes taking decades to cause symptoms or to develop into cancer. HVAC workers are particularly vulnerable because much of the asbestos in older systems is difficult to identify without specific training and proper equipment. The risk is compounded by the fact that asbestos was used extensively in military and industrial settings, including ships and military housing, where HVAC systems were also constructed with asbestos materials.
While asbestos use has been heavily restricted and banned in many countries, including the United States, older buildings and HVAC systems still harbor asbestos-containing components. This means that any work involving the inspection, repair, or replacement of outdated systems can lead to exposure if proper precautions are not followed. Professionals in the field now typically hire certified asbestos removal experts when asbestos is suspected and avoid attempting to remove it without specialized training and equipment. Awareness and proper safety procedures are essential to protect HVAC workers from the potential health risks associated with asbestos exposure. If exposure has occurred or is suspected, it is important for individuals to seek medical advice and to understand the legal options available to those affected, including the possibility of filing claims for compensation through asbestos trust funds.
Overall, understanding the risks associated with asbestos in HVAC systems highlights the importance of safe work practices and continued vigilance, especially when dealing with older construction materials. Recognizing the signs of potential asbestos presence and knowing the proper steps to handle it can significantly reduce health risks for HVAC workers and their families, creating a safer environment for everyone involved in maintaining these essential systems.