HVAC Workers Exposed to Asbestos on the Job
If you are a HVAC worker diagnosed with mesothelioma, our mesothelioma lawyers provide compassionate support and fierce legal advocacy for those exposed to asbestos on the job. When HVAC professionals work in older buildings or with older materials, they may breathe in airborne asbestos fibers that can have devastating consequences on their health later in life. Bergman Oslund Udo Little has helped hundreds of these victims seek justice and is ready to help your family demand the compensation you deserve.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 9, 2024
HVAC Workers in Our Community
Many Pacific Northwest residents work in the heating, ventilation, and cooling industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that more than 7,000 people in Washington state worked in HVAC occupations in 2021. In Oregon, the number totaled more than 3,000.
HVAC workers in the Pacific Northwest may be members of HVAC-specific unions. One local union focused on HVAC work is the Washington Air Conditioning Contractors Association.
They may also belong to other unions related to the industry. For example, some are members of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 66 or other unions that oversee the metalwork commonly involved with these systems. HVAC mechanics may be part of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada through chapters like UA Local 290, United Association Local 32, and UA Association Local 26.
How Were HVAC Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
Older structures and buildings often have dated HVAC systems containing asbestos, a group of fibrous minerals naturally resistant to high temperatures. Because these fibers are strong and handle heat particularly well, asbestos was commonly used in insulation, fireproofing, and building materials for decades until the 1980s.
Unfortunately, asbestos can cause serious health issues if inhaled. When materials containing asbestos are moved or disturbed, tiny fibers are released into the air, which can be inhaled or ingested. As HVAC workers complete repairs, installations, or other services on heating and cooling systems in older buildings, there is a risk of substantial or long-term exposure to asbestos fibers.
Asbestos particles can become trapped in the lungs and accumulate over time, causing inflammation, severe respiratory issues, and cancers like mesothelioma. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos as an HVAC worker in Oregon or Washington, you may qualify to claim compensation. Contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little now to schedule a free case review today.
HVAC Products Known to Contain Asbestos
While manufacturers have limited asbestos use and implemented measures to prevent exposure to the substance, many products still contain asbestos and could harm HVAC workers. Working in industrial settings or job sites with these products increases the risk of exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. The following are some of the common components that may contain asbestos:
- Insulation & Duct Wrap: Asbestos was commonly used in insulation and heating ductwork throughout older buildings. If you’re removing or adjusting these materials, it can release asbestos particles into the air.
- Gaskets & Packing: Buildings with old stoves and furnaces often have gaskets, patching compounds, and packing materials that contain asbestos.
- Cement Sheets: Asbestos cement sheeting was often used as a fire-proof building material for roofing, siding, and flooring in older homes and buildings.
- Cement Pipes: Since asbestos cement pipes are corrosion-resistant, they were a popular choice for water and drainage systems for decades.
- Cement Board: These asbestos materials were produced as small sheets designed to fireproof heaters, stoves, boilers, and roofs.
- HVAC Insulation Tape: Insulation tape containing asbestos was often used on pipes and ductwork in homes and buildings constructed before the 1980s. Removing this tape can make dangerous asbestos fibers airborne.
- Fireproofing Spray: Asbestos is heat resistant, making it a popular material for fireproofing structures. However, the United States has banned asbestos spray because of its health hazards.
- Ceiling Tiles: Ceiling tiles made with asbestos can be dangerous when they deteriorate or are disturbed. When HVAC workers remove tiles and breathe in asbestos fibers, it can have long-term effects on their health.
- Joint Compound: Some joint compounds, also called spackle or drywall mud, may contain asbestos. When this drywall is repaired, replaced, or moved for HVAC services, there is a risk of asbestos exposure.
Bergman Oslund Udo Little helps HVAC workers and their families seek justice after suffering harm from asbestos exposure. If your health has suffered because of asbestos while working in the HVAC field, contact an asbestos HVAC lawyer on our team for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and explore your legal options to claim compensation.
