Iowa Boilermakers Local 83: Asbestos Exposure Risk and Legal Options with an Iowa Mesothelioma Lawyer

For decades, Boilermakers Local 83 members in Des Moines, Iowa, performed demanding work, constructing, maintaining, and repairing industrial facilities across the state. This essential labor, often in high-heat environments with heavy machinery, reportedly exposed many members to asbestos. A diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease for a Local 83 member or family is likely a direct result of this occupational exposure. The injured party may be entitled to substantial compensation, and an experienced Iowa mesothelioma lawyer can help navigate these complex claims.

URGENT DEADLINE WARNING FOR IOWA ASBESTOS CLAIMS:

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease in Iowa, it is critical to act immediately. Iowa law imposes a strict statute of limitations, generally a two-year deadline from the date of diagnosis or death, to file a lawsuit (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)). While most asbestos trust funds do not have strict time limits, their assets can deplete, making prompt action essential for all claim types. Delaying could mean losing your right to substantial compensation. Call an asbestos attorney Iowa today to protect your legal rights.

This article is for current and former Local 83 members and their families. It outlines the history of asbestos use in the trade, common exposure sites and products, health risks, and legal avenues for justice and compensation in Iowa.

Boilermakers Local 83: Labor and Historical Asbestos Risk

Boilermakers are skilled craftspeople. They fabricate, assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, tanks, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and other large containment systems. Their work supports power generation, chemical processing, manufacturing, and other heavy industries throughout Iowa.

Historically, Boilermakers Local 83 members performed the following duties in Iowa:

Boiler Construction and Repair: This involved cutting, fitting, welding, and riveting metal plates for industrial boilers. New boilers and older ones undergoing repair often used asbestos-containing materials. These included Johns-Manville’s Thermobestos block insulation or Owens Corning’s Kaylo pipe and block insulation.
Installation and Maintenance of Pressure Vessels and Tanks: These large containment systems reportedly used asbestos for insulation, gaskets, and packing to help them withstand high temperatures and pressures. Boilermakers allegedly handled products like Garlock Sealing Technologies’ Cranite gaskets and Eagle-Picher’s Unibestos pipe insulation.
Working with Pumps and Valves: Boilermakers often handled and maintained pumps and valves connected to these systems. These commonly contained asbestos gaskets, packing, and insulation. Replacing worn Garlock Sealing Technologies gaskets or valve packing was a routine task.
Demolition and Renovation: During demolition or renovation of older facilities, Boilermakers dismantled existing equipment. This reportedly disturbed large quantities of previously installed asbestos materials. These included Johns-Manville’s Aircell pipe insulation or Celotex asbestos-cement boards.
Fireproofing and Refractory Work: Some Boilermakers applied asbestos-containing refractory materials or fireproofing sprays in industrial settings. W.R. Grace’s Monokote spray-on fireproofing was reportedly used (per published trial records).

These tasks, particularly in the mid-20th century, involved working near and handling asbestos products. Asbestos use was rampant then across Iowa’s industrial landscape.

Iowa Job Sites: Documenting Asbestos Exposure in Iowa

Boilermakers Local 83 members reportedly worked at many Iowa industrial sites that reportedly used asbestos-containing materials. These facilities relied on boilers, turbines, and extensive piping systems, which were heavily insulated with asbestos products. Exposure occurred during new construction, routine maintenance, repairs, and “turnarounds” or outages, when old insulation was removed and new materials installed. An asbestos cancer lawyer Des Moines can assist in identifying these specific exposure sites.

A full list is difficult to compile due to the local’s extensive history. Facilities across Iowa where Boilermakers Local 83 members may have been exposed to asbestos include:

