Asbestos in Gaskets and Packing

Sheet gaskets were flat, compressed materials cut to fit between pipe flanges. Spiral-wound gaskets combined metal with filler that could contain asbestos. Packing came as braided rope or rings that fit around valve stems and pump shafts to stop leaks. These parts were found in steam systems, chemical lines, water systems and engines. Workers often cut gaskets from larger sheets using knives or shears, and they sometimes fabricated custom shapes on the job, creating dust in the process. Compressed sheet material was sometimes stored in large rolls or stacks in tool rooms. Trimming it to size added more dust to shop floors.

Old gaskets baked onto flanges over time. To remove them, workers scraped, chiseled or wire-brushed the surfaces, often using power tools. That process broke up the material and released fibers directly into their breathing zone. Old packing had to be dug out of valve housings with picks. Because many valves and flanges needed attention during every maintenance period, a single worker might replace dozens of gaskets in a shift. Nearby workers were exposed too. Many workers also cleaned flange faces with wire wheels on grinders, which threw dust widely. Few wore respiratory protection during these tasks in earlier decades.

Pipefitters, steamfitters, plumbers, machinists, millwrights, boilermakers and maintenance mechanics handled gaskets and packing most often. Navy sailors, especially in engineering ratings, replaced them aboard ships. Power plants, refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, steel mills and large commercial buildings all used these parts extensively. Gasket and packing manufacturers are frequently named in asbestos cases, and some have created bankruptcy trusts, making product identification valuable. Water treatment plants, hospitals, breweries and food processing plants also used these parts in their steam and water systems. If you maintained pumps or valves anywhere before the mid-1980s, gasket and packing work is worth mentioning. Brand names stamped on gasket sheets or printed on packing boxes are especially helpful to recall.

1. 1

   Write down the brands of gaskets and packing you remember using.

2. 2

   Note the tools you used to remove old gaskets, such as scrapers or wire brushes.

3. 3

   List the facilities and systems where you replaced gaskets or packing.

4. 4

   Ask former coworkers whether they recall specific gasket suppliers.