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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Occupation !! PMR/SMR !! Primary Exposure Source !! Profile
! Occupation !! PMR/SMR !! Primary Exposure Source
|-
|-
| '''Insulation Workers''' || 46.0x mortality || Direct insulation handling || [[Insulation Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Insulation Workers]]''' || 46.0x mortality || Direct insulation handling
|-
|-
| '''Asbestos Miners''' || 25-40x mortality || Raw asbestos extraction || [[Asbestos Miners|View Profile]]
| '''[[Asbestos Miners]]''' || 25-40x mortality || Raw asbestos extraction
|-
|-
| '''Boilermakers''' || 8-12x mortality || Boiler insulation, gaskets || [[Boilermakers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Boilermakers]]''' || 8-12x mortality || Boiler insulation, gaskets
|-
|-
| '''Laggers''' || 10-15x mortality || Pipe and vessel insulation || [[Laggers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Laggers]]''' || 10-15x mortality || Pipe and vessel insulation
|}
|}


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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source !! Profile
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source
|-
|-
| '''Plumbers and Pipefitters''' || Pipe insulation, gaskets, joint compound || [[Plumbers and Pipefitters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Plumbers and Pipefitters]]''' || Pipe insulation, gaskets, joint compound
|-
|-
| '''Marine Engineering Workers''' || Ship engine rooms, vessel construction || [[Marine Engineering Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Marine Engineering Workers]]''' || Ship engine rooms, vessel construction
|-
|-
| '''Chemical Plant Workers''' || Process insulation, heat exchangers || [[Chemical Plant Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Chemical Plant Workers]]''' || Process insulation, heat exchangers
|-
|-
| '''Power Plant Workers''' || Turbine insulation, boiler systems || [[Power Plant Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Power Plant Workers]]''' || Turbine insulation, boiler systems
|-
|-
| '''Shipyard Workers''' || Ship construction and repair || [[Shipyard Exposure Index|View Shipyard Database]]
| '''[[Shipyard Exposure Index|Shipyard Workers]]''' || Ship construction and repair
|-
|-
| '''Navy Veterans''' || Vessel service, shipyard duty || [[Veterans Benefits|View Veterans Guide]]
| '''[[Veterans Benefits|Navy Veterans]]''' || Vessel service, shipyard duty
|-
|-
| '''Steamfitters''' || Steam pipe insulation systems || [[Steamfitters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Steamfitters]]''' || Steam pipe insulation systems
|-
|-
| '''HVAC Technicians''' || Duct insulation, equipment repair || [[HVAC Technicians|View Profile]]
| '''[[HVAC Technicians]]''' || Duct insulation, equipment repair
|}
|}


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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source !! Profile
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source
|-
|-
| '''Steel Mill Workers''' || Furnace insulation, ladles, heat shields || [[Steel Mill Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Steel Mill Workers]]''' || Furnace insulation, ladles, heat shields
|-
|-
| '''Oil Refinery Workers''' || Process equipment insulation || [[Oil Refinery Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Oil Refinery Workers]]''' || Process equipment insulation
|-
|-
| '''Carpenters''' || Cutting, sanding asbestos materials || [[Carpenters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Carpenters]]''' || Cutting, sanding asbestos materials
|-
|-
| '''Roofers''' || Asbestos shingles, felt, coatings || [[Roofers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Roofers]]''' || Asbestos shingles, felt, coatings
|-
|-
| '''Demolition Workers''' || Building teardown, renovation || [[Demolition Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Demolition Workers]]''' || Building teardown, renovation
|-
|-
| '''Electricians''' || Wire insulation, electrical panels || [[Electricians|View Profile]]
| '''[[Electricians]]''' || Wire insulation, electrical panels
|-
|-
| '''Millwrights''' || Industrial equipment installation || [[Millwrights|View Profile]]
| '''[[Millwrights]]''' || Industrial equipment installation
|-
|-
| '''Sheet Metal Workers''' || Ductwork, insulation contact || [[Sheet Metal Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Sheet Metal Workers]]''' || Ductwork, insulation contact
|-
|-
| '''Welders''' || Heat protection, welding blankets || [[Welders|View Profile]]
| '''[[Welders]]''' || Heat protection, welding blankets
|-
|-
| '''Machinists''' || Brake linings, gasket cutting || [[Machinists|View Profile]]
| '''[[Machinists]]''' || Brake linings, gasket cutting
|}
|}


