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What is a Blacksmith?
Blacksmiths produce and repair objects that are made of metal. They create ornamental or functional objects by using traditional and modern techniques. Some of the items that they may produce or repair include:
- Farm equipment
- Furniture
- Gates
- Grilles
- Kitchen utensils and equipment
- Light fixtures
- Machines
- Railings
- Sculptures and other artistic pieces of work
- Structural components
- Tools
- Weapons
Some blacksmiths work on only particular metal items while others may work on a variety of products. Blacksmiths must follow instructions provided in diagrams and work orders. Some of their regular job duties may include:
- Heat metal stock in a blacksmith’s forge or furnace
- Repair farm machinery
- Temper forged objects
- Forge tools and tool parts
- Hammers stock into specified size and shape
- Insert holding and locking devices in casting
- Repair metal tools or other objects
- Repair casting and forgings by using special processes
- Operating grinding tools to remove burns from surfaces
- Sharpen objects
- Cut, assemble and weld metal parts
- Smooth corners
- Use air-powered tools, punches and strippers
- Create components and agricultural implements
- Create original works of art
How Can a Blacksmith Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Because asbestos helps prevent fires and is a good insulator, it was ideal for use by blacksmiths in many applications. Asbestos does not conduct heat or catch fire so it was used for heat protection in the blacksmithing industry.
Due to these properties, asbestos was used to construct buildings where blacksmiths worked. Forges were constructed to keep wind out of the building and smoke and heat to escape from the hot equipment, so these buildings were often not well ventilated, increasing the likelihood that asbestos could be breathed in by workers.
Temperatures in forges often exceed 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so asbestos was used to protect blacksmiths from heat and fire. Asbestos was used to add fire-resistant qualities to the protective clothing that blacksmiths wore and their work surfaces.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Blacksmiths
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not currently have a listing for blacksmiths. However, they do report on the number of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers. According to the BLS, there are currently 424,700 of these professionals employed in the United States. The states with the highest employment rates for these professionals are:
Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are currently 98,600 ironworkers employed in the United States. This profession has an expected growth rate of 11% for 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the average rate. States with the highest employment rates for ironworkers include the following:
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Ohio
- Florida
Similar Occupations as Blacksmiths
Similar occupations as blacksmiths include:
- Assemblers and fabricators
- Boilermakers
- Industrial machinery mechanics
- Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Machinists
- Machinery maintenance workers
- Masonry workers
- Metal and plastic machine workers
- Millwrights
- Pipefitters
- Sheet metal workers
- Steamfitters
- Tool and die makers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Blacksmiths and Mesothelioma
There are a limited number of lawsuits that are made public that blacksmiths have filed alleging asbestos exposure. However, there are some. For example, two former BNSF Railway workers sued the company, alleging that they developed diseases due to their exposure to asbestos on the job. The plaintiffs included a blacksmith and a boilermaker. The plaintiffs alleged that their employer required them to work with asbestos-containing materials and violated federal workplace safety standards. Different types of ironworkers more commonly file these types of cases. Some of these cases have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. For example, a former worker at U.S. Steel Corp. was awarded $250 million by a Los Angeles jury, including $200 million in punitive damages.
Studies Related to Blacksmiths and Asbestos
A group of researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Hospital conducted a study of nearly 870 ironworkers in New York in 1991, including structural and ornamental workers. They reviewed the occupational and medical histories of the study participants, including findings from comprehensive physical exams, chest x-rays and spirometry performed on many of the patients. Of these workers, 329 were found to have pleural abnormalities on their x-rays caused by their exposure to asbestos. Researchers further found that the length of time they worked in the ironworking field was the most significant factor in determining the extensiveness of the participants’ abnormalities.
In a 2016 study entitled “Asbestosis and environmental causes of usual interstitial pneumonia” researchers reviewed the current literature regarding the exposure of asbestos to various illnesses. They noted that workers in fabricating trades like welders and blacksmiths may be exposed to metal dust and other toxins. They suggested that clinicians inquire about visible dust exposure, whether appropriate engineering controls are used in the workplace and whether workers are given the proper personal protective equipment to use.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Blacksmiths
Due to the high temperatures involved in blacksmith shops, there were many products that may have been contained in these areas that were made of asbestos, including insulation and other construction materials that are not specific to the blacksmith industry.
Additionally, blacksmiths worked close to high heat and flames, so their protective equipment often contained asbestos. Some of the products that were known to contain asbestos that blacksmiths may have used or came in contact with include the following:
- Insulation in the building
- Hot tops that maintained the heat for molten steel
- Protective aprons, coveralls, gloves, face masks and other clothing
- Fireproof materials
- Protective sheeting
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Blacksmiths
Foseco Inc. made lids for forging boxes that contained asbestos. Many of the popular insulation manufacturers that insulated forge shops provided insulation to other buildings. Main asbestos insulation manufacturers include:
- Johns Manville
- R. Grace
- National Gypsum
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Celotex
- Armstrong Contracting and Supply
