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
Free Case Review →

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.

At-a-Glance

• 60% higher lung cancer mortality — shipyard machinists died of lung cancer at 1.6 times the expected rate, even though their primary job was precision metalwork rather than insulation handling
• Every brake adjustment released fibers — lathes, mills, and grinders manufactured before 1980 used asbestos brake linings that shed particles during routine spindle stops and table repositioning
• Bystander exposure rivaled direct contact — machinists sharing enclosed shops with insulators and pipefitters inhaled ambient asbestos at concentrations comparable to workers applying the materials directly
• Gasket cutting generated concentrated dust — compressed asbestos sheet material containing 80-95% asbestos was routinely hand-cut by machinists for pump, valve, and flange repairs
• CDC flagged the occupation — federal asbestosis mortality surveillance listed machinists among trades with significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios
• $2.9 million Navy machinist settlement — documented compensation for a machinist exposed to asbestos-containing pumps and valves at naval facilities across a multi-decade career
• Four distinct work settings — shipyards, power plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities each created different but overlapping machinist exposure patterns
• 30-40 year careers compounded risk — machinists who entered the trade in the 1950s accumulated fiber exposure across thousands of brake adjustments and gasket replacements before retirement

Key Facts

Metric	Finding
Lung cancer SMR (shipyard)	1.60 (95% CI: 1.08-2.29) among machinists in Coast Guard shipyard mortality study; statistically significant excess
CDC asbestosis surveillance	Machinists listed among occupations with significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for asbestosis in national mortality surveillance data
Machine tool brake asbestos content	30-70% asbestos in brake linings; manufacturers included Bendix and Raybestos-Manhattan; standard in lathes, milling machines, grinders, and drill presses
Compressed asbestos sheet	80-95% asbestos content in gasket material routinely cut by machinists; primary manufacturers Garlock and Johns-Manville
Pump and valve packing	80-100% braided asbestos content; John Crane and Garlock primary suppliers; machinists replaced packing during equipment overhauls
Peak exposure era	1940-1980; asbestos-free brake materials and gasket substitutes not widely available until early 1980s
Navy machinist settlement	$2.9 million for machinist/welder exposed to asbestos-containing pumps and valves at naval facilities, with subsequent power plant and refinery work
Johns-Manville Trust payouts	Over $3 billion paid from the largest asbestos bankruptcy trust; machinists eligible based on gasket and insulation exposure
Trust fund total	Over $30 billion remaining across 60+ asbestos bankruptcy trusts; machinists may file against brake, gasket, insulation, and pump/valve manufacturer trusts
VA disability rating	100% disability rating ($3,900+/month) available to Navy machinists diagnosed with mesothelioma; service-connected presumption for asbestos exposure at shipyards and aboard vessels

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How were machinists exposed to asbestos if they did not work with insulation?

Machinists experienced asbestos exposure through two primary channels. First, direct contact with asbestos-containing machine components: brake linings on lathes, milling machines, and grinders contained 30-70% asbestos, and compressed asbestos sheet gaskets contained 80-95% asbestos. Second, bystander exposure from working in shared industrial spaces where insulators, pipefitters, and boilermakers disturbed asbestos materials nearby.

What is the significance of the SMR 1.60 finding for machinist lung cancer?

A standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.60 means shipyard machinists died of lung cancer at 60% above the expected rate for the general population. The 95% confidence interval of 1.08-2.29 means this excess is statistically significant and unlikely due to chance. This finding from the Coast Guard shipyard study established machinists as a recognized at-risk occupation for asbestos-related disease.

Can machinists who worked in non-shipyard settings still file claims?

Yes. Machinists who worked in power plants, refineries, manufacturing facilities, and other industrial settings also faced asbestos exposure from machine tool brakes, gasket materials, and adjacent insulation work. Trust fund claims do not require shipyard employment; they require documented exposure to specific asbestos-containing products from manufacturers who established bankruptcy trusts.

What asbestos bankruptcy trust funds are available to machinists?

Machinists may file claims with Garlock Sealing Technologies (gaskets and packing), Johns-Manville (insulation and gaskets, largest trust with over $3 billion paid), Raybestos-Manhattan (brake linings), and multiple pump and valve manufacturer trusts. Over 60 trusts hold more than $30 billion collectively. Multiple claims can be filed simultaneously against different trusts.

Do Navy machinists qualify for VA disability benefits?

Navy machinists who served aboard ships or worked at naval shipyards may qualify for VA disability compensation at 100% rating ($3,900+/month) for mesothelioma. VA benefits can be pursued concurrently with trust fund claims and civil lawsuits. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as service-connected for veterans with documented asbestos exposure during military service.

How do machinists prove bystander asbestos exposure?

Bystander exposure claims rely on employment records placing the machinist in facilities where insulation, pipefitting, or boiler work occurred; facility drawings showing machine shop proximity to asbestos work areas; co-worker testimony from other trades who worked nearby; and industrial hygiene data documenting ambient fiber concentrations in shared workspaces. Studies have confirmed that bystander exposure in enclosed environments can equal direct applicator exposure.

What is the typical latency period for machinist mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma typically develops 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure. Machinists who entered the trade during the peak exposure era of the 1940s-1970s may receive diagnoses decades after retiring. This extended latency means that workers who believed they escaped health consequences years ago may still develop asbestos-related disease.

Quick Statistics

• Enclosed shop environments concentrated fibers — machine shops typically had lower ceiling heights and less ventilation than open shipyard areas, allowing airborne asbestos to accumulate at higher concentrations during adjacent insulation work
• Brake adjustment frequency — production machinists adjusted spindle brakes multiple times per shift; each adjustment on pre-1980 equipment released asbestos fibers from worn lining surfaces
• Garlock bankruptcy: 2010 — Garlock Sealing Technologies filed for bankruptcy after facing over 100,000 asbestos claims; machinists who cut Garlock gaskets are among eligible claimants
• Coolant mist carried fibers — metalworking fluids used in machining operations aerosolized asbestos particles from gasket and brake debris, extending fiber suspension time in shop air
• Power plant turbine shops — machinists rebuilding steam turbines removed and replaced asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and lagging on every major overhaul cycle
• Refinery maintenance shutdowns — periodic turnarounds required machinists to work alongside insulators and pipefitters in confined process unit spaces for weeks at a time
• Multi-defendant claims typical — machinist lawsuits commonly name 10-20 defendants including brake, gasket, insulation, and pump/valve manufacturers, increasing total recoverable compensation
• Take-home exposure risk — machinists carried asbestos fibers on work clothing, exposing family members to secondary asbestos contact that has been linked to mesothelioma diagnoses in spouses

Get Help Today

• Contact Danziger & De Llano — call (855) 699-5441 for a free case evaluation
• Find mesothelioma attorneys near you — nationwide lawyer directory and case evaluation quiz
• Patient resources and support — treatment guides, clinical trials, and caregiver information
• Compensation guide for industrial workers — understand your legal options and available trust funds