Machinists

Machinist Asbestos Exposure
Moderate-high risk occupation for mesothelioma
Risk Level	Moderate-High
SMR (Lung Cancer)	1.60 (Shipyard)
Peak Exposure Era	1940-1980
Primary Products	Machine brakes, gaskets, shop insulation
Work Settings	Shipyards, factories, machine shops
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Machinists and Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure Risks, Compensation & Legal Rights

Executive Summary

Machinists—skilled precision workers operating lathes, mills, grinders, and other machine tools—experienced asbestos exposure through multiple pathways often overlooked in occupational health assessments. The Coast Guard shipyard study documented significantly elevated lung cancer mortality among machinists with an SMR of 1.60 (CI 1.08-2.29), reflecting their work environment saturated with asbestos from adjacent trades, brake systems on machine tools, gasket materials, and shop heating equipment. Machine tools manufactured before 1980 commonly incorporated asbestos brake linings to control spindle movement and table positioning, generating fiber releases during normal operation and particularly during brake adjustments. Machinists in shipyards, power plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities also faced significant bystander exposure from insulation work, pipe fitting, and boiler maintenance occurring in shared workspaces. CDC asbestosis mortality surveillance identified machinists among occupations with significantly elevated mortality, alongside other industrial machinery trades.

The industrial settings where machinists worked created continuous asbestos exposure throughout their careers. Shipyard machine shops had the highest documented machinist mortality, with workers operating equipment while insulation workers, Boilermakers, and pipefitters disturbed asbestos materials throughout the facility. Power plant turbine maintenance shops, pump repair areas, and valve overhaul facilities exposed machinists to gaskets containing 80-95% asbestos, packing materials with 80-100% braided asbestos, and adjacent pipe insulation. Compressed asbestos sheet gaskets from manufacturers including Garlock and Johns-Manville were routinely cut by machinists for equipment repairs. Like Millwrights and Foundry Workers, machinists qualify for claims against multiple asbestos bankruptcy trusts holding over $30 billion, with documented Navy machinist settlements reaching $2.9 million for exposure to pumps and valves at naval facilities.

Key Facts

Key Facts: Machinist Asbestos Exposure

Risk Classification: Moderate-High – elevated mortality documented in shipyard and industrial settings Lung Cancer SMR: 1.60 (CI 1.08-2.29) in Coast Guard shipyard machinist study CDC Documentation: Listed among occupations with significantly elevated asbestosis PMRs Peak Exposure Period: 1940-1980, before asbestos-free brake materials became standard Primary Exposure Sources: Machine tool brake systems, gasket materials, shop insulation Machine Tool Brakes: Lathes, milling machines, grinders commonly used asbestos brake linings Secondary Exposure: Bystander exposure from adjacent insulation and pipefitting work Navy Machinist Verdict: $2.9 million settlement for exposure to pumps and valves Work Environments: Shipyards, power plants, refineries, manufacturing facilities Trust Fund Availability: Multiple trusts including brake manufacturers and gasket companies

What Asbestos Exposure Did Machinists Face?

Machinists encountered asbestos through direct contact with machine components and significant bystander exposure in industrial settings.

Machine Tool Brake Systems (Primary Direct Exposure):

Industrial machine tools manufactured before 1980 commonly incorporated asbestos brake linings:

• Lathes: Spindle brakes used to stop workpiece rotation quickly required heat-resistant materials
• Milling Machines: Table positioning brakes and spindle stops contained asbestos compounds
• Grinders: Wheel brakes on surface grinders and tool grinders used asbestos linings
• Drill Presses: Spindle brakes on larger machines incorporated asbestos materials

Brake adjustments, replacements, and routine operation generated fiber releases into machinists' breathing zones. The enclosed nature of many machine shops concentrated airborne fibers.

