Welders were exposed to asbestos because their work required protection from the intense heat they generated — and that protection was, for decades, made of asbestos.
How Welders Were Exposed
Welders worked with asbestos blankets, curtains, gloves, aprons, and pads to shield themselves and surrounding materials from sparks and heat. They also frequently cut into and welded on insulated pipe, boilers, and equipment, disturbing the asbestos insulation and gaskets around their work. In shipyards, power plants, and refineries, welders worked shoulder-to-shoulder with insulators in confined, fiber-filled spaces.
The Asbestos Materials Involved
- asbestos welding blankets, curtains, and pads
- asbestos gloves and protective clothing
- pipe and equipment insulation they cut into
- gaskets and packing
Take-Home Risk to Families
Like other dusty trades, welders 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
Pipe Insulation · Gaskets & Packing · Insulation Cements.
If you worked as a welder 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.