Understanding Asbestos Exposure at Work Sites
Asbestos was widely used at job sites across the United States for much of the 20th century because of its unique properties. This naturally occurring mineral is durable, heat-resistant, and a good insulator, making it ideal for many industries.
Asbestos could commonly be found in building materials, machinery, and insulation used across many industries, including automotive, construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding.
While asbestos offered many practical benefits, its health dangers were well-known to major manufacturers as early as the 1930s. However, many failed to warn workers or provide protection to protect their profits.
An estimated 27 million workers were exposed to asbestos fibers between 1940 and 1979, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Asbestos exposure at work sites is a leading cause of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that typically develops 10-50 years after exposure. While current regulations restrict the use of asbestos at workplaces, those exposed decades ago are still at risk today.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and suspect it’s linked to work sites with asbestos exposure, we can help. Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to see how you may have been exposed and if you can seek compensation.
List of Asbestos Exposure Job Sites
Asbestos was used in a wide range of workplaces throughout the 1900s, especially before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) limited its use in the late 1970s. It was a go-to material across many industries due to its affordability and versatility.
Many workers were unknowingly exposed to asbestos on the job, often through direct contact with contaminated materials or by breathing in airborne fibers. Find out about common work sites with asbestos exposure below.
Automotive Repair Shops
Auto mechanics may have been exposed to asbestos while working with products like brake pads, clutches, and gaskets. Asbestos was used in friction products to prevent overheating and fire hazards.
“We did brakes the old-fashioned way. We did a lot of grinding with sandpaper to prepare the brake pads we put in and the new ones. We had dust everywhere. We didn’t know any better.”
Construction Sites
Asbestos was widely used in construction materials such as ceiling and floor tiles, cement, drywall, insulation, and roofing shingles.
Those who built, renovated, or demolished older structures faced a high risk of asbestos exposure at work sites.
Factories and Industrial Plants
Many manufacturing facilities used asbestos to insulate machinery and protect against fires.
Workers in chemical factories, refineries, steel mills, and textile plants often handled or worked near asbestos-containing products without proper safety measures.
Military Bases and Shipyards
Military personnel were among the most heavily exposed to asbestos due to its widespread use on bases, vehicles, and ships. Shipyards were especially hazardous due to the confined nature of these work sites and the manipulation of asbestos products that occurred.
Those with the highest risk are Navy veterans and shipyard workers. In fact, 1 in 3 mesothelioma cases are linked to Navy and shipyard work sites with asbestos exposure.
Mines and Asbestos Processing Facilities
Miners and laborers who extracted asbestos or worked in processing plants faced some of the highest exposure levels. The town of Libby, Montana, is one of the most well-known examples of widespread occupational and environmental asbestos exposure.
Libby contained a vermiculite mine contaminated with asbestos that harmed thousands of workers and townspeople. In 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Libby as a Superfund site.
Power Plants
Asbestos was used to insulate boilers, generators, pipes, and turbines in power generation facilities. Maintenance workers, electricians, and engineers frequently worked around these high-heat systems, unknowingly breathing in dangerous asbestos fibers.
Call (866) 608-8933 if you or a loved one developed mesothelioma that may be connected to work sites with asbestos exposure. We can help you find top doctors, explore the latest treatments, and seek financial compensation from asbestos companies.
What Occupations Are Most Exposed to Asbestos?
Work sites with asbestos exposure caused many workers to come into contact with this dangerous mineral on a daily basis. When these asbestos products were cut, sanded, or disturbed, tiny fibers could be released into the air, posing health risks to those nearby.
Even brief stints on work sites with asbestos exposure could lead to serious health issues like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis later in life.
High-risk asbestos occupations include:
- Auto workers (mechanics)
- Boilermakers
- Construction workers
- Demolition crew members
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Factory workers
- Farmers
- Firefighters
- HVAC workers
- Insulators
- Mill workers
- Miners
- Oil refinery workers
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Railroad workers
- Shipyard workers
- Steel mill workers
Even after asbestos regulations were introduced, many of these materials remained in older buildings and equipment. Workers in these industries may still be at risk during renovations, repairs, and demolitions even today.
You may have been exposed to asbestos even if your occupation is not listed above. Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more about high-risk job sites and how we can help determine the source of your exposure.
How Occupational Asbestos Exposure Happened
Occupational asbestos exposure occurred when workers breathed in or swallowed tiny asbestos fibers released into the air. Asbestos exposure at work sites often happened during tasks like cutting, sanding, or repairing products that contained asbestos.
Because asbestos fibers do not break down in the body, exposure on the job — even in small amounts — could lead to serious illnesses decades later.
Common ways workers were exposed to asbestos include:
- Handling asbestos-containing materials while installing, repairing, or removing products like insulation, drywall, pumps, and valves
- Performing maintenance or repairs, which may have disturbed asbestos in boilers, pipes, engines, and machinery
- Working in confined or poorly ventilated spaces, such as tight areas in ship engine rooms, boiler rooms, or crawl spaces as airborne fibers could build up quickly with limited airflow.
Many manufacturers failed to warn workers about the dangers of asbestos or provide protective gear, even after they knew it was dangerous.
Asbestos exposure at worksites not only affected employees but also their family members. When workers brought home asbestos dust on their clothes at the end of the day, their loved ones may have come in contact with fibers through secondary exposure.
“My dad more or less drove around the plant all day picking up asbestos fibers, and that’s what he did every day, 5 days a week, for over 20 years.”
Companies With Asbestos Exposure Work Sites
Many companies have been linked to work sites with asbestos exposure. Asbestos companies may have required workers to use the toxic material as part of the manufacturing process or handle asbestos-containing products.
Industrial plants, factories, and shipyards that used asbestos often employed thousands of workers. Anyone who handled asbestos products or even worked nearby may have been put in harm’s way.
Companies linked to work sites with asbestos exposure include:
- Celotex Corp.
- Crown Cork & Seal
- Eagle Picher Industries
- Federal Mogul (T&N, Flexitallic, Ferodo)
- Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
- Georgia-Pacific LLC
- H.K. Porter Co.
- Hennessy Industries Inc.
- Johns-Manville Corp.
- Kaiser Aluminum
- Mallinckrodt
- National Gypsum
- Owens-Illinois
- Quigley Co.
- Raymark Corp./Raytech Corp.
- United States Gypsum
- W.R. Grace
- Washington Penn Plastics
This isn’t a complete list. Many other companies maintained work sites with asbestos exposure, putting their own employees, contractors, and others in the path of danger.
Asbestos companies prioritized profits over people, continuing to use the mineral while concealing its dangers. Today, many of them have faced lawsuits and set up asbestos trust funds to compensate those harmed by their negligence.
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure at Work Sites
Workers who developed mesothelioma from work sites with asbestos exposure may be eligible for compensation. Several pathways exist for mesothelioma patients and their families to seek money for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Mesothelioma compensation options include:
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: These legal claims pay over $1 million and typically resolve through out-of-court settlements, which provide quicker access to much-needed compensation.
- Asbestos trust funds: Established by bankrupt asbestos manufacturers to avoid lawsuits, these trusts contain over $30 billion. Asbestos victims can access compensation from the comfort of their own homes.
- VA benefits: Married veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for over $4,000 a month in disability compensation and free or low-cost cancer treatments through the VA health care system.
Asbestos victims often qualify for money from multiple sources, maximizing their total payout. A mesothelioma lawyer can determine the sources that you qualify for and handle all aspects of the claims process on your behalf.
Get a Free Case Review to find out what compensation you may qualify for.
Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review
How to Find Help for Asbestos Exposure at Work Sites
Millions of Americans didn’t know their workplaces contained a hidden danger — asbestos. As a result, thousands develop mesothelioma each year as a result of simply doing their jobs and supporting their families.
If you or a loved one has been affected by work sites with asbestos exposure, our team at Mesothelioma Hope is here to help you find a path forward during this difficult time.
We can connect you with:
- Mesothelioma doctors and cancer treatment centers
- Top asbestos lawyers who can fight for the compensation you deserve
- Support resources to help you navigate life with mesothelioma
Call (866) 608-8933 right now or get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to get the personalized support you deserve.
Work Sites With Asbestos Exposure FAQs
Where can asbestos be found on a job site?
Asbestos can be found in many materials across a job site, especially in buildings or equipment made before the 1980s. This includes asbestos insulation, flooring materials, fireproofing coatings, pipes, and more.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it’s disturbed, like during renovations, repairs, or demolition, causing toxic fibers to become airborne and easily inhaled. Even small amounts of exposure can increase the risk of mesothelioma and other diseases.
What happens if you are exposed to asbestos at work?
If you believe you were exposed to asbestos, speak with a doctor experienced in asbestos-related diseases. It’s also a good idea to document your work history and seek legal advice.
Compensation may be available through asbestos trust funds or lawsuits if you develop an illness like mesothelioma.
Call (866) 608-8933 for help if you’ve developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at work sites.
Where is asbestos most commonly found?
Asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, buildings, and job sites built before the 1980s. It’s often in insulation, floor tiles, roofing, cement, and pipes. These products can release harmful fibers when damaged or disturbed.
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