Gasket and Packing Materials:

Machinists regularly cut gaskets from sheet material for equipment repairs:

• Compressed asbestos sheet (80-95% asbestos content)
• Rubber-asbestos compounds
• Metallic-asbestos spiral wound gaskets
• Pump and valve packing materials

"Machinists are sometimes overlooked in asbestos exposure assessments because their work seems removed from insulation and construction. But machine tool brakes, gasket cutting, and shared workspace exposure in shipyards and factories created significant cumulative exposure over typical 30-40 year careers."

— Rod De Llano, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

Which Asbestos Products Did Machinists Encounter?

Machinists worked with and around numerous asbestos-containing products:

Product Type	Asbestos Content	Manufacturers
Machine Tool Brake Linings	30-70% asbestos	Bendix, Raybestos-Manhattan
Compressed Asbestos Sheet Gaskets	80-95% asbestos	Garlock, Johns-Manville
Pump and Valve Packing	80-100% braided asbestos	John Crane, Garlock
Shop Heating Equipment Insulation	15-85% various types	Johns-Manville, Owens-Corning
Pipe Insulation (Adjacent)	15-90%	Johns-Manville, Philip Carey

Where Were Machinists Most Exposed?

Shipyards: Naval and commercial shipyard machine shops had the highest documented machinist mortality, with SMR 1.60 for lung cancer. Machinists worked in enclosed shops while insulation work occurred throughout the shipyard, creating continuous background exposure.

Power Plants: Turbine maintenance shops, pump repair areas, and valve overhaul facilities exposed machinists to gaskets, packing, and adjacent insulation.

Refineries: Process equipment maintenance required machinist support in facilities saturated with asbestos insulation.

Manufacturing Facilities: Production machinery maintenance, tool and die work, and equipment repair exposed machinists to brake materials and gaskets.

⚠ Bystander Exposure Warning: Machinists in industrial facilities often worked in shared spaces with pipefitters, insulators, and boilermakers. Studies document that bystander exposure from adjacent asbestos work can equal or exceed direct applicator exposure in enclosed environments.

What Compensation Can Machinists Receive for Mesothelioma?

Machinists diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to compensation through multiple sources.

Notable Verdicts and Settlements:

• Navy Machinist Settlement: $2.9 million for machinist/welder exposed to pumps and valves at naval facilities, later working in power plants and refineries
• Multi-defendant industrial cases: Typical machinist claims involve brake, gasket, and insulation manufacturers

Applicable Trust Funds:

Over 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for victims:

• Garlock Sealing Technologies (gaskets, packing) – Established following 2010 bankruptcy
• Johns-Manville (insulation, gaskets) – Largest trust, over $3 billion paid
• Raybestos-Manhattan (brake linings) – Trust available for brake material exposure
• Multiple pump and valve manufacturers with asbestos-containing components

"Machinist cases often involve both direct exposure from machine brakes and gaskets, plus substantial bystander exposure from working in industrial facilities. We look at the complete picture—every trade that worked nearby, every product in the facility—to maximize compensation."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

How Can Machinists Document Their Asbestos Exposure?

Successful claims require documenting both direct and bystander exposure:

Employment Records:

• Work history showing employment at shipyards, power plants, refineries
• Job descriptions documenting machine shop locations within facilities
• Union records for unionized machinists

Equipment Documentation:

• Machine tool manufacturers and model numbers (brake specifications)
• Maintenance records showing brake and gasket replacement
• Facility drawings showing machine shop location relative to insulation work

Coworker Testimony:

• Fellow machinists who witnessed brake servicing
• Other trades (pipefitters, insulators) working in shared spaces
• Supervisors who can confirm work conditions

✓ Veterans Benefits: Navy machinists who served on ships or at naval shipyards may qualify for VA disability benefits at 100% rating ($3,900+/month) in addition to trust fund claims.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one worked as a machinist and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The attorneys at Danziger & De Llano have decades of experience representing industrial workers exposed to asbestos.

Don't Wait — Time Limits Apply Machinist SMR 1.60 for Lung Cancer in Shipyard Studies Over $30 BILLION available through asbestos trust funds.

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