Key Finding
Asbestos exposure was not limited to workers who directly handled asbestos products. Bystander exposure — working near asbestos installers, or laundering contaminated work clothing — was sufficient to cause mesothelioma. Family members of heavily exposed workers face elevated risk independent of their own occupation.
Search by Industry or Occupation
US Navy & Naval Shipyards
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1980s
Exposure Risk
ExtremeAffected Occupations
- ›Boiler technicians / Machinist's mates
- ›Pipefitters and plumbers
- ›Electricians
- ›Shipfitters and welders
- ›Engine room personnel
- ›Insulation installers / laggers
Known Products Used
Pipe insulation (Unibestos, Kaylo), boiler insulation, turbine insulation, deck tiles, gaskets, bulkhead insulation
Investigation Detail
US Navy vessels were among the most asbestos-intensive environments ever created. Virtually every below-deck space was insulated with asbestos. Navy veterans who performed maintenance work — particularly in engine and boiler rooms — face the highest documented mesothelioma risk of any occupational group. Asbestos use peaked during World War II and Korean War era shipbuilding.
Relevant Trust Funds
Manville Trust, Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Owens Corning Trust, Combustion Engineering Trust, Babcock & Wilcox Trust
Construction & Building Trades
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1980s
Exposure Risk
HighAffected Occupations
- ›Insulators / asbestos workers
- ›Pipefitters and steamfitters
- ›Plasterers and drywall finishers
- ›Carpenters (ceiling and floor installation)
- ›Electricians in older buildings
- ›Demolition and renovation workers
- ›HVAC technicians
Known Products Used
Pipe and boiler insulation, floor tiles (Armstrong, Congoleum), ceiling tiles (Armstrong, Celotex), joint compound (USG Durabond), spray-on fireproofing (Monokote), asbestos cement board, roofing shingles
Investigation Detail
Construction insulators who worked directly with asbestos products have a mesothelioma mortality rate estimated at 1 in 10 — among the highest of any occupational group. Pipefitters, drywall workers, and floor tile installers also received substantial exposure. Current renovation workers may encounter legacy asbestos in structures built before 1980.
Relevant Trust Funds
Manville Trust, Armstrong Trust, USG Trust, W.R. Grace Trust, Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Celotex Trust
Automotive Manufacturing & Repair
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1990s
Exposure Risk
HighAffected Occupations
- ›Brake mechanics / automotive technicians
- ›Transmission specialists
- ›Manufacturing line workers (brake assembly)
- ›Fleet maintenance mechanics
- ›Auto body repair workers
Known Products Used
Brake pads and shoes (Raybestos, Bendix, Wagner, Abex), clutch facings, gaskets (Fel-Pro), valve packing
Investigation Detail
Brake mechanics who used compressed air to blow out brake drums were directly inhaling asbestos fibres — a standard shop practice that created one of the most concentrated asbestos exposure scenarios in any civilian workplace. Chrysotile asbestos was used in automotive brake pads through the 1980s and in some products into the 1990s.
Relevant Trust Funds
Pneumo Abex Trust, Federal-Mogul Trust, Bendix / Honeywell Trust
Power Generation & Utilities
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1980s
Exposure Risk
HighAffected Occupations
- ›Boilermakers
- ›Pipefitters and steamfitters
- ›Millwrights
- ›Turbine technicians
- ›Maintenance and repair workers
- ›Insulation workers
Known Products Used
Boiler insulation, turbine insulation, pipe lagging, valve packing, gaskets, electrical insulation
Investigation Detail
Power plants built through the 1970s used asbestos insulation throughout their steam systems. Boilermakers and pipefitters who maintained these systems — removing and replacing asbestos insulation during maintenance outages — received concentrated exposure. Nuclear power plants relied heavily on Babcock & Wilcox and Combustion Engineering equipment, both of which filed for bankruptcy due to asbestos liabilities.
Relevant Trust Funds
Combustion Engineering Trust, Babcock & Wilcox Trust, Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Harbison-Walker Trust
Oil Refining & Chemical Plants
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1980s
Exposure Risk
HighAffected Occupations
- ›Pipefitters and plumbers
- ›Insulators
- ›Boilermakers
- ›Process operators and maintenance workers
- ›Turnaround / shutdown workers (contract)
Known Products Used
Pipe insulation, vessel insulation, high-temperature gaskets and packing, fireproofing materials
Investigation Detail
Oil refineries and chemical plants required extensive insulation of high-temperature piping. "Turnaround" workers — contract workers brought in during planned shutdowns to repair and re-insulate systems — often received concentrated exposure in short timeframes. Many turnaround workers worked at multiple facilities across decades, accumulating exposure from multiple responsible companies.
Relevant Trust Funds
Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Combustion Engineering Trust, Quigley Trust, Harbison-Walker Trust
Steel & Heavy Manufacturing
Primary exposure period: 1930s–1980s
Exposure Risk
Moderate–HighAffected Occupations
- ›Refractory workers (brick masons)
- ›Pipefitters
- ›Boilermakers
- ›Maintenance workers
- ›Millwrights
Known Products Used
Refractory brick and cement (Harbison-Walker), furnace insulation, pipe insulation, gaskets
Investigation Detail
Steel mills used asbestos-containing refractory products to insulate blast furnaces, electric arc furnaces, and related equipment. Workers who installed, repaired, or demolished refractory linings received sustained asbestos exposure over decades. Harbison-Walker was the primary refractory supplier to the US steel industry and established a $500M trust fund.
Relevant Trust Funds
Harbison-Walker Trust, Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Quigley Trust, Manville Trust
US Military — Non-Navy
Primary exposure period: 1940s–1980s
Exposure Risk
HighAffected Occupations
- ›Military construction / SeaBees
- ›Maintenance and engineering personnel
- ›Barracks facility maintenance workers
- ›Vehicle maintenance mechanics
Known Products Used
Building insulation, pipe insulation, floor tiles in military housing and facilities, vehicle brake systems
Investigation Detail
Military bases built through the 1970s used the same asbestos-containing products as civilian construction. Veterans who performed maintenance on military facilities — particularly those in mechanical, plumbing, or construction roles — may have experienced significant asbestos exposure that is not reflected in their VA records. VA benefits are available in addition to, and independent of, trust fund claims.
Relevant Trust Funds
Multiple trusts depending on specific exposure — VA disability benefits also available
Secondary & Household Exposure
Family members of workers may also have been exposed.
Asbestos fibres brought home on work clothing — laundered by spouses or handled by children — have caused mesothelioma in family members who never directly worked with asbestos. This "household exposure" or "para-occupational exposure" is recognized in asbestos trust fund eligibility criteria and may entitle family members to file their own claims.