HVAC Work Sites With Asbestos in the Pacific Northwest
Many work sites in Washington and Oregon have roofing, concrete, insulation, and other building materials contain asbestos. HVAC workers on projects at these sites have an increased risk of asbestos exposure.
School Districts
Some public structures in Washington and Oregon school districts can potentially have building materials, ductwork, insulation, ceilings, and more that contain asbestos. If you frequently do HVAC work for school districts in the Pacific Northwest and your health suffers due to asbestos air conditioning or asbestos furnace exposure, you may qualify to take legal action.
Hospitals and Medical Centers
Hospitals and medical centers built several decades ago are likely to have some materials that contain asbestos. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, asbestos in hospitals is commonly found in:
- HVAC duct insulation
- Pipe and boiler insulation
- Ceilings
- Flooring
- Insulation for electrical wiring
- Spackling or joint compound
- Cooling towers
Government Buildings
Asbestos was commonly used in public and government buildings, including federal buildings. However, the extent of asbestos still contained in federal buildings is unknown. According to a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 66 percent of the required asbestos data was missing for federal buildings as of 2018. Thus, many workers are unknowingly still at risk of asbestos exposure.
Industrial Plants
HVAC workers may also be exposed to asbestos while working in industrial plants in Washington and Oregon. Heavy machinery and industrial equipment that produce significant heat often contain asbestos as insulation and fire protection.
University Campuses
Asbestos may have been used to fireproof college campuses from the 1940s to the 1980s, and it may still be present in several building materials. Working on HVAC systems at these universities could put you at risk of asbestos exposure.
Commercial Properties
Commercial properties, including older retail stores, restaurants, and offices, may have asbestos-containing materials in their roofs, siding, paint, wallboards, ductwork, ceilings, and other areas.
Residential Renovations
When renovating older homes, insulation and other materials that contain asbestos can be disrupted. This could lead to the inhalation of asbestos fibers that cause legal damages and possible wrongful death.
Specific HVAC Work Sites in the Pacific Northwest
The prevalence of HVAC work throughout the 1900s means many people were at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. You may now be suffering from the long-term effects of asbestos exposure through work in the following job sites throughout Washington and Oregon:
Washington
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Hanford Nuclear Reservation
- Boeing Facilities Oregon
Oregon
- Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation - Swan Island
- Oregon State University
- Weyerhaeuser Paper Mill
- Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
- Portland Public Schools
- Oregon State Capitol Building
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving HVAC Workers and Mesothelioma
When pursuing an asbestos-exposure claim, you need legal professionals who understand the complexities of these cases. At Bergman Oslund Udo Little, our practice is exclusively dedicated to helping families who are facing the challenges of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.
Our compassionate Oregon and Washington mesothelioma lawyers provide comprehensive legal representation and support for clients and their loved ones as we fight for the compensation you deserve.
When you work with our team, we offer the following:
- Free and confidential consultations with a skilled asbestos exposure lawyer
- Personalized representation that caters to your family’s needs and goals
- A track record of successful verdicts and settlements for our clients
- Strong legal advocacy and trial experience in the courtroom
- The knowledge and resources to take on big corporations
- An entire team assigned to every client to build the strongest case
Our attorneys understand the toll a mesothelioma diagnosis can take on a family and will guide you through the legal process with patience and compassion. Contact us now to speak with a Seattle mesothelioma lawyer or Portland asbestos lawyer today.
Asbestos HVAC Lawyers for Workers & Their Families
HVAC workers are one of the occupations at high risk of asbestos exposure and often suffer serious health issues and asbestos-related diseases. If you were exposed to asbestos on the job, you and your family don’t have to face these challenges alone.
Contact our Washington or Oregon mesothelioma lawyers to schedule your free case evaluation. Our asbestos HVAC lawyers are ready to help you pursue justice.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
