Asbestos Occupations

Workers in several trades and occupations were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as they went to work in factories, mills, power plants, refineries and other industrial environments.

The following industrial occupations are traditionally associated with high levels of asbestos exposure:

• aerospace and missile production workers
• aircraft manufacturing production workers
• aircraft mechanics
• asbestos textile mill workers
• automobile manufacturing production workers, including automobile mechanics and brake repairers
• boilermakers
• brake and clutch manufacturing and assembly workers
• building engineers
• building material products manufacturers
• cement plant production workers
• coast guardsmen
• construction workers, including insulators, boilermakers, laborers, steel/iron workers, plumbers, steam fitters, plasterers, drywallers, cement and masonry workers, roofers, tile/linoleum installers, carpenters, HVAC mechanics and welders
• custodians
• demolition and wrecking crews
• electrical workers, including electricians, electrical linemen, and telephone linemen
• family members of occupationally exposed people
• insulation manufacturing plant workers
• insulators
• longshoremen
• machinists
• merchant mariners
• packing and gasket manufacturing plant workers
• pipefitters
• powerhouse workers, including insulators and pipefitters
• protective clothing and glove makers
• railroad workers, including locomotive mechanics, car mechanics and rebuilders, and maintenance personnel
• refinery workers, including insulators and pipefitters
• refractory products plant workers
• rubber workers, including tire makers and hose makers
• sheetmetal workers
• shipyard workers, including electricians, insulators, laborers, laggers, painters, pipefitters, maintenance workers, and welders
• steamfitters
• U.S. Navy personnel

• warehouse workers