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How Can a Roofer Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Roofers cover roof structures with shingles, wood, slate, aluminum, asphalt or other materials. They may spray roofs, walls and siding with material to bind, seal, insulate or soundproof structures. Asbestos was commonly included in many structures built before the 1970s and is still permitted in roofing felt, cement sheets, non-roofing coatings and shingles, so construction workers could still be exposed to asbestos today.
Additionally, roofers often sprayed asphalt cutback or emulsions that contained asbestos onto finished roofs. Sometimes they would tear up old roof flashings when they installed new materials, and these older materials very likely contained asbestos in them.
Roofers are employed in a field that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers the most hazardous industry in the nation. In addition to the possibility of falls and injuries from heavy machinery, construction workers may also face dangers from microscopic asbestos fibers. Asbestos was used in thousands of construction products before asbestos began to be regulated in the 1970s, including roofing materials, drywall, joint compound and paint, which roofers may have come in contact with while completing their regular job duties. Most occupational health organizations unanimously agree that building products contaminated with asbestos increase the likelihood of construction workers developing deadly diseases like mesothelioma.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Roofers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 160,600 roofers employed in the United States. This profession has an expected growth rate of 12% between 2018 and 2028, which is much faster than the average rate of growth. States with the highest employment rates for roofers are:
- Florida
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Ohio
Similar Occupations as Roofers
Similar occupations as roofers include:
- Painters
- Drywall installers
- Tile setters
- Carpenters
- Masonry workers
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Pipefitters
- Steamfitters
- Grounds maintenance workers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Roofers and Mesothelioma
There have been several notable cases involving roofers who have been exposed to asbestos. In 2000, a 64-year-old Missouri former roofer received a verdict of a record-setting $34.1 million after the jury found that the location where he worked was aware of the dangers of asbestos and intentionally tried to hide them. The verdict included $25 million in punitive damages.
In another case, a family was awarded $3.2 million against Tremeco Inc., a roofing material worker. The man’s family proved that he worked around tape and caulk made by the manufacturer that released asbestos fibers. However, in 2020, an Illinois appellate court reversed the verdict because they found that the family failed to show how he could have breathed in these fibers.
Studies Related to Roofers and Asbestos
Several studies have been conducted on asbestos and its link to the construction industry. Construction workers make up the largest group that is currently the most heavily exposed to asbestos in the United states. Specific studies and findings related to the link between construction workers and asbestos include:
- An American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study estimated that more than 1.3 million construction workers are still at risk of being exposed to asbestos as part of their jobs. Because demolition workers are more likely to come in contact with and disturb asbestos-containing products, they are at an elevated degree of risk as are construction workers who work on homes and buildings built before the 1970s.
- Another study found that approximately 30% of roofers who handled asbestos worked in environments with asbestos concentrations above the permitted limit.
- An Italian study of 952 individuals with mesothelioma found that 251 of the cases involved workers who worked in the construction industry. Each of these workers had between 350,000 and 3,000,000 asbestos fibers found in their lungs.
- A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that construction workers are at least five times more likely to develop mesothelioma, compared to the general population.
- There have been several reports that construction workers and contractors exposed to asbestos have elevated rates of mesothelioma and lung cancer, including a National Institutes of Health study that found pleural abnormalities in 70% of construction workers who had spent at least 30 years in the construction industry.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Roofers
Roofers could have been exposed to a variety of asbestos products through their line of work, such as:
- Roof shingles
- Roofing felt
- Spray-on insulation
- Roof coating
- Gypsum board, millboard, plasters and drywall products
- Grout and mastics
- Drywall joint compounds
- Spackling compounds
- Drywall tape
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Roofers
Some manufacturers of asbestos-containing products that roofers may have been exposed to include:
- Union Carbide
- R. Grace & Co.
- Johns Manville
- National Gypsum
- Owens Corning
- Celotex
- S. Mineral Products
- GAF
- CertainTeed
- Brunswick Fabrications
- The Flintkote Company
- American Biltrite
- Hanson Permanente
- Artra Group
- Eternit
- Fuller-Austin Insulation
- Delaware Insulation
- E. Thurston & Sons
- Kentile Floors
- California Portland Cement
- Congoleum
