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Power plants workers suffer higher rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis because of the exposure they encountered using asbestos products on the job. Handling asbestos insulation, asbestos pipes and asbestos in boilers caused many workers at power plants to become ill.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Arti Shukla, Ph.D. | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: March 25, 2024
Power plant workers most at risk for asbestos exposure were hands-on, blue-collar employees whose job descriptions included installing and maintaining pipes and electrical appliances. Records show that asbestos-containing insulation was problematic for their health later in life. Upgrading the plant’s machinery often required workers to cut or saw through existing asbestos products before installing additional asbestos materials.
Many plant workers sprayed asbestos insulating material directly onto heated machinery such as boilers. Others applied asbestos insulation to pipes, seals, pumps and gaskets. One former plant worker specifically recalled creating asbestos dust while drilling and bolting General Electric breakers onto a turbine.
Supervisors, administrators, engineers and office workers who did not handle asbestos products directly may have been exposed to asbestos at work. Poor ventilation in many plants allowed airborne asbestos to circulate throughout the facility for extended periods of time.
Today’s exposure hazards are more controlled than they were in previous years, but they do still exist. In October 2011, at least 12 workers were exposed to asbestos while cutting pipes at the Surry Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Virginia. The plant lacked the equipment to measure the extent of the exposure, but workers did note that at least three trailers were covered in the dust. The pipe manufacturer paid a $4,900 fine for failing to label its product.
Workers in power plants were exposed to a number of asbestos-containing products, including:
Acoustic plaster provided noise reduction inside power plants, and adding asbestos provided additional fireproofing properties.
Asbestos-containing blankets were used to prevent burns, control heat and prevent fires in power plants.
The pipes in power plants were commonly wrapped with asbestos insulation to control the heat radiating from them.
Industrial boilers contained asbestos insulation, gaskets and packing.
Paneling containing asbestos was used throughout power plants as an effective form of insulation and fireproofing.
Repairing compounds used in power plants often contained asbestos to provide strength and heat resistance. For example, asbestos joint compound was used to make repairs on pipes.
Asbestos gaskets were widely used on all types of equipment in power plants.
Sometimes called caulk, asbestos-containing mastic was used to create seals and make repairs.
Asbestos-containing cement was used for many purposes in power plants. For example, asbestos cement pipes were used for their heat resistance, cement blocks were used to make fireproof walls and covers for electrical equipment, and cement compounds were used to make repairs.
Asbestos was used to make firebricks because the fibers can withstand extremely high temperatures without breaking down. Firebricks were used in power plants as a fireproof material to construct walls and barriers.
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Get Your Free GuideThe companies that manufactured asbestos products used by power plant workers include big corporations, such as General Electric, and smaller companies such as Kilnoise.
Several studies have documented increased rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis among power plant workers in the U.S. and internationally. According to a 2022 report by the European Commission, over 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is nearly exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no cure for the cancer, but treatments are available to help people live longer with the disease. If you’ve been diagnosed with this condition, find a mesothelioma specialist to handle your health care.
Asbestos exposure causes other types of cancer, including lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. It also causes a pulmonary disease, known as asbestosis, marked by progressive scarring of lung tissue.
Some power plant workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibers into their homes on their work clothes, which led to secondary exposure among their loved ones. Secondary asbestos exposure is a known cause of mesothelioma, and families affected by this form of exposure have legal options to seek compensation.
We have more than 50 years of combined experience helping mesothelioma patients.
Chat NowPower plant workers who develop asbestos-related diseases may be eligible to file claims for asbestos exposure, including personal injury lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims seeking compensation for medical costs and other expenses. Those who lost a loved one may qualify to file a wrongful death claim.
If you’re a power plant worker diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to work with an attorney specializing in asbestos litigation. Try to find a mesothelioma attorney who has experience securing compensation for other power plant workers, because this area of asbestos litigation is complex and should be handled by an expert.
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Whitmer, M. (2024, March 25). Power Plant Workers and Asbestos. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/power-plant-workers/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Power Plant Workers and Asbestos." Asbestos.com, 25 Mar 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/power-plant-workers/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Power Plant Workers and Asbestos." Asbestos.com. Last modified March 25, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/power-plant-workers/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Please read our editorial guidelines to learn more about our content creation and review process.
Arti Shukla, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned asbestos researcher known for her achievements in identifying biomarkers that cause mesothelioma. She is the director of the Shukla Research Lab, as well as a professor of pathology at The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.
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