IUOE — Operating Engineers

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents two broad groups of workers: stationary engineers, who operate and maintain the boilers, steam plants, HVAC systems, and mechanical equipment inside buildings and industrial complexes; and hoisting and portable engineers, who run heavy construction equipment.

Stationary engineers in particular spent their careers inside the most asbestos-intensive environments in American industry. Operating and maintaining boiler and steam plants at power stations, refineries, hospitals, universities, and factories meant working directly around asbestos block insulation, pipe covering, refractory, gaskets, and valve and pump packing — every day, for decades. Hoisting and portable operators were also exposed to asbestos on demolition and construction jobsites where asbestos-containing materials were disturbed.

Because asbestos-related diseases have latency periods of 20 to 50 years, retired operating and stationary engineers who were active from the 1940s through the early 1980s are only now receiving diagnoses of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Locals in Our Coverage Area

For operating engineers in other states, use the official IUOE local locator at iuoe.org/find-an-iuoe-local-union .

Coverage states: MO · IL · IN · IA · KS · KY · MI · OH · WI · NE