The Boilermaker’s Profession

The repair, construction, assembly and outfitting of boilers— were all in a day’s work for a boilermaker. Responsible for fixing gaskets, installing, testing and inspecting boilers for safety, their work can often be dangerous and involve intensive labor.  Due to the longevity of boilers—with average life spans of over 50 years—boilermakers are responsible for their constant repair and maintenance. It is especially important that the boilermakers of today take extra caution when repairing old boilers, as the possibility of coming into contact with asbestos insulation still exists.

Prior to the 1980s, the work of a boiler man would often involve exposure to asbestos fibers. The use of asbestos as an insulator was especially prevalent in boilers due to its exceptional fire-resistant properties. When disturbed during maintenance, airborne particles of asbestos would become friable and expose workers to the hazard of inhalation of this dangerous dust.

What Boiler Room Tasks Carried the Highest Asbestos Risk?

Boilermakers often encountered asbestos when heat and pressure degraded insulation and gaskets. Tasks with elevated exposure included:

• Stripping and rewrapping insulation jackets on boilers, tanks, and heat exchangers.
• Cutting, scraping, or wire-brushing old gaskets, packing, and rope on manways and flanges.
• Grinding or drilling through firebrick, refractory, or cement that contained asbestos.
• Cleaning out lagging debris in tight basements or mechanical rooms with poor ventilation.
• Using compressed air to clear dust (which can aerosolize asbestos fibers).

Even short maintenance jobs could generate airborne fibers—especially in confined spaces.

How Can Today’s Boilermakers Reduce Exposure During Repairs?

Modern controls dramatically cut risk when applied consistently:

• Assume suspect materials contain asbestos in pre-1980s equipment until tested.
• Wet methods and local exhaust: Mist surfaces before removal; use HEPA-equipped vacuums, not dry sweeping.
• Use proper PPE: Fit-tested respirator (per task risk), disposable coveralls, gloves; decon procedures after work.
• Replace like-for-like with non-asbestos parts: Modern gaskets, packing, and insulation alternatives are widely available.
• Document abatement: Keep records of inspections, test results, and any certified removals for future reference.

What Should You Do If You Were Exposed Years Ago?

If you worked around boilers before the 1980s—or serviced older systems later—you can still take steps now:

• Consult an asbestos attorney to evaluate claims against manufacturers or premises owners and to track filing deadlines.
• Create an exposure timeline listing employers, sites, equipment, tasks, and products handled.
• Talk to coworkers/union stewards for corroborating statements and product identification.
• Get medical screening (e.g., chest X-ray/CT, pulmonary function testing) and keep copies.
• Save evidence: Photos of equipment, manuals, purchase orders, or part numbers for gaskets/packing/insulation.

Mr. C’s story

Whether your heat went out, your morning shower was cold, or you swore you heard a clunking sound, the boilermaker was there to fix these common woes. One such boilermaker was Mr. C, who worked in the late 1960s and 1970s in the Chicago area. His work dispatched him to facilities such as hospitals, schools, the local fast food joints, large office buildings, and private homes. He belonged to his local union pipefitters association and worked in a variety of jobs that took him all over Chicago and the suburbs. His jobs would last as long as it took to get the heat going again. He often worked long hours in confined basement settings with poor ventilation.

His exposure to asbestos occurred during the daily repairs to the boilers when their insulation jackets were removed, flange gaskets needed repair, or control parts were replaced. These parts were often coated in asbestos insulation. Further, he often would use an asbestos rope to fit between the seams of the boiler. The crushing or disturbance of this insulation would cause the fibers to become airborne, and easily inhalable.

Asbestos was also often used to insulate heat exchangers, tanks, or water heaters.  Not having been warned about the dangers of asbestos, Mr. C often wore no protection and breathed in the asbestos particles as they were released into the air. Sadly today, due to his long exposure to asbestos as a boiler man, Mr. C now suffers from asbestosis—a serious condition that scars the lung tissues and makes breathing difficult.

As a result of his asbestos injuries, Mr. C sought the legal counsel of Cooney & Conway to represent his interests against the companies that left him exposed. If you or a loved one were a boilermaker and were diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, it is highly important that you speak with an experienced attorney to discuss your legal remedy.