Louisiana Laborers and Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a durable and heat-resistant material that was widely used in shipyards, chemical plants, and various other industries throughout the 20th century. Louisiana laborers at these work sites were often exposed to asbestos, either directly or indirectly, which led to significant health risks, including mesothelioma and lung cancer even many years later.
Last Updated:
- September 30, 2025
Key Facts About Laborers
Asbestos Exposure Risk:
High
Causes of Exposure:
Working with asbestos-containing products or around other trades using such materials
Asbestos Products:
Pipe insulation, block insulation, high-temperature insulation cements, refractory cements, and more
Job Sites:
Oil refineries, chemical plants, shipyards, power plants, paper mills, and more
Local Branches:
Laborers’ Local 99 (Baton Rouge Laborers’ Local 692 (Zachary)
Compensation Available:
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, or asbestosis.
How Were Laborers Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana?
Laborers were often exposed to asbestos while working alongside others who worked directly with asbestos-containing materials. For example, insulation workers removed old asbestos from pipe insulation during maintenance, and laborers helped with the cleanup afterward.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when the materials containing it are disturbed, releasing the tiny fibers into the air. Without proper protection, workers may inhale or ingest the asbestos fibers. The fibers can become lodged in bodily tissue, causing harmful inflammation and diseases like mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer and lung cancer.
Lack of Safety Precautions
For decades, laborers were oblivious to the dangers of asbestos because asbestos product manufacturers failed miserably to warn the public or include warning labels on their products. In the mid-1970s, the government began to regulate asbestos to protect workers and consumers from exposure. However, by then, it was already too late for many laborers. Workers in various trades had already been exposed to asbestos for decades. Many Louisiana laborers worked without proper masks, and several job sites lacked adequate ventilation, trapping airborne asbestos fibers in the workplace.
Common Products That Exposed Laborers
Asbestos was a common component of most high-temperature insulation products made between the 1930s and 1980s. Some asbestos products that laborers commonly used or were exposed to include the following:
- Pipe Insulation
- Block Insulation
- High-Temperature Insulation Cements
- Refractory Cements
- Asbestos Gaskets
- Firebrick
- Dust masks that did not protect against asbestos
Which Job Sites Are Known for Asbestos Exposure?
In Louisiana, workers were commonly exposed to asbestos at job sites like shipyards, oil refineries, chemical plants, fertilizer plants, and power plants.
Louisiana laborers who worked at the following worksites have a high risk for asbestos exposure:
- Exxon Oil Refinery in Baton Rouge
- Avondale Shipyard in Avondale
- Shell Oil & Chemical Refinery in Norco
- Dow Chemical Plant in Plaquemine
- BASF Chemical Plant in Geismar
- CF Industries Chemical Plant in Donaldsonville
- Allied Chemical Plant in Baton Rouge
- Willow Glen Power Plant in St. Gabriel
- Nine Mile Power Plant in Westwego
- Little Gypsy Power Plant in LaPlace
- DuPont Chemical Plant in LaPlace
- Tenneco Oil Refinery in Chalmette
There Are Many Others As Well
Laborers and Oil Rig Asbestos Exposure
Oil rig workers who handled asbestos-containing materials were likely exposed to harmful fibers daily on the job. Types of laborers who might have been exposed to asbestos include:
- Roustabouts: These are general laborers who mainly constructed board roads across dirt fields to get to the drilling site and did other manual labor. They are typically considered “gophers” for others on the rig.
- Roughnecks: These laborers have more specialized skills and perform tasks such as general construction and assisting with the repair and maintenance of pumps and valves.
Louisiana Local Unions Supporting Laborers
The Laborers’ International Union of North America, or LiUNA, represents over 500,000 members working in the construction and energy industries throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1836, LiUNA now comprises more than 400 local unions across North America, including the following two locals in Louisiana:
- Laborers’ Local 99 in Baton Rouge, LA
- Laborers’ Local 692 in Zachary, LA
Local unions support laborers with asbestos exposures by providing educational materials and asking lawyers from our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., to speak to the membership about asbestos diseases, exposures, and how to avoid them.
If you have any questions, please contact the office of the AFL-CIO of Louisiana for assistance.
Our Sponsor
Baron & Budd, P.C. is an officially endorsed provider and Occupational Disease Counsel for the AFL-CIO of Louisiana and all Affiliated Local Unions. The firm’s members have cultivated long-standing friendships and business relationships with the Local leadership and members. They are frequently invited to present information on mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestos exposures to the Retiree Clubs and active members.
Compensation Available for Laborers with Mesothelioma
If you are a Louisiana laborer who has been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to compensation. There are legal avenues available for both victims and their families to pursue their rights and seek justice:
- Mesothelioma Lawsuit: A mesothelioma lawsuit allows patients to seek compensation for medical expenses and suffering due to asbestos exposure. These lawsuits target companies responsible for the exposure, like manufacturers of asbestos products.
- Asbestos Trust Funds: Since the late 1980s, numerous asbestos companies have filed for bankruptcy protection. The courts ordered them to establish asbestos trust funds to compensate those who develop asbestos-related diseases. These funds currently hold approximately $30 billion combined.
- Both: If multiple parties are responsible for your asbestos exposure, you may be eligible to file both a mesothelioma lawsuit and an asbestos trust claim. If more than one bankrupt company is responsible, you might be eligible to file claims with multiple trusts.
Settlements for Laborers with Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma and lung cancer patients can recover anywhere from $500,000 to $10 million in compensation. Results may vary and are not guaranteed.
The following are some notable settlements obtained by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C.:
$5 million
for a laborer diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos during the 1950s and 1960s while working at a Baton Rouge chemical plant.
$2.59 million
for a Louisiana man and his family after he was diagnosed at age 74 with mesothelioma resulting from his exposure to asbestos as a laborer and millwright at a paper mill.
$2.12 million
for the family of a man who was exposed to asbestos while working as a laborer at a chemical plant.
$2.02 million
for a man and his family after he was diagnosed at age 68 with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during his work as a roughneck, pipefitter, and laborer in Louisiana chemical plants and oil fields.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
One significant case involved a Laborer, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002 after spending over 30 years as a laborer and longshoreman in Louisiana