Key Takeaways
- Boiler workers — including boiler mechanics, operators, and maintenance personnel — were routinely exposed to asbestos through the equipment they serviced daily, including pumps, pipes, valves, gaskets, insulation, and ropes.
- Boilers operate at extreme temperatures, and asbestos was used in nearly every component to provide heat resistance. Routine maintenance — especially scraping and replacing old gaskets — released asbestos dust directly into the air.
- Many manufacturers of boiler components knew their products contained asbestos. Companies including Weil-McLain, Babcock & Wilcox, Foster Wheeler, Combustion Engineering, Cleaver-Brooks, Riley Stoker, John Crane, and Armstrong International have faced lawsuits and established asbestos trust funds.
- Boilers are found in schools, commercial buildings, homes, power plants, and Navy ships — including those built and repaired at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Even homeowners working on older residential boilers may be at risk.
- Mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until 20+ years after asbestos exposure, meaning boiler workers from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s may only now be receiving diagnoses.
Boiler mechanics and other boiler workers were most likely exposed to asbestos during their daily lives at work. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Boiler workers and asbestos exposure are commonly connected as those who worked on boilers were probably exposed to asbestos very frequently. There are several different pieces of equipment that boiler workers would encounter that most likely contained asbestos. These include:
- Pumps
- Pipes
- Valves
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Ropes
As the name suggests, boilers themselves have a lot of high heat. To protect workers from these high temperatures, many of the components of the boiler contained asbestos, as asbestos is highly resistant to heat. However, asbestos is also a carcinogen. If a person breathes in asbestos fibers, especially routinely, they are susceptible to developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma later in life. Mesothelioma has a latency period, meaning that symptoms of the cancer do not usually develop until at least 20 years after exposure to asbestos. If you worked on boilers as your occupation, you may not notice any symptoms until decades later. Common symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme weight loss
- Fever
Work done to the boilers could cause asbestos dust to be released into the air, exposing those in the surrounding environment. Boiler workers are at a high risk of asbestos exposure and of developing asbestos-related diseases.
Boiler Workers and Asbestos Exposure – The Companies
It was common for those who operated the boilers to replace old gaskets. When replacing old gaskets, the gaskets themselves had to be scraped off, which released asbestos dust into the air. Many companies who manufactured parts in boilers were aware that their products contained asbestos. These companies have faced lawsuits from those who have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease from being exposed to these asbestos-containing materials. Some of these companies have put money into an asbestos trust fund as a way of giving compensation to mesothelioma victims without being sued. Some well-known manufacturers of asbestos products in boilers/boiler rooms are:
- Weil-McLain
- Riley Stoker Corporation
- John Crane Inc
- Armstrong International Inc.
- Foster Wheeler Corporation
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Cleaver-Brooks Company
- Combustion Engineering
Boilers are used in a variety of places including schools, buildings, homes, plants, and ships. This includes US Navy ships at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Pennsylvania. If you work on an older boiler in your home, you could also be at risk of asbestos exposure.
We have represented many mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease victims who were once boiler mechanics, and we are familiar with the previously listed companies and how to obtain compensation from them. Our experience handling these types of cases with our clients has helped us get them the maximum compensation.
If you or a loved one were a boiler worker and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can help. To learn more about mesothelioma, including treatment options, types, and hospitals to treat at, look through our website. For more information and to find out how we can help you get compensated, call us at (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form. We help mesothelioma victims in Pennsylvania get the compensation they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were boiler workers exposed to asbestos?
Boiler workers were exposed through the equipment they serviced daily. Asbestos was used in pumps, pipes, valves, gaskets, insulation, and ropes — virtually every component of a boiler system — because of its heat-resistant properties. The most common exposure occurred during gasket replacement: old gaskets had to be scraped off, which released asbestos dust directly into the worker’s breathing zone. Any maintenance, repair, or overhaul work on boiler equipment could disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Which companies manufactured asbestos-containing boiler products?
Several major manufacturers produced boiler components known to contain asbestos:
- Weil-McLain
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Foster Wheeler Corporation
- Combustion Engineering
- Cleaver-Brooks Company
- Riley Stoker Corporation
- John Crane Inc
- Armstrong International Inc.
Many of these companies have faced lawsuits from workers who developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Several have established asbestos trust funds to compensate current and future victims.
Where are boilers found?
Boilers are used in a wide variety of settings, meaning boiler workers could have been exposed in many different environments:
- Schools and universities
- Commercial and office buildings
- Residential homes (older homes with steam or hot water heating)
- Power plants and industrial facilities
- Navy ships — including vessels built and repaired at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Even homeowners who service or repair older residential boilers may be at risk of encountering asbestos-containing materials.
Can homeowners be exposed to asbestos from their home boiler?
Yes. Older residential boilers — particularly those installed before the 1980s — may contain asbestos in their insulation, gaskets, and other components. If a homeowner performs maintenance or repairs on an older boiler system, they could disturb asbestos-containing materials and release fibers into the air. If you have an older boiler system, it is advisable to have a professional assess whether asbestos-containing materials are present before performing any work on it.
What diseases can boiler workers develop from asbestos exposure?
Boiler workers who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for several serious diseases:
- Mesothelioma — a rare, aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart
- Lung cancer — risk significantly increased by asbestos exposure
- Asbestosis — chronic scarring of the lungs from prolonged asbestos inhalation
These diseases can take 20 to 50 years to develop after exposure, meaning workers who serviced boilers decades ago may only now be experiencing symptoms.
What should I do if I worked on boilers and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease?
If you or a loved one worked as a boiler mechanic, operator, or maintenance worker and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, your work history and the specific companies whose products you handled are critical to your case. Compensation may be available through lawsuits or asbestos trust funds established by the manufacturers listed above. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
