Electricians were exposed to asbestos both in the electrical materials they installed and in the buildings and equipment they worked around.
How Electricians Were Exposed
Older wire and cable insulation, arc chutes, panel and switchgear backing boards, and electrical cloth were allegedly made with asbestos. Electricians also drilled, cut, and fished wire through asbestos-insulated walls, ceilings, and structural fireproofing, and worked in mechanical rooms, power plants, and industrial facilities where asbestos insulation was everywhere. Cutting asbestos board and disturbing insulation to run conduit and cable released fiber.
The Asbestos Materials Involved
- asbestos wire and cable insulation
- asbestos panel and switchgear boards
- electrical cloth and arc chutes
- building insulation and fireproofing they disturbed
Take-Home Risk to Families
Like other dusty trades, electricians carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, and tools — exposing spouses and children who never worked with asbestos. See take-home asbestos exposure.
Related Products & Resources
Electrical · Electrical Components · Spray Fireproofing.
If you worked as an electrician and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after exposure to asbestos on the job, you may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds and civil litigation.
Product references reflect allegations documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation. This information is published by an independent media organization — not a law firm — and is educational only. It does not constitute legal advice or provide legal services.