Written By: Devin Golden
Asbestos Exposure for Steel Mill Workers
Steel mill workers operate furnaces, ovens and machinery at extreme heat levels to melt, mold, and create iron ore that is turned into iron and steel. As a way of counteracting the severely hot temperatures, steel mills during the 20th century were filled with asbestos. Steel mill workers were routinely faced with occupational asbestos exposure.
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
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Important Facts About Asbestos Exposure in Steel Mills
- Steel mill workers melt, mold, and form materials to make steel. This requires extreme heat, which creates a hot work environment and a risk of fires. Asbestos was a counteragent for very high temperatures.
- Asbestos was used to insulate furnaces, ovens, pipes and more. It was also added to work equipment, such as gloves, masks and aprons. Asbestos was part of steel-making machinery and steel-making process itself as well.
- Medical articles point to steel mill workers and metal workers – such as welders – as having a high risk of asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma.
What Is the Job of Steel Mill Workers?
Steel mill workers – also called steel factory workers or steel industry workers – melt, mold, and form iron ore and other materials to make iron and steel. This steel is used for products or to build bridges, highways and buildings.
Steel industry workers operate furnaces, molding equipment, and rolling and finishing machines to make iron pipes, grates, steel slabs, bars, billets, sheets, rods, wires, and plates. They work in hot temperatures due to the extreme heat required to melt, mold, and create steel.
Due to the extreme temperatures required in the steel industry, asbestos was often used to manufacture the machinery and equipment used in steel mills, which means these workers are at high risk for occupational asbestos exposure.
The types of jobs in steel mills include:
- Millwright
- Electrician
- Welder
- Machinist
- Furnace operator
- Rolling mill operator
- Material handler
- Floor supervisor
- Foreman
Workers in a steel mill are different from ironworkers, who install iron and steel as structural and reinforcing foundation and support for buildings, bridges and roads.
Asbestos Use in Steel Mills
Asbestos was a popular mineral for industrial use during most of the 20th century. The height of its use was from the 1920s-1980s, prior to the public learning of the dangers and companies facing lawsuits for current and former workers developing cancer.
Steel mills rely on heat, and any location with high temperatures is at risk of catching fire. Asbestos is an insulant, capable of resisting heat, and was often used in mills to counteract severely hot temperatures.
Asbestos is harmless when intact but can easily break during the process of creating steel. Breaking asbestos releases sharp fibers into the air.
Asbestos Materials in Steel Mills
Asbestos exposure in steel manufacturing was also common due to the actual steel-making process. Some steelworkers poured melted steel into ingots for the steel to cool. These ingot casings were lined with asbestos and the ingots were topped after the pouring with highly concentrated asbestos, called Hot Tops, to cool the steel down faster. Then, after cooling, these workers would break the ingot casing and Hot Tops to get the ingot out.
Steel mills needed heat for furnaces and ovens, and asbestos insulated these areas. Other asbestos materials in steel mills during the 20th century included:
- Ceiling tiles, floor tiles and more
- Insulation for steam pipes
- The Balance of Equipment and Balance of Plant areas, where asbestos was in ingot casings and used as a topping to cool the steel faster
- Brake pads, pumps, clutches and other heat-generating machine parts
- Masks, gloves, aprons, leggings and other protective gear for workers
Legacy Asbestos in Steel Mills
New uses of asbestos in steel mills and other industrial jobs stopped towards the end of the 20th century. The general public learned asbestos was dangerous, and companies which manufactured and used the mineral were liable for legal action from workers and their families.
The Environmental Protection Agency also banned the use of chrysotile asbestos in March 2024. This ban prevents importing the mineral, which was the only type of asbestos reportedly used in the country at the time of the ruling.
Any current risk of asbestos exposure for steel mill workers is due to legacy asbestos. This term refers to any old asbestos installed in a steel mill during the 20th century – when the use of asbestos was more accepted – and has not been removed since then.
Some steel mills may still have asbestos lining old furnaces or ovens, or as an insulant around old pipes or hidden beneath floor tiles. Renovation work is the main way of uncovering and removing legacy asbestos.
Asbestos Diseases for Steel Mill Workers
Asbestos diseases include lung cancer, ovarian cancer, a lung scarring disease called asbestosis, and a rare cancer called mesothelioma. Steel mill workers can develop any of these health issues from asbestos exposure on the job.
Mesothelioma for Steel Mill Workers
Mesothelioma forms in the thin linings of the lungs and abdominal cavity. These thin linings are made of tissue layers. When asbestos is disturbed, the weightless and microscopic fibers contaminate the air. If the fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they can travel and stick to these thin linings. The fibers are sharp and can puncture the tissue linings, which can cause cells to mutate and turn cancerous.
There are multiple scientific journals that report on the high risk of asbestos diseases for steel mill workers:
- One report from South America found 27 people with pulmonary (lung) diseases who worked at a steel factory in the continent. Four of the former steel mill workers had mesothelioma, and one had lung cancer.
- A report analyzed air samples at three U.S. steel mills from 1972-1982. Asbestos was detected in open-hearth furnaces, stoves and blast furnaces.
- Researchers and Georgetown University and Duke University assessed the risk of mesothelioma cancer for steel and metal workers. They analyzed 1,445 occupation-related cases of mesothelioma and found 43 cases involving welders or steelworkers. This occupation ranked ninth for mesothelioma cases, more evidence that steel mill work is a high-risk job.
Legal Help Available for Steel Mill Workers With Mesothelioma
Former or current steel mill workers with mesothelioma can seek compensation for their cancer diagnosis. The companies which manufactured asbestos in steel-making machinery or used it in steel mills are responsible for the emotional and financial distress caused by your disease.
Steel mill workers with mesothelioma can file a lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim. Mesothelioma lawsuits can lead to verdicts or settlements with the asbestos manufacturing companies or steel mills, depending on if they knew asbestos was lethal and used the material anyway.
Asbestos trust funds are bank accounts created by bankrupt companies. Victims can receive money quicker from filing claims with these accounts.
Please reach out to our patient advocates for guidance connecting with mesothelioma specialists and treatment centers. Email either of our patient advocates — Karen Ritter, RN (karen@mesotheliomaguide.com) or Carl Jewett (cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com) — to get more information.
Sources & Author
- Pulmonary disease due to asbestos in steel industry workers. Medicina. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23732197/. Accessed: 07/04/2023.
- An analysis of workplace exposures to asbestos at three steel mills located in the United States (1972-1982). Toxicology and Industrial Health. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31818240/. Accessed: 07/04/2023.
- Malignant Mesothelioma and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: an Analysis of 1445 Cases. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12036093/. Accessed: 07/04/2023.
AI Summary of Asbestos Exposure for Steel Mill Workers
This page provides information about the risks of asbestos exposure faced by workers in the steel mill industry. Steel mill workers perform essential roles in melting, molding, and shaping iron ore into steel used for construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects. Due to the high temperatures required for these processes, asbestos was widely used in steel mills throughout much of the 20th century. It served as insulation for furnaces, pipes, and equipment, helping to prevent fires and manage heat. Asbestos was also a component of insulation materials, gloves, masks, and various machine parts, making workers in this environment potentially exposed to dangerous fibers.
Steel mill workers are exposed to asbestos when the mineral’s insulating properties are compromised, such as during maintenance or renovation activities. When asbestos materials are disturbed, tiny, sharp fibers can become airborne, posing health risks when inhaled or swallowed. Historically, asbestos was part of steel-making machinery, including linings of ingot molds, covering of hot tops, and insulation around high-temperature equipment. Despite bans on new use of asbestos in recent decades, legacy asbestos remains in older facilities, representing ongoing exposure risks during renovations or repairs. Workers like furnace operators, welders, electricians, and material handlers are among those most at risk. They are at higher risk because their tasks often involve direct contact with asbestos-containing parts or materials.
Health issues related to asbestos include serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen, caused by fibers lodged in these tissues. Scientific studies have documented substantial evidence linking steel mill employment with increased risks for asbestos-related illnesses. Often, these health effects surface many years after initial exposure, making awareness and early diagnosis crucial for affected individuals. Education about legacy asbestos and its presence in old steel mills can help workers and families understand potential risks and seek appropriate medical screening.