Roofer and Slater Asbestos Exposure

The primary task of a roofer is evident by his title.  A roofer or slater is a trained carpenter who is responsible for installing or replacing/repairing roofs in both commercial and residential buildings.  A roofer’s job can be quite hazardous, given the height at which he/she often works. 

For years, however, roofers and slaters were faced with a very different kind of hazard – the kind caused by daily exposure to asbestos.

Roofers and Asbestos

Until around 1980, many roofing products were made of or contained asbestos, thanks to its durability and its fire-resistant properties.  Types of roofing products that contained asbestos included:

• corrugated, flat or laminated cement extrusion panels
• roofing tiles and shingles
• smooth and mineral-surfaced roofing felts
• asphalt shingles
• caulking putties
• cold-applied adhesives
• roofing asphalt
• mastic
• asphalt tile cement
• roof putty
• fire sealants

Roofing usually didn’t involve merely placing shingles one by one.  Asbestos shingles often required cutting or sawing for proper sizing.  This caused clouds of asbestos dust, which circulated through the air.

Similarly, the removal of an old roof – whether commercial or residential – usually involved ripping off materials that contained asbestos, causing fibers to become airborne.  This work, as well as installation work, was usually done without benefit of protective gear so the inhalation of asbestos occurred frequently.

Some specific products that contained asbestos include:

• AAA Hip and Ridge Shingles
• Careystone Corrugated Roofing
• Externit Asbestos Shingles
• Fire-chex '325' Shingles
• Flintcoat Roofing
• Johns-Manville Blak-Kap Duplex Roofing
• Suprador Fiber-Shake Sidewall Shingles

Are you or were you a roofer/slater who worked with these or other asbestos-containing roofing products?  Have you developed mesothelioma because of your on-the-job exposure?  If so, it’s important to learn about your legal rights as well as the facts surrounding your disease.  Send for our free Mesothelioma Resource Kit for more information.