Workplace Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was one of the most widely used industrial materials of the 20th century. From the 1940s through the 1970s, it was present in thousands of commercial products used in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, power generation, and automotive repair. Workers who handled these products — or worked in proximity to them — inhaled microscopic asbestos fibers that have now caused mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis decades later.
The companies that manufactured and sold asbestos-containing products knew about the health risks for decades before adequate warnings were provided. Our firm pursues claims against these manufacturers and holds them financially responsible for the diseases their products caused.
High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Exposure
While asbestos exposure affected workers in virtually every industry, certain occupations carried particularly high risks:
Construction Workers
Construction workers encountered asbestos in insulation, drywall joint compound, floor tiles, roofing materials, cement, and fireproofing. Workers who cut, sanded, or demolished asbestos-containing materials created clouds of dangerous fibers. Carpenters, drywall installers, roofers, and demolition crews were among the most heavily exposed.
Shipyard Workers
Shipyards in California — including Mare Island, Hunters Point, and the San Francisco Naval Shipyard — used massive quantities of asbestos in ship construction and repair. Shipfitters, welders, pipefitters, insulators, and painters who worked in confined shipboard spaces experienced intense asbestos exposure.
Refinery and Power Plant Workers
Oil refineries and power plants throughout California and Texas relied on asbestos insulation for pipes, boilers, turbines, and reactors. Workers who maintained or replaced this insulation were exposed to concentrated asbestos fibers on a daily basis.
Electricians and Plumbers
Electricians worked around asbestos-insulated wiring, electrical panels, and conduit. Plumbers encountered asbestos in pipe insulation, gaskets, joint compound, and cement pipe. Both trades required disturbing asbestos-containing materials as part of routine installation and repair work.
Pipefitters and Insulators
These workers had among the highest exposure levels of any occupation. Insulators applied, removed, and repaired asbestos-containing insulation directly, while pipefitters worked with asbestos gaskets, packing, and insulation in industrial piping systems.
Auto Mechanics
Automotive brake pads, clutch facings, and gaskets contained asbestos for much of the 20th century. Mechanics who performed brake and clutch work inhaled asbestos dust created by grinding and replacing these components.
Employer and Manufacturer Liability
Asbestos exposure claims typically involve two categories of defendants:
Product Manufacturers
Companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products — insulation, gaskets, brake pads, cement, floor tiles, and thousands of other products — are the primary defendants in most occupational exposure cases. Many of these companies had internal knowledge of asbestos health risks for decades before warning workers or the public. Our firm identifies every asbestos product you were exposed to and pursues claims against each manufacturer.
Property and Premises Owners
Building owners, facility operators, and general contractors who knew or should have known about asbestos hazards on their premises may also bear liability for failing to warn workers or abate the danger. This includes owners of industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and shipyards where asbestos exposure occurred.
Workers' Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims
Workers diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases often have two distinct legal paths:
- Workers' compensation provides limited benefits through your employer's insurance, including partial wage replacement and medical expenses. It does not require proving fault, but it also does not compensate for pain and suffering or full lost earnings.
- Third-party claims are lawsuits filed against the manufacturers of asbestos products, suppliers, or property owners — not your direct employer. These claims can result in significantly greater compensation, including full medical expenses, complete lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Filing a workers' compensation claim does not prevent you from also pursuing third-party litigation. Our attorneys evaluate both options and develop a comprehensive strategy to maximize your total recovery.
Take-Home Asbestos Exposure
Workers exposed to asbestos on the job often carried fibers home on their clothing, shoes, hair, and skin. Family members — particularly spouses who laundered work clothes and children who had close contact with workers — were unknowingly exposed to asbestos and have developed mesothelioma and other diseases as a result.
California courts have recognized the right of take-home exposure victims to pursue claims against the companies whose products caused the contamination. Our firm represents both directly exposed workers and their family members who developed asbestos-related illnesses through secondary exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Exposure Claims
What occupations have the highest risk of asbestos exposure?
The occupations with the highest historical asbestos exposure include insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, shipyard workers, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, auto mechanics (especially brake and clutch work), refinery and power plant workers, firefighters, and industrial maintenance workers. However, any worker in a building or facility constructed before the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials.
Can I file a claim against my employer for asbestos exposure?
In most states, workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your direct employer for workplace injuries, including asbestos-related diseases. However, you can file third-party lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, the companies that supplied those products, property owners who failed to abate asbestos hazards, and contractors who exposed you to asbestos on job sites. These third-party claims typically provide significantly greater compensation than workers' compensation alone.
What if I was exposed to asbestos at multiple job sites?
Many asbestos exposure victims worked at multiple locations over the course of their careers. Our attorneys conduct thorough exposure investigations to identify every job site, product, and company responsible for your asbestos exposure. We can file claims against multiple defendants simultaneously, and our experience with product identification databases and industry records allows us to trace exposure that occurred decades ago.
Can family members file claims for take-home asbestos exposure?
Yes. Take-home or secondary asbestos exposure occurs when workers unknowingly carry asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair, or skin, exposing family members. Spouses who laundered contaminated work clothes and children who had contact with exposed workers have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. California courts have recognized the right of these secondary exposure victims to file claims against the responsible companies.
What is the difference between workers' compensation and a third-party asbestos claim?
Workers' compensation provides limited benefits — typically a portion of lost wages and medical expenses — regardless of fault, and does not include compensation for pain and suffering. A third-party asbestos claim is a lawsuit against the manufacturers or suppliers of asbestos products (not your employer) and can include full medical expenses, complete lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and punitive damages. Most asbestos exposure victims are eligible for both types of claims.
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