Power Plants (Coal-Fired and Nuclear):
- MidAmerican Energy (formerly Iowa Power & Light, Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric, etc.) facilities across Iowa: This reportedly includes the Neal Energy Center (Sioux City), George Neal North & South (Salix), Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center (Council Bluffs), and the former Des Moines Energy Center (Des Moines). These plants reportedly used asbestos-containing materials for boiler insulation, pipe lagging, turbine insulation, and refractory materials (documented in historical engineering specifications and OSHA inspection data). Boilermakers were integral to their construction, maintenance, and periodic outages. They allegedly encountered products from Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, and Combustion Engineering (per asbestos trust fund claim data).
Refineries and Chemical Plants:
- Hawkeye Chemical Company (Clinton): Chemical processing facilities reportedly contained numerous boilers, heat exchangers, and miles of insulated piping. Boilermakers working at these sites may have been exposed to asbestos-containing insulation and gaskets from manufacturers such as Johns-Manville and Garlock Sealing Technologies.
- Various smaller chemical processing and manufacturing plants throughout Iowa: Many industrial facilities reportedly relied on similar equipment and insulation practices. Boilermakers allegedly worked on equipment insulated with products like Eagle-Picher’s Unibestos and Owens-Illinois’ Kaylo.
Industrial Manufacturing Facilities:
- Iowa Steel (Iowa City): Steel manufacturing facilities historically utilized high-temperature processes that required extensive asbestos-containing insulation in furnaces, boilers, and piping. Boilermakers working at Iowa Steel may have been exposed to asbestos from these applications.
- Quaker Oats (Cedar Rapids): Large-scale food processing plants like Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids utilized extensive steam systems and boilers that were heavily insulated with asbestos-containing materials. Boilermakers allegedly encountered these products during installation and maintenance.
- Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids): While primarily an electronics manufacturer, large industrial complexes like Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids would have had central powerhouses and heating systems that reportedly employed asbestos-containing insulation in boilers and piping.
- John Morrell (Sioux City): Meatpacking plants like John Morrell in Sioux City, a major industrial employer, relied on extensive steam generation and refrigeration systems, which commonly used asbestos-containing insulation in their equipment and piping.
- John Deere Manufacturing facilities (Waterloo, Ankeny, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Davenport): These large manufacturing complexes had extensive powerhouses, heating systems, and industrial equipment that reportedly used asbestos-containing insulation (per historical blueprints and maintenance logs). Boilermakers may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials from Johns-Manville and Armstrong World Industries in these settings.
- Cargill and other food processing plants: Large-scale food processing involves steam generation and extensive insulated piping systems. Boilermakers reportedly encountered asbestos-containing insulation from companies like Pabco and Celotex during maintenance work.
- Various other factories and industrial sites throughout Iowa: Any facility with large boilers, furnaces, or extensive steam piping systems likely contained asbestos-containing materials from manufacturers such as Crane Co. and Georgia-Pacific.

Asbestos-Containing Products Encountered by Boilermakers

Boilermakers frequently encountered asbestos products because they worked on high-temperature industrial equipment. Cutting, sawing, drilling, grinding, scraping, or breaking these materials reportedly released microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Workers inhaled or ingested these fibers.

These products included:

Pipe Insulation and Lagging: Found as pre-formed sections or troweled-on cement. This material insulated steam pipes, hot water lines, and other process piping. Boilermakers cut, fit, and removed this insulation, allegedly releasing asbestos fibers. Specific products include Johns-Manville’s Thermobestos and Aircell, Owens Corning / Owens-Illinois’ Kaylo, Eagle-Picher’s Unibestos, and Pabco’s Pabco Pipe Insulation.
Boiler Insulation and Refractory Materials: Boilers used asbestos blankets, block insulation, and refractory cement to contain heat. Repairing or dismantling boilers disturbed these materials. Boilermakers allegedly worked with Johns-Manville’s Superex block insulation, Combustion Engineering boiler components, and W.R. Grace’s Monokote fireproofing.
Gaskets and Packing: Asbestos was a common component in high-temperature gaskets and valve packing. Boilermakers routinely replaced these during maintenance. Cutting new gaskets from asbestos sheet material or scraping out old packing was a significant source of exposure. Boilermakers reportedly handled Garlock Sealing Technologies’ Cranite gaskets and packing, and materials from Johns-Manville.
Asbestos Cement Sheets and Boards: Used for fireproofing, electrical panel backings, and insulation. Boilermakers may have encountered Celotex asbestos-cement boards, Georgia-Pacific’s Gold Bond products, and Armstrong World Industries’ insulation boards.
Brakes and Clutches (on heavy equipment): Boilermakers operating cranes or other heavy equipment may have been exposed to asbestos from brake linings and clutch facings. These included those from Garlock Sealing Technologies.
Welding Rod Coatings: Some welding rods reportedly contained asbestos in their flux coatings, which could have been released during welding operations.

Serious Diseases Linked to Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos fiber exposure, even in small amounts, causes several serious and often fatal diseases. These diseases have long latency periods, meaning symptoms may appear 10 to 50 years after initial exposure.

Primary diseases linked to asbestos exposure include:

Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer. It affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Asbestos exposure causes almost all cases.
Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer, especially for smokers.
Asbestosis: A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease. Scarring of lung tissue causes shortness of breath, coughing, and reduced lung function. It is dose-dependent; heavier and prolonged exposure generally leads to more severe asbestosis.
Pleural Thickening and Plaques: Non-malignant conditions where the lining of the lungs thickens or calcifies. Severe pleural thickening can impair lung function.

A diagnosis of any of these conditions for a Boilermakers Local 83 member or family likely results from occupational asbestos exposure.

