Asbestos, Mesothelioma, and Welders

Since asbestos was used in so many ways, for so many years, in so many places, welders have been among those most affected by its ill effects, including mesothelioma, commonly known as asbestos cancer.

Most construction or fabrication workers were involved with asbestos at some time or another, even those of the unlikeliest professions. Asbestos was used in shipyards, petrochemical plants, paper mills, factories, steel mills, building construction, and the telephone industry. Asbestos was used so widely that virtually all that was involved with construction or design, of any kind, had exposure to asbestos in one form or another.

In particular, welders who work on renovation projects are at risk, and if you do, you should be aware of the dangers.

According to AsbestosResource.com, "building engineers, building material products manufacturers, cement plant production workers, construction workers (including insulators, boilermakers, laborers, steel/ironworkers, plumbers, steam fitters, plasterers, drywallers, cement and masonry workers, roofers, tile/linoleum installers, carpenters, HVAC mechanics and welders) all used asbestos in many products that they worked with. Asbestos was used in the flight industry, so aerospace and missile production workers, aircraft manufacturing production workers, and aircraft mechanics are all at risk. Basically all trades of construction workers are at risk."

What does this mean to welders working today? For the most part, we're safe, as companies are cognizant of the dangers of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. But do you really want to leave your safety to someone else? If you are working in an old facility, where there might be some possibility of asbestos being present, don't be afraid to ask questions.

It's your health, after all.