Pipefitters are skilled workers who are responsible for the design, installation, and repair of pipe systems, most often in large commercial buildings or manufacturing facilities. Pipe systems can transport a variety of substances including water, steam, air, gas, and human waste. Plumbers often work with asbestos cement water and sewer pipe, flue pipe, gaskets, asbestos-running rope, and plumbers putty, and also have to remove pipe insulation, or work around insulators installing pipe insulation.
Those who work on smaller-scale projects such as pipe systems in a residential setting are commonly referred to as plumbers. Steamfitters specialize in pipe systems that handle the high-pressure transport of gasses or liquid.
Through much of the 1980s, the daily tasks of these workers routinely exposed them to asbestos, as it was a preferred material for insulating pipes because of its superior resistance to heat and friction.
Pipefitters worked with a number of asbestos products that had to be cut or sanded down to meet specifications for a particular project. As a result, many of those who worked in this profession were exposed to harmful asbestos fibers that were released into the air.
Plumbers and pipefitters who were exposed to harmful levels of asbestos exposure and who are now suffering from an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or asbestosis should know they have legal rights to file a claim for financial compensation.
Filing claim or a lawsuit against negligent asbestos companies responsible for your asbestos exposure can help you recover compensation for the high cost of medical treatments for asbestos-related diseases. Call today to learn more about plumber and pipefitter asbestos exposure lawsuits.