Union Records: Proving Asbestos Exposure for an Iowa Mesothelioma Settlement

Union records can be invaluable in helping members understand their exposure history and pursue legal claims. Boilermakers Local 83, as well as other Iowa locals such as IBEW Local 347, Asbestos Workers Local 12, and Pipefitters Local 33, may hold various helpful records:

Membership Records: Confirm membership dates and work history.
Dispatch Records/Work Rosters: Document specific job assignments, dates, and employers. These help establish employment timelines at facilities like the George Neal North & South (Salix) or John Deere (Waterloo).
Grievance Records: If asbestos exposure was a known union issue, records of grievances related to workplace safety or hazardous materials may exist. These could be from sites like Quaker Oats (Cedar Rapids) or the Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center (Council Bluffs) (documented in union grievance records).
Health and Safety Committee Minutes: Records from union safety committees may indicate discussions or concerns about asbestos at particular job sites. These may reference specific products or manufacturers.

Current and former members, or surviving family members, should inquire with Boilermakers Local 83 about any available records. These records, combined with personal testimony and expert analysis, can help build a strong legal case for an Iowa mesothelioma settlement.

Legal Options for Boilermakers Local 83 Members and Families in Iowa

A diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease for a Boilermakers Local 83 member or family in Iowa means legal rights and options for compensation. This compensation can cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Primary legal avenues in Iowa include:

Asbestos Trust Funds: Many companies that manufactured or used asbestos products heavily filed for bankruptcy due to lawsuits. They established trust funds to compensate victims. Billions of dollars are available in an asbestos trust fund Iowa from companies like Johns-Manville, Owens Corning / Owens-Illinois, Eagle-Picher, Garlock Sealing Technologies, Armstrong World Industries, W.R. Grace, Georgia-Pacific, Celotex, Crane Co., and Combustion Engineering. Iowa residents can file claims with these asbestos trust funds simultaneously with pursuing a lawsuit, potentially leading to faster compensation. Claimants file directly with the trust, not against an active company.
Personal Injury Lawsuits: Victims pursue personal injury lawsuits against solvent companies without trust funds. These lawsuits hold responsible parties accountable for alleged negligence in exposing workers to asbestos. These cases are commonly filed in Iowa venues such as the Polk County asbestos lawsuit district court (Des Moines) or the Linn County District Court (Cedar Rapids).
Wrongful Death Lawsuits: If a Boilermakers Local 83 member died from an asbestos-related disease, surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit or trust fund claim to recover damages. These lawsuits are also typically filed in Iowa district courts.

Expert Legal Representation for Asbestos Claims: Iowa Asbestos Statute of Limitations

Asbestos litigation is complex and demands specialized knowledge and resources from an experienced attorney. An attorney specializing in asbestos claims in Iowa offers:

Extensive Knowledge of Asbestos Products and Exposure Sites: An experienced attorney maintains proprietary databases of asbestos product manufacturers, common exposure sites in Iowa like the Neal Energy Center (Sioux City) or John Morrell (Sioux City), and the specific trades that worked with these materials, including members of Boilermakers Local 83, IBEW Local 347, or Pipefitters Local 33.
Medical Expertise: Understanding medical diagnoses and connecting them directly to asbestos exposure.
Access to Expert Witnesses: Such as industrial hygienists and occupational medicine doctors.
Ability to Gather Evidence: Including work records, medical records, and witness testimony crucial for Iowa-specific claims.

It is critical to understand the Iowa asbestos statute of limitations, which sets strict filing deadlines for these claims.

Take Action: Protect Rights and Seek Justice – Iowa Asbestos Lawsuit Filing Deadline

A diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases for a Boilermakers Local 83 member or family in Iowa requires immediate consultation with an asbestos attorney Iowa. These attorneys offer free initial consultations and typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay only if they recover compensation.

Do not delay. The Iowa asbestos lawsuit filing deadline is strict, generally a two-year statute of limitations under Iowa Code § 614.1(2) from the date of diagnosis or death. Trust fund assets can also diminish over time, making swift action on all fronts crucial. Seek legal counsel promptly to preserve your rights and ensure maximum compensation for harm from asbestos exposure. Call an Iowa mesothelioma lawyer today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

Data Sources

Information about facility equipment, industrial materials, and occupational records referenced on this page is drawn from publicly available sources where applicable, including:

EPA ECHO Facility Compliance Database — enforcement and compliance records for industrial facilities
OSHA Establishment Search — federal workplace inspection history
EIA Form 860 Plant Data — power plant equipment and ownership records (where applicable)
Iowa DNR NESHAP records
Published asbestos trial and trust fund records (publicly filed court documents)

If specific equipment or product claims in this article are sourced from a non-public database, the source is identified parenthetically within the text above.

Retired Members

If you are a retired member of this local or union, Building Trades Retirees maintains an independent directory of building trades locals, retiree club contacts, pension resources, and occupational health information for Iowa.