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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source !! Profile
! Occupation !! Primary Exposure Source
|-
|-
| '''Construction Workers (General)''' || Multiple building materials || [[Construction Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Construction Workers|Construction Workers (General)]]''' || Multiple building materials
|-
|-
| '''Automotive Mechanics''' || Brakes, clutches, gaskets || [[Automotive Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Automotive Workers|Automotive Mechanics]]''' || Brakes, clutches, gaskets
|-
|-
| '''Railroad Workers''' || Locomotive insulation, brake shoes || [[Railroad Workers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Railroad Workers]]''' || Locomotive insulation, brake shoes
|-
|-
| '''Firefighters''' || Building fires, collapse debris || [[Firefighters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Firefighters]]''' || Building fires, collapse debris
|-
|-
| '''Plasterers''' || Joint compound, texturing || [[Plasterers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Plasterers]]''' || Joint compound, texturing
|-
|-
| '''Drywall Installers''' || Joint compound, sanding || [[Drywall Installers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Drywall Installers]]''' || Joint compound, sanding
|-
|-
| '''Painters''' || Surface preparation, textured coatings || [[Painters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Painters]]''' || Surface preparation, textured coatings
|-
|-
| '''Tile Setters''' || Adhesives, backing materials || [[Tile Setters|View Profile]]
| '''[[Tile Setters]]''' || Adhesives, backing materials
|-
|-
| '''Laborers''' || General construction support || [[Laborers|View Profile]]
| '''[[Laborers]]''' || General construction support
|}
|}


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* [[Textile Mill Workers]]
* [[Textile Mill Workers]]
* [[Rubber Manufacturing]]
* [[Rubber Manufacturing]]
=== Utilities and Infrastructure ===
=== Utilities and Infrastructure ===
* [[Utility Workers]]
* [[Utility Workers]]
* [[Telephone Company Workers]]
* [[Telephone Company Workers]]
* [[Water Treatment Workers]]
* [[Water Treatment Workers]]
=== Transportation ===
=== Transportation ===
* [[Longshoremen]]
* [[Longshoremen]]
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* [[Aircraft Mechanics]]
* [[Aircraft Mechanics]]
* [[Bus Mechanics]]
* [[Bus Mechanics]]
=== Building Trades ===
=== Building Trades ===
* [[Bricklayers]]
* [[Bricklayers]]

Revision as of 20:44, 19 January 2026

Occupational Exposure Index

Complete database of occupations with documented asbestos exposure risk, compensation eligibility, and case-building resources.

This index covers more than 300 occupations with verified asbestos exposure histories. Workers in these occupations—or their surviving family members—may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and veterans benefits.

Total documented occupations: 300+ Extreme risk occupations: 15+ Average latency period: 20-50 years


How to Use This Index

  1. Find your occupation in the categories below
  2. Click through to the detailed occupation profile
  3. Document your exposure using the guidance provided
  4. Understand your legal options for compensation recovery

Even occupations listed as "moderate risk" have produced successful claims worth hundreds of thousands of dollars when exposure is properly documented.


Extreme Risk Occupations

Workers in these occupations faced the highest asbestos exposure levels and have the strongest statistical association with mesothelioma.

Occupation PMR/SMR Primary Exposure Source
Insulation Workers 46.0x mortality Direct insulation handling
Asbestos Miners 25-40x mortality Raw asbestos extraction
Boilermakers 8-12x mortality Boiler insulation, gaskets
Laggers 10-15x mortality Pipe and vessel insulation

Very High Risk Occupations

Significant documented exposure with strong litigation history and established compensation pathways.

Occupation Primary Exposure Source
Plumbers and Pipefitters Pipe insulation, gaskets, joint compound
Marine Engineering Workers Ship engine rooms, vessel construction
Chemical Plant Workers Process insulation, heat exchangers
Power Plant Workers Turbine insulation, boiler systems
Shipyard Workers Ship construction and repair
Navy Veterans Vessel service, shipyard duty
Steamfitters Steam pipe insulation systems
HVAC Technicians Duct insulation, equipment repair

High Risk Occupations

Well-documented exposure patterns with successful litigation history across multiple jurisdictions.

Occupation Primary Exposure Source
Steel Mill Workers Furnace insulation, ladles, heat shields
Oil Refinery Workers Process equipment insulation
Carpenters Cutting, sanding asbestos materials
Roofers Asbestos shingles, felt, coatings
Demolition Workers Building teardown, renovation
Electricians Wire insulation, electrical panels
Millwrights Industrial equipment installation
Sheet Metal Workers Ductwork, insulation contact
Welders Heat protection, welding blankets
Machinists Brake linings, gasket cutting

Moderate-High Risk Occupations

Documented exposure with varying intensity depending on specific work conditions and era.

Occupation Primary Exposure Source
Construction Workers (General) Multiple building materials
Automotive Mechanics Brakes, clutches, gaskets
Railroad Workers Locomotive insulation, brake shoes
Firefighters Building fires, collapse debris
Plasterers Joint compound, texturing
Drywall Installers Joint compound, sanding
Painters Surface preparation, textured coatings
Tile Setters Adhesives, backing materials
Laborers General construction support

Industry-Specific Categories

Manufacturing and Industrial

Utilities and Infrastructure

Transportation

Building Trades


Secondary Exposure

Family members of workers in high-risk occupations also face mesothelioma risk from take-home asbestos fibers on clothing and equipment.

View Secondary Exposure Guide


Complete Alphabetical List

Complete Alphabetical Occupations List Full listing of all 300+ documented occupations with exposure verification.