Glassblower Mitts

Asbestos in Glassblower Mitts and Other Protective Gear

Asbestos-lined protective clothing was standard issue for workers whose duties exposed them to the danger of burn injuries. This included foundry workers, metal casters, steel and aluminum workers, steam engineers and glassblowers.

Glassblower mitts are heavy mittens, not dissimilar to oven mitts, but resembling small boxing gloves. The type of asbestos lining these items contained prior to the early 1980s is known as chrysotile, or "white" asbestos. This was the most common type of commercial asbestos, accounting for approximately 97% of all asbestos used in the United States.

Following an asbestos ban around 1979, manufacturers switched to other substances to provide heat resistance in products. Newer glassblowing mitts are generally not contaminated with asbestos, although caution should be used when using mitts imported from overseas as not all countries have ceased using asbestos in the production of this type of industrial clothing.

Hazards Associated with Products

The danger of asbestos exposure for glassblowers occurred when these protective mitts began to wear out. When the lining became worn or ripped, it allowed asbestos fibers to escape into the immediate environment where they could be easily inhaled.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers has been conclusively linked to a large number of cases of mesothelioma cancer in U.S. workers and veterans. For many years the makers of asbestos based products, like glassblower mitts, were aware of the hazards associated with airborne asbestos but neglected to inform the public about them. As a result, workers and veterans serving in the armed forces were not advised to use appropriate protective gear when working with asbestos products or in environments where concentrated amounts of asbestos existed such as on board Navy ships. Workers and veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible for financial compensation. Please fill out the form on this page to request information and learn more.

Sources

Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)