Iron Worker Asbestos Exposure

If you’ve ever seen those wonderful pictures of a group of men enjoying their lunch hundreds of feet up in the air while sitting on an I-beam, then you’ve probably seen a photo of an iron worker.  Iron workers are, by far, best known for their amazing work on the skyscrapers of the world, but can also be found working at other large-scaled buildings or factories, stadiums, bridges, or even ships.

Iron workers also help demolish buildings and perform repairs when necessary and sometimes work with construction equipment such as cranes.

Iron Workers and Asbestos

Asbestos was widely used in the construction field for decades and, because of that, iron workers have long been exposed to the dangerous mineral from a variety of sources.

Most often, they were directly exposed because iron beams were often sprayed with an asbestos-containing material in order to render them heat and fire resistant, thus making it difficult for them to burn in a fire.  Sturdy iron beams which are fire resistant mean that the building will be less likely to collapse during the blaze.  Because beams were often manipulated during installation or repair, asbestos fibers became airborne and inhalation was likely.

Iron workers also handled a variety of other insulating materials that most likely contained asbestos, especially in the years prior to the 1970s, before strong warnings were issued as to the dangers of working with asbestos. 

Of course, iron workers weren’t isolated from other workers on the job and may have also been exposed to asbestos due to a task that a neighboring worker may have been performing. Clouds of asbestos dust can easily travel throughout an area and infect all those within a particular vicinity.

Because the shipbuilding industry was at its peak during World War II, many iron workers of that era were sickened by asbestos.  Even those who worked in shipbuilding until the 1970s may have also been exposed to this deadly mineral during their employment at a variety of shipyards throughout the country.

Are you an iron worker that’s been stricken with mesothelioma?  You’re not alone.  Take some time to learn more about the disease and your legal rights as a sufferer by ordering our free Mesothelioma Information Kit, available at this website.