Large appliances including refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, and ovens represent a risk of occupational exposure to asbestos for installers and repair technicians. The toxic mineral may exist in internal parts as well as in walls and flooring that are disturbed during installation and dismantling, putting installers and repair technicians at risk of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.
How Was Asbestos Used in Appliances?
Though today we know that asbestos is carcinogenic, before the 1980s the mineral was known for its durability and fire-resistant properties. In addition to being used in construction, industrial settings, and shipbuilding, asbestos was used in the manufacture of linings for a wide range of large and small household appliances.[1]
Ovens, range tops, washing machines and dryers, and refrigerators contained asbestos in various components, including compressor inner packing, break pad, packing, heat wire, motor materials, heat-keeping materials, and valve gaskets.[2]
While smaller consumer appliances like toasters, hairdryers, and crockpots that contained asbestos have generally been disposed of in favor of newer models that no longer contain asbestos, the same is not necessarily true of larger appliances. Many homes still have these large appliances in place, and though their internal asbestos poses little threat from basic operations, when they require maintenance or repairs or are removed during replacement or renovations, there is a much greater risk of disturbing asbestos-containing materials and releasing microscopic particles into the air. There is also continuing risk from modern appliances that are manufactured in other countries where asbestos use continues.[2]
Large Household Appliances that Contained Asbestos
Because major household appliances use large amounts of energy to function, and generate large amounts of heat, their components were frequently made of or insulated with asbestos, and the same is true of the structures that surrounded them.[3] Asbestos was used in both building and household appliances as gasket material, insulating material, or fire-proofing material.
Appliances and their parts known to have contained asbestos included:[4]
- Gas and Electrical Appliances: Asbestos was used as heat shields, in gaskets, as insulation, and in structural components.
- Door gaskets: Rope-like gasket material made with asbestos was used to create a tight seal around oven doors. It held in heat so that food could cook more evenly and temperatures didn’t fluctuate.
- Refrigerator insulation and construction: Asbestos was used to help maintain the vacuum seal as a lining within door materials of refrigerators to maintain temperature.
- Freezers and ice chests: Asbestos was sealed inside the metal walls of the freezer chest as insulating material.
- Asbestos electrical wire insulation: Asbestos paper, yarn, tape, lap, and loose fiber were used for electrical insulation through 1988 in both higher voltage AC or DC electrical wiring as well as in low voltage wiring products.
- Soundproofing: Asbestos Felt was used in products to serve as acoustical liners, noise insulation, adhesives, and plastics.
How Are Appliance Installers and Repair Technicians Exposed to Asbestos?
Appliance installers and technicians can be exposed to asbestos from old appliances in several ways.
- Deterioration – The most common is by handling asbestos-containing components that are deteriorating. Though asbestos was chosen because of its heat resistance, those parts are now over forty years old, and some are even older. This makes them prone to crumbling or breakage during removal or repair, releasing asbestos fibers that can then be inhaled or adhere to clothing, skin, or hair and carried into technicians’ homes, leading to secondary exposure to their family members.
- Insulation – Another way that technicians may be exposed to asbestos in appliances manufactured before the 1980s is by removing the insulation that was installed around heating elements, electrical components, and inside walls. This type of insulation was common in ovens, dryers, and water heaters, and any disturbance of this insulation during repairs or removal and replacement can release fibers.
- Gaskets – Asbestos was commonly used in door gaskets for ovens, wood-burning stoves, and furnaces. These gaskets become brittle with age and can release fibers when handled.
- Wiring – Some older appliances used asbestos-wrapped wiring for heat protection. Pulling or cutting these wires during repair work can release fibers.
- Disassembly – Taking apart old appliances for repair or disposal can disturb hidden asbestos-containing materials used as soundproofing, heat shields, or vibration dampeners.
- Drilling or cutting – When installing replacement appliances, technicians frequently drill or cut asbestos-containing wall panels, boards, or surrounding materials like floor tiles where appliances were originally mounted.
- Cleaning – Using compressed air or dry brushing to clean out dust and debris from old appliances can aerosolize asbestos fibers that have accumulated inside the appliance.
Though the greatest risk occurs when materials in older appliances are disturbed, there is additional risk posed by working with newer appliances manufactured in countries where asbestos use has not been banned. Researchers dismantled dozens of large appliances for a 2016 study of consumer products containing asbestos and found that chrysotile asbestos was present in washing machine models manufactured as recently as 1998, and in refrigerators and gas boilers manufactured as recently as 2007.[2] Additionally, appliances manufactured in countries that have not banned the use of asbestos may pose a risk of asbestos exposure to appliance installers and repair technicians.
Other Workers Exposed to Asbestos in Appliances
While appliance installers and repair technicians have the highest risk of exposure to asbestos hidden within large appliances, the risk also extends to electricians who may be asked to inspect or repair their electrical wiring, or to demolition workers or construction workers who remove older appliances and replace them with new ones during home renovation projects.
There is also significant concern about homeowners who choose to attempt their own repairs or who undertake home remodeling as do-it-yourself projects. It is a good idea to consult with an asbestos abatement professional before undertaking any work in homes or on any appliances that date back to before the 1980s.
How Can Appliance Installers and Repair Technicians Protect Themselves from Asbestos?
Appliance installers and technicians who are exposed to asbestos in older appliances or appliances manufactured in countries where asbestos has not been banned are at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Faced with this risk of occupational exposure, you need to familiarize yourself with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for workplace safety, especially for those regarding asbestos exposure.[5]
Among the rules that OSHA has established are specific limits for the amount of exposure that is tolerable for work settings. The agency requires employers to monitor these levels at job sites to make sure the limit is not exceeded. If you are worried about asbestos exposure from working with either older asbestos-contaminated equipment or new appliances manufactured out of the country, communicate them to your employer. They are required to provide you with appropriate protective gear, training, and safety information, training, and gear. If they fail to do this, you can file your concerns directly with OSHA.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos from Installing, Repairing, or Removing Appliances?
If you are an appliance installer, a repair technician, or you work in construction or demolition and you’ve been exposed to asbestos in contaminated ovens, washers, dryers, refrigerators, or other large appliances, you may be at risk for an asbestos-related illness. Given the long latency period of mesothelioma and similar diseases, it’s important to recognize their symptoms and inform your doctor about any past exposure. Many asbestos-related conditions share symptoms with common ailments like bronchitis or pneumonia, and knowing of your history can facilitate earlier detection that can make treatment more effective.
Seeking Compensation if You’ve Been Diagnosed with an Asbestos Disease
If you worked as an appliance installer or repair technician and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may have the right to seek compensation. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing electrical components can often be held accountable for victim’s exposure, especially if there is evidence that they were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed to human health.
The best resource for exploring your legal options is an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. When you sit down for an appointment with one of these knowledgeable legal professionals, they will begin by carefully reviewing the specifics of your case. They will ask detailed questions about your job history to identify every potential source of asbestos exposure that can be explored and explain the process of pursuing legal action, whether that means filing a personal injury lawsuit, negotiating a settlement, or submitting a claim to one of the asbestos trust funds that have been set up by asbestos companies that have filed for bankruptcy.
If you’ve just been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you are probably overwhelmed. Still, it is important to learn as much as you can about your legal options as quickly as you can, because time is limited — statutes of limitations restrict how long you have to file a claim. Contact an asbestos law firm as soon as possible to protect your rights.
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