Welding and Asbestos Exposure

The link between welding and asbestos exposure is gaining attention as successful lawsuits against the welding industry increase in number. Welding causes asbestos exposure when welding rods that contain asbestos are burned, releasing fumes that contain asbestos fibers. Welding blankets that are used to protect against sparks may also contain asbestos, and when these welding blankets burn, the fumes may release the asbestos fibers to be inhaled by the welder and others in the area.

Welding Rods and Welding Blankets

Welding rods, the pieces of metal that are burned in order to weld together two or more other larger metal items, can have asbestos as a component. The release of asbestos in the fumes and gases produced by welding rods can be very dangerous. Millions of asbestos-containing welding rods were sold and distributed in the decades before the 1980s.

Welding blankets are designed to resist heat and fire. Asbestos was an obvious choice as a component of welding blankets in the years before the link between asbestos and cancers was known. Even after the link was established, asbestos-containing welding blankets continue to be used.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

The inhalation of the asbestos fibers, which are invisible to the naked eye, is the starting point for several devastating asbestos-caused diseases, including life-threatening mesothelioma, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, and asbestosis. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is well aware of the dangers of welding, and asbestos exposure is only one of the many areas that are highly regulated by OSHA and by state workplace laws.

Welders Are at Risk

It has been estimated that there are about 700,000 to 800,000 former and current welders in the U.S. Many of them have already been subjected to years of on-the-job welding asbestos exposure. In addition to asbestos, welding is known to present a risk of manganese poisoning, as acknowledged by the World Health Organization.

If you are a former welder and you have an asbestos-caused disease such as mesothelioma, let us help you today. We can inform you of the many resources that may be available to you—financial, legal, medical, and more.