Electricians
Union locals: IBEW Local 134 (Chicago) · Local 34 (Peoria) · Local 309 (Metro East) · Local 193 (Springfield) · Local 145 (Quad Cities)
How Electricians Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, Electricians were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Illinois industrial, commercial, and public construction work from the 1930s through the 1980s. Documented exposure pathways drawn from public litigation records and industrial hygiene literature include:
- Pulling wire through asbestos-insulated conduits and cable trays
- Replacing arc-chute components and phenolic boards in switchgear
- Working around insulators in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, and pipe chases
- Installing motors with asbestos brake friction discs
- Cutting holes in asbestos-cement panels and transite walls
- Bystander exposure during shutdowns and turnarounds
Why This Matters for Illinois Workers
If you worked as an electricians in Illinois during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural disease, you may have a legal claim — even if your employer is no longer in business. Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds that continue to pay qualified claimants based on documented exposure history.
Illinois Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks
Illinois keeps the personal-injury clock (735 ILCS 5/13-202 — 2 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (740 ILCS 180/2 — 2 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Illinois asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.
Talk to an Experienced Illinois Asbestos Attorney
A free, confidential consultation with O’Brien Law Firm can evaluate your specific exposure history and filing-deadline situation. No fee unless they recover compensation.
☎ (314) 588-0558