Ohio Trades & Asbestos Exposure
Ohio's union construction trades and industrial workers handled, installed, removed, and worked alongside asbestos-containing materials on virtually every major industrial project from the 1930s through the 1980s. The trade you worked — and the specific tasks you performed during normal duty — determines which asbestos products you encountered and which manufacturers may be responsible. Below: documented exposure pathways per trade, drawn from public litigation records, OSHA inspection histories, and industrial hygiene literature.
Trade tasks listed below describe job functions documented in public records as routes of asbestos exposure for workers in these crafts. They are general exposure pathways, not claims about any individual worker's case.
Trades Exposed to Asbestos During Normal Duties
HFIA Local 3 (Cleveland/NE Ohio) · Local 50 (Columbus/Cincinnati/Dayton/Toledo/Lima) · Local 84 (Akron/Youngstown)
How They Were Exposed
- Cutting asbestos pipe covering to fit elbows, valves, and reducers
- Tearing off old pipe covering during repair and outage work
- Mixing asbestos insulating cement ("mud") in open buckets
- Knocking off asbestos block insulation from boiler walls
- Sawing asbestos block to fit irregular surfaces
- Spraying asbestos-containing fireproofing on structural steel
Boilermakers Local 744 (Cleveland/Northern Ohio) · Local 105 (Piketon — Southern Ohio) · Local 900 (Barberton/Akron)
How They Were Exposed
- Crawling inside boilers during annual outages alongside disturbed insulation
- Welding and cutting on asbestos-gasketed manways and access doors
- Replacing asbestos rope packing in soot blowers and steam valves
- Removing and repairing asbestos block lagging on boiler walls
- Cutting asbestos millboard for fireboxes and breechings
- Working in confined boiler spaces saturated with airborne fiber
UA Local 120 (Cleveland) · Local 392 (Cincinnati) · Local 50 (Toledo) · Local 396 (Youngstown) · Local 219 (Akron) · Local 189 (Columbus) · Local 776 (Lima)
How They Were Exposed
- Cutting into insulated steam and process lines to add fittings
- Removing and replacing asbestos pipe gaskets at flanged joints
- Repacking valve stems with asbestos rope packing
- Working below insulators stripping pipe covering overhead
- Hot work (welding, brazing) on asbestos-insulated lines
- Maintaining steam traps, strainers, and heat exchangers with asbestos gaskets
UA Local 55 (Cleveland) · combined plumber/pipefitter locals in Cincinnati (392), Toledo (50), Columbus (189), Youngstown (396), Akron (219), Lima (776)
How They Were Exposed
- Cutting asbestos-cement (transite) water and waste pipe
- Replacing valve packing and gaskets on domestic water lines
- Working on boiler-room piping insulated with asbestos covering
- Tying into existing systems where insulators had removed lagging
- Demolition cutting of cast-iron and AC pipe in renovation work
IBEW Local 38 (Cleveland) · Local 212 (Cincinnati) · Local 8 (Toledo) · Local 683 (Columbus) · Local 306 (Akron) · Local 64 (Youngstown) · Local 82 (Dayton) · Local 32 (Lima)
How They Were Exposed
- Pulling wire through asbestos-insulated conduits and cable trays
- Replacing arc-chute components and phenolic boards in switchgear
- Working around insulators in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, and pipe chases
- Installing motors with asbestos brake friction discs
- Cutting holes in asbestos-cement panels and transite walls
- Bystander exposure during shutdowns and turnarounds
Iron Workers Local 17 (Cleveland) · Local 44 (Cincinnati) · Local 55 (Toledo) · Local 207 (Youngstown/Boardman)
How They Were Exposed
- Erecting structural steel while sprayed asbestos fireproofing was applied
- Welding and burning on beams coated with asbestos-containing fireproofing
- Rigging in boiler rooms and turbine halls during insulation work
- Cutting and installing reinforcing bar through transite forms
- Ongoing exposure to settled fireproofing dust in completed steel buildings
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) — statewide Ohio with council offices in Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton/Cincinnati, Rossford (Toledo), Youngstown
How They Were Exposed
- Cutting and sanding asbestos-cement transite siding and roofing
- Removing vinyl-asbestos floor tile during renovation
- Installing ceiling tile with asbestos-containing backing
- Working with asbestos-containing joint compound and texture sprays
- Demolition framing through walls insulated with asbestos batt
SMART Local 33 (Cleveland/Akron/Toledo/Youngstown — Northern Ohio + WV) · Local 24 (Columbus/Cincinnati/Dayton + KY/WV/IN counties)
How They Were Exposed
- Cutting and installing asbestos-lined HVAC duct in mechanical rooms
- Fabricating boiler breechings and stack components with asbestos millboard
- Working alongside insulators applying duct insulation
- Sealing duct joints with asbestos-containing mastic
- Removing old duct systems during retrofit projects
BAC Local 5 Ohio (Northern Ohio — Valley View) · Local 18 (Cincinnati/Southern Ohio) · Local 55 (Columbus)
How They Were Exposed
- Mixing asbestos-containing refractory cement and mortar by hand
- Patching firebox linings on industrial boilers and furnaces
- Installing asbestos-backed hot tops in steel mill ladles
- Cutting refractory brick with abrasive saws and bricksaws
- Removing spalled refractory during furnace relines
UBC Millwrights Local 1090 (North Canton — statewide Ohio)
How They Were Exposed
- Aligning and repairing turbines, pumps, and compressors with asbestos packing and gaskets
- Setting machinery on asbestos-cement bedplates and isolation pads
- Replacing asbestos clutch and brake friction in industrial drives
- Working in insulated pump rooms during shutdowns
- Maintaining conveyors and screens with asbestos-containing components
IUOE Local 18 (statewide Ohio — districts in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron)
How They Were Exposed
- Operating stationary boilers and steam plants insulated with asbestos
- Maintaining heavy equipment with asbestos brake linings and clutches
- Repacking valves and replacing gaskets on plant utilities
- Working in boiler rooms and engine rooms alongside insulators
- Crane and hoist work in industrial buildings during construction
LIUNA Local 310 (Cleveland) · Local 265 (Cincinnati) · Local 423 (Columbus) · Local 1216 (Mansfield) under Laborers' District Council of Ohio
How They Were Exposed
- Tear-off and demolition of insulated piping, boilers, and equipment
- Cleanup of asbestos debris and dust from work areas
- Mixing and tending insulating cement for insulators
- Hauling waste asbestos materials to dumpsters before abatement standards
- General labor in refineries, mills, and power plants during outages
IUPAT District Council 6 (Strongsville — statewide Ohio) — Cleveland Local 707 (painters), Local 505 (drywall tapers); Cincinnati Local 123; Columbus Local 1275; Toledo Local 7
How They Were Exposed
- Mixing and applying asbestos-containing joint compound ("mud")
- Sanding dried joint compound with hand and machine sanders
- Applying asbestos-containing texture sprays and acoustic ceilings
- Scraping old paint and texture from asbestos substrates
- Working in industrial environments with bystander exposure from insulators
Roofers Local 44 (Cleveland) · Local 42 (Cincinnati) · Local 75 (Dayton)
How They Were Exposed
- Tearing off built-up roofing with asbestos-impregnated felts
- Cutting transite roofing panels with abrasive saws
- Applying asbestos-containing roofing mastic and flashing cement
- Installing asbestos-felt vapor barriers and underlayments
- Working on industrial roofs with asbestos-cement deck
USW Local 979 (Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works) · Local 1104 (Lorain — tubular ops closed 2016) · Local 169 (Mansfield Works). Note: Middletown Works is IAM Local 1943 (AEIF), not USW.
