Utility and Telephone Workers

Asbestos cement conduit was widely used to protect underground cables. Crews cut it to length and shaped it to fit, often with saws or other tools that created dust. Repairs sometimes meant breaking into old conduit that had been in the ground for years. This work was frequently done in trenches or manholes, where dust stayed close to the worker instead of blowing away. If you did this kind of work, describe how often, what tools you used, whether the cutting was done dry, and how the cut pieces and dust were cleaned up afterward.

Underground vaults and manholes were tight, poorly ventilated spaces where crews could spend hours at a time. Some contained insulated equipment, fireproofing or cable materials that could contain asbestos. Telephone central offices, power plants and utility substations also had equipment and building materials that could contain it. Workers sometimes disturbed these materials during repairs, splices or upgrades. Include both underground and indoor work locations in your history, and describe any work that involved removing or cutting old materials in those spaces. Note any building you worked in that was later renovated or had asbestos abatement done.

Utility and telephone workers often stayed with one employer for decades, and large utilities typically kept detailed employment records. These can show job titles, crew assignments, work locations and dates. Union records may add more detail about classifications and transfers. Coworkers from the same crews can help confirm conditions and materials. A clear, dated history makes it easier to identify the products you were exposed to and the companies that made them, which is the heart of any product claim. Service awards, crew photos and old work orders can also help confirm where you were assigned.

1. 1

   Describe conduit cutting and underground repair work, including the tools you used.

2. 2

   List the vaults, substations or central offices where you regularly worked over the years.

3. 3

   Request employment records from your utility or telephone company employer.

4. 4

   Contact former crew members who can confirm the working conditions you remember.