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How Can a Machinist Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Machinists set up and operate computer-controlled and mechanically-controlled machine tools and milling machines, grinders and lathes that produce precision metal parts, tools and instruments. Machinists determine the cutting path, the feed rate and the speed of the cut during this process. Machinists often produce antilock brakes, auto pistons and hydraulic parts. Some machinists also repair or make new parts for machinery.
Machinists often worked with materials that contained asbestos, such as industrial valves, pumps, gaskets, packing, ship parts and grinding wheels. Brake parts also often contained asbestos. Machinists would be exposed to asbestos dust and fibers when working with these materials. Additionally, asbestos was often contained in protective clothing that machinists wore, such as asbestos-insulated aprons or gloves. Machinists also worked in some of the industries with the highest rate of asbestos, such as HVAC, oil refineries, railroads and shipyards.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Machinists
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 384,350 machinists employed in the United States. States with the highest employment rates for machinists include:
- California
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Texas
Similar Occupations as Machinists
Similar occupations as machinists include:
- Assemblers
- Boilermakers
- Fabricators
- Industrial machinery mechanics
- Machinery maintenance workers
- Metal and plastic machine operators
- Millwrights
- Sheet metal workers
- Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Machinists and Mesothelioma
There have been several notable cases involving machinists who have filed lawsuits after developing asbestos-related diseases. A Los Angeles jury returned a verdict of $32.8 million in favor of a former machinist against the manufacturer of a respirator the machinist wore to try to prevent asbestos exposure. He worked as a machinist from 1972 to 1992 and wore the respirator for 17 years but was still diagnosed with mesothelioma. The jury found the defendant acted with malice, fraud or oppression and that is knew its equipment could not prevent asbestos exposure. The award included $10 million in punitive damages.
An Oakland, California jury returned a verdict of nearly $5.5 million in 2010 to a former machinist who was exposed to Rockbestos asbestos insulated wire and cable products during his career as a machinist from 1969 to 1971. When he cut insulated wire, dangerous levels of asbestos dust entered the air and the former machinist breathed in these toxic particles. The jury found that the company failed to adequately warn consumers of the dangers of its products that it knew about.
In 1998, a San Francisco jury awarded a former machinist and his wife more than $4.5 million after the man was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The jury found that the defendant, John Crane, Inc. manufactured and supplied asbestos packing and gaskets that the former machinist came in contact with when he worked in power plants in the southwestern United States from 1973 to 1991.
Another San Francisco jury returned a verdict of more than $1.9 million in 2006 for a retired Navy machinist who was exposed to asbestos-containing valve and pump packing and asbestos thermal insulation made by John Crane, Inc., Thorpe Insulation Company and other manufacturers during his 20 years of service. The jury found manufacturers negligent and failed to warn about the defects in their products.
Studies Related to Machinists and Mesothelioma
There have been a few studies that have explored the connection between machinists and exposure to asbestos. “Incidence of cancer among welders, platers, machinists, and pipe fitters in shipyards and machine shops” assessed the records of 12,693 male professionals who worked for at least one year between 1945 and 1960 in at least one of these professions. Researchers found high levels of lung cancer in machinists and other professionals who were at a high risk of asbestos exposure. In “Relative risk of mesothelioma among railroad machinists,” researchers found an extremely high relative risk for machinists who were exposed to chrysotile asbestos for developing mesothelioma. They found 1 out of 13 machinists developed the disease in the cohort study.
Researchers determined that there was a high risk of occupation-related cancer due to asbestos exposure for machinists for decades in the 1983 study entitled “Mesothelioma among machinists in railroad and other industries.”
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Machinists
Machinists may have worked directly with asbestos-containing products and construction materials that contain asbestos such as:
- Automotive parts, including brake pads, shoes, drums and discs
- Electrical and mechanical components
- Gaskets, pumps and valves
- Glues and sealants
- Heating and air conditioning equipment
- Insulation
- Joint compound
- Paints
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Machinists
Machinists may have worked directly with asbestos-containing products manufactured by companies such as:
- Alcan
- Burrows Paper Corporation
- Carrier Corporation
- Foster Wheeler
- GTE Sylvania