How They Were Exposed
- Working blast furnaces, coke ovens, and BOFs at Cleveland Works, Lorain, Mansfield, and historical Republic/LTV/Wheeling-Pitt mills
- Handling asbestos-backed hot tops and ladle insulation
- Wearing asbestos gloves, aprons, and leggings during heat operations
- Replacing asbestos gaskets on rolling mill drives and reheat furnaces
- Bystander exposure during furnace relines and refractory tear-out
UAW Local 1112 (Lordstown/Ultium Cells) · Local 12 (Toledo Stellantis Jeep) · Local 2000 (Avon Lake Ford) · Local 211 (Defiance GM Powertrain) · Local 1219 (Lima Ford Engine)
How They Were Exposed
- Grinding and arc-grinding asbestos brake linings at Lordstown, Toledo Jeep, Avon Lake, and Lima plants
- Handling asbestos clutch facings and friction products during build
- Foundry work with asbestos-containing refractory at Defiance and Lima
- Bystander exposure to insulation work on plant utility piping
- Cleanup duties with airborne fiber in stamping and paint shops
USW (formerly OCAW/PACE) — Lima, Toledo, Canton, Cincinnati refineries and chemical complexes
How They Were Exposed
- Operating crude units, reformers, and FCC units insulated with asbestos at Lima, BP Toledo, Marathon Canton
- Replacing asbestos gaskets on pumps, valves, and flanges during turnarounds
- Walking process units saturated with friable asbestos during outages
- Repacking asbestos-rope packing in compressors and pump shafts
- Cleaning up after insulator and pipefitter work in operating areas
USW (formerly URWA) — Akron Locals 2L, 7-L, 12L, 307L, 831L, 959L (Goodyear, Firestone, General Tire, BFGoodrich plants)
How They Were Exposed
- Working tire-building machines and curing presses near asbestos-insulated steam piping
- Handling asbestos-containing molds, mold release, and curing bladders
- Wearing asbestos gloves and aprons at vulcanizing and Banbury mixing stations
- Bystander exposure to insulators during plant outages
- Most Akron tire plants closed in the 1980s — exposure window largely 1940s—1980s
IBEW & UWUA — AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy, Duke Energy Ohio, Dayton Power & Light
How They Were Exposed
- Watch standing in boiler rooms with asbestos lagging at Gen J.M. Gavin, W.H. Sammis, Cardinal, Conesville, Bay Shore, and Killen stations
- Maintaining feedwater pumps and condensate systems with asbestos packing
- Inspecting and tagging out equipment during annual boiler outages
- Sampling and adjusting steam systems through insulated valves
- Bystander exposure during boilermaker and insulator outage work
UAW (plants) · IAM (shops) · Independents
How They Were Exposed
- Blowing out brake drums with compressed air during brake jobs
- Grinding and arc-grinding asbestos brake linings to size
- Replacing asbestos clutch facings in cars and trucks
- Handling asbestos brake parts from major aftermarket suppliers
- Working with asbestos-containing gaskets on engines and manifolds
UA · SMART · IBEW (combined HVAC trades)
How They Were Exposed
- Servicing chillers and air handlers with asbestos-insulated cabinets
- Replacing fan-coil units in schools, hospitals, and office buildings
- Repairing steam radiators wrapped in asbestos covering
- Disturbing asbestos pipe insulation during ductwork penetrations
- Removing old asbestos-lined boilers and furnaces
SEIU · Independent — schools, hospitals, civic buildings
How They Were Exposed
- Stripping and waxing vinyl-asbestos tile floors with high-speed buffers
- Cleaning up debris in boiler rooms and mechanical chases
- Patching damaged asbestos pipe insulation with tape or cement
- Sweeping up dust from deteriorating ceiling tiles and pipe covering
- Daily work in buildings with friable asbestos before AHERA
Ohio Filing Deadline for Trade Workers
Ohio gives asbestos disease victims two years from diagnosis to file under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10. Union members frequently worked at dozens of jobsites across decades — every facility, every contractor, every employer matters in establishing exposure. A Ohio asbestos attorney can help reconstruct your full work history and identify every responsible product manufacturer and premises owner.
Connect With an Asbestos and Mesothelioma Attorney with Experience in Ohio
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