Electricians who have endured asbestos exposure are 16 times more likely to get mesothelioma than those in other occupations. This is due to the millions of homes built from the 1940s to the 1980s, which are more likely to contain asbestos-containing materials.
As mesothelioma symptoms don’t appear until 20 to 50 years later, many victims believe it’s been too long and that they have no right to compensation. That is incorrect.
Even if the exposure occurred decades ago, electricians may still be able to file a lawsuit to secure the compensation you deserve for your damages.
In this guide, you’ll learn what rights electricians with mesothelioma have and what you can do to take action.
Why Electricians Face High Asbestos Exposure Risk
From the 1930s to the 1980s, electricians regularly came into close contact while repairing or installing buildings with old materials, such as asbestos. Even today, work on older buildings may pose a risk. Any old drywall, for example, that is drilled into can contain asbestos without the electrician knowing. Areas such as HVAC units, power systems, and old elevator shafts are prone to containing asbestos.
U.S. Navy electricians were particularly exposed, with chrysotile asbestos used in installations, circuit boards, and motor controllers, all very common on older Navy vessels.
Handling Electrical Wiring and Components
To prevent it from becoming a fire hazard, many properties covered electrical wiring with asbestos cloth insulation, asbestos electrical tape, and braided asbestos cord. It was seen throughout electrical panels, partitions, brakes, and electrical panel arc chutes.
Asbestos was used throughout the 1920s to 1970s, particularly after WWII, until an EPA ban in 1973. That means pre-1980 buildings and equipment can still pose a risk.
Many manufacturers ignored health concerns as early as the 1930s, and as late as the 1980s, including:
- General Electric (GE): With asbestos cables, wires, turbines, molding compounds, and panel insulation.
- Westinghouse: With cables, panels, gaskets, packing, wires, and circuit breakers.
- Square D: With electrical panels, shields, and arc chutes.
Drilling Through Walls to Access Concealed Wiring
When electricians drill into walls to find hidden wiring, they may be cutting into materials from decades ago. All the dust that is produced can contain asbestos fibers. If HEPA vacuums or other protections weren’t used, the fibers can be inhaled.
Common dangerous materials include:
- Vermiculite insulation (Zonolite brand) was an insulation material that contained 20 to 25% tremolite-actinolite asbestos.
- Drywall joint compound, which contained 3.5% chrysotile asbestos for strength and flexibility. This was very common until the 1977 CPSC ban, but stock was still used throughout the 80s.
Working in Attics, Cellars, and Crawl Spaces
Attics, cellars, and crawl spaces are, of course, also common places for insulation, including asbestos insulation. These areas rarely have good ventilation and pose a greater risk than open areas. Over the past 80 years, electricians have been frequently exposed to attics containing:
- Loose-fill asbestos insulation: Which contained friable vermiculite (often Zonolite, 20-25% tremolite-actinolite).
- Blown-in insulation
- Pipe insulation, which often contained 85% asbestos.
Working on Construction and Renovation Sites
Renovation or demolition of pre-1980s buildings posed a much higher risk of asbestos exposure than new construction.
Electricians on renovation sites are prone to these loose fibers and contact with:
- Transite electrical panels are used for weatherproofing outdoor panels.
- Arc chutes in breaker boxes
- Asbestos-cement conduit: used in underground wiring.
- Junction boxes: Often lined with asbestos insulation for heat resistance.
Electrician Asbestos Exposure in The Workplace: Then vs. Now
The electrician’s job safety has dramatically improved since OSHA regulations fully took effect in the 1980s.
During the 1920s to 1980s, even basic respirators were rare, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that OSHA established mandatory air monitoring standards. Electricians would also cut freely into walls without wet methods or PPE. Obviously, exposure was widespread.
Thankfully, since the 1990s, particularly, strict regulations have been put in place, such as OSHA 1926.1101, which mandates asbestos surveys before work commences. There is also training to help electricians recognize asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), as well as advancements in full-face respirators and Tyvek suits. Not to mention, of course, that new materials have been asbestos-free since the 1989 EPA ban.
Richard Moyle, who is the National Awareness Coordinator of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center in Orlando, Florida, had some important tips to help electricians stay safe on the job, recommending:
- Checking a job site to be sure that it has been tested for asbestos levels and that professional abatement contractors have removed any asbestos.
- Being aware of local jurisdictional requirements to determine if electrical permits and health requirements are being met.
- Wear a respirator or face mask to avoid inhaling asbestos dust.
What Regulations Are There on Asbestos in Workplaces?
OSHA has three core standards that protect workers from asbestos exposure: General industry (such as automotive and product manufacturing), shipyards, and construction.
Each of these is protected by the following standards, which the employer must ensure no one is exposed to:
- Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for asbestos: 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an eight-hour time-weighted average with an excursion limit (EL) of 1.0 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter over 30 minutes.
- Assessment: Workplaces must be assessed before work begins to ensure the air will not contain airborne fibers above the limits set by each standard.
- Monitoring: To detect if asbestos exposure is above PEL or EL. For example, shipyard standards require assessment and monitoring.
The EPA also has regulations that require strict procedures to be followed before demolishing structures, such as disposing of wet or sealed waste, as well as mandatory surveys before work begins.
Read more: Employer safety responsibilities.
Health Risks: Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, and Asbestosis
Anyone who faced unsafe levels of asbestos exposure sadly faces severe respiratory diseases. These diseases are often not diagnosed until decades later, as symptoms have a latency of 20 to 50 years.
Mesothelioma is the most common and aggressive. It is believed there could be thousands of mesothelioma deaths per year. Electricians who worked around chrysotile insulation and asbestos are most at risk. Early consultation is highly recommended to improve the chances of survival.
Asbestosis is also a potential disease, where the exposure causes irreversible lung scarring and reduces lung capacity. Lung cancer is also a risk, notably as it multiplies the danger of smoking by 50 times.
Warning Signs of Electricians’ Mesothelioma
Cardiovascular Symptoms
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Chest pain
Digestive Symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- A loss of appetite
Respiratory Symptoms
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Discomfort or difficulty swallowing
- Fluid buildup in the throat or lungs
Other Symptoms
- Fatigue and muscle weakness
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
Screen Recommendations
Screening is strongly recommended for electricians who worked in buildings or in proximity to asbestos materials before 1980. If you or a loved one believes you may be at risk, then you may also qualify for a screening via past job sites. Speaking to an asbestos exposure attorney can help clarify your options.
Legal Options for Electricians Diagnosed with Asbestos Diseases
Any electrician who has been diagnosed with asbestos diseases, such as mesothelioma, is likely to be able to file an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit.
This is true even if the exposure occurred decades ago, as the Statute of Limitations (the deadline for filing a claim) runs from the date of diagnosis.
Personal Injury Claims
Lawsuits can be filed against negligent companies that should have protected an electrician from asbestos exposure. Given the laws enacted in the late 1970s and 1980s, employers and manufacturers had a duty to protect electricians from hazardous exposure. If they breached that duty, then the electrician can be owed compensation for damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Read more: Negligence in asbestos cases.
Wrongful Death Claims
The surviving families of electricians who passed away due to asbestos-related diseases can file lawsuits known as ‘wrongful death claims’ to cover post-death costs, such as funeral and burial costs, grief, and the loss of companionship.
Asbestos Trust Funds
If an electrician’s employer went bankrupt, they may still be entitled to compensation through an asbestos trust fund. That’s because a law was enacted to ensure funds were available to victims through a trust after companies went bankrupt.
Around 60 trusts exist, including GE, Westinghouse, and Federal-Mogul. Court is not required, and payouts can be around 60 to 80% of what you’d find in a lawsuit.
Multi-Defendant Cases
If an electrician believes they were exposed to asbestos by multiple parties, then they can file lawsuits against numerous parties for cumulative exposure. In some cases, an electrician may name dozens of defendants, including premises owners, suppliers, contractors, and employers. Although more complex and time-consuming, these cases can result in larger settlements.
Statute of Limitations
It’s extremely important to know that there is a deadline on filing any asbestos lawsuit, starting from the date of diagnosis or death. This varies by state but is usually between 1 and 3 years. For example, in Canada, it is just one year.
For that reason, we highly recommend contacting an asbestos exposure attorney as soon as possible.
FAQs on Electricians Asbestos Exposure
Can I file a lawsuit if I was exposed to asbestos as an electrician 30 years ago?
Yes. The statute of limitations begins upon the date of diagnosis, so there’s a very strong chance you can if your diagnosis was recent. Companies were also mandated to keep exposure records for decades, which can strongly support your case.
What if the company I worked for no longer exists?
There may be an asbestos trust fund established after the company went bankrupt, ensuring victims have funds for compensation. You may also be able to file a lawsuit against other parties, such as manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors.
Will filing a lawsuit affect my workers’ compensation benefits?
No. Filing a third-party lawsuit generally does not affect ongoing workers’ compensation rights.
How do I prove I was exposed to asbestos if I worked at many different job sites?
Your asbestos exposure attorneys will acquire evidence such as employment records, job site lists, co-worker affidavits, and cross-reference them against invoices, purchase orders, blueprints, and air monitoring records to prove cumulative exposure was present.
What if I can’t remember which specific products I worked with?
This is obviously a common question, given that it may have been 30 to 40 years since you worked with them. Thankfully, the courts rely on FRP standards (frequency, regularity, and proximity rather than perfect memory recall). Therefore, we craft solid cases with evidence such as those listed above to prove causation in mesothelioma cases.