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How Can an Industrial Mechanic Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Industrial mechanics repair, install, adjust, calibrate or maintain machinery in factories, oil refineries or pipeline distribution systems. Industrial mechanics maintain and repair factory equipment and other machinery in industrial settings, including conveying systems, packaging equipment and production machinery. They detect and correct errors to prevent products from becoming damaged.
Asbestos is inexpensive, durable and resistant to heat and fire, so many factories and other industrial organizations used these materials for insulation, construction materials, fireproofing materials, pipe wrapping and many other applications. Industrial mechanics were vulnerable to being exposed to asbestos because they often worked in environments where asbestos is present and could be disturbed. When asbestos is disturbed, microscopic asbestos fibers can become dislodged. Industrial mechanics and others nearby could breathe in these harmful fibers, which could eventually result in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Common job duties of industrial mechanics include:
- Perform tests to ensure machines run smoothly
- Use computerized diagnostic systems to determine the source of problems with machinery
- Disassemble machinery and equipment when a problem is detected
- Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components on machinery
- Move machinery and equipment
- Perform basic diagnostic tests on machinery
- Clean and lubricate machinery and equipment
- Adjust and calibrate machinery
- Use hand tools, lathes, grinders, drill presses and other tools
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Industrial Mechanics
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 362,440 industrial mechanics employed in the United States. States with the highest employment rates for industrial mechanics include:
- Texas
- California
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
Similar Occupations as Industrial Mechanics
Similar occupations as industrial mechanics include:
- Electrical and electronics engineers
- Electricians
- General maintenance and repair workers
- Machinists
- Medical equipment repairers
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters
- Tool and die makers
- Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers
- Wind turbine technicians
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Industrial Mechanics and Mesothelioma
There have been a few notable cases involving industrial mechanics due to asbestos exposure. The widow of an industrial mechanic was awarded $2.1 million by a Tennessee jury who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on the job. During his 34-career at Stauffer Chemical in Tennessee, he worked with asbestos pipes, cutting and grinding pipes and fittings to create secure fittings. This work caused a substantial amount of asbestos dust to form in the air, which the industrial engineer breathed in. He developed mesothelioma and died from the disease. The jury found Ameron International Corp. and other manufacturers made defective products that were unreasonably dangerous and violated federal regulations in manufacturing and labeling their products, which was a substantial contributing factor in causing the worker’s illness and eventual death.
Industrial mechanics who were exposed to asbestos during their work may have several options for pursuing compensation, including filing a workers’ compensation claim, filing a claim with asbestos bankruptcy trusts or filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Studies Related to Industrial Mechanics and Mesothelioma
There have been a few studies that show the connection between industrial work and asbestos exposure. Multiple studies have found that individuals working in packing, textile, and friction plants are at a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma. A 2016 study published in Epidemiology and Health analyzed rates of asbestos-related cancers in Swedish workers from 1961 to 2009 and found the incidence of pleural mesothelioma was 67% higher for mechanical engineers than the general population.
A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study evaluated the relationship between work with high rates of asbestos exposure and the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancer of nearly 5 million workers in 28 states. Researchers found an elevated risk of colorectal cancer for these workers.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Industrial Mechanics
Industrial mechanics could have come into contact with a variety of asbestos-related products. Asbestos was commonly used to construct factories and oil refineries where industrial mechanics worked. Asbestos was contained in construction materials, such as
- Boilers
- Cement
- Duct connectors
- Electrical and mechanical components
- Flooring and ceiling tiles
- Glues and sealants
- HVAC equipment and insulation
- Joint compound
- Loose-fill insulation, pipe wrap, block insulation, acoustic tiles and spray-on insulation
- Paints
- Roofing materials
Additionally, these workers could have come into contact with the products these plants were producing that contained asbestos, such as:
- Aviation parts
- Automotive parts, including brake pads, shoes, drums and discs
- Fireproofing materials
- Textiles
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Industrial Mechanics
Industrial mechanics may have come into contact with or worked directly with asbestos-containing products produced by companies such as:
- ABB Ltd.
- P. Green Industries
- Armstrong World Industries
- Babcock and Wilcox
- Combustion Engineering
- Dana Corporation
- Ford Motor Company
- Foster Wheeler
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Georgia Pacific
- John Crane
- Johns-Manville
- T. Thorpe Inc.
- Kaiser Aluminum
- National Gypsum
- Owens Corning Fiberglass
- Raybestos Manhattan Raymark Industries
- UNARCO
- Union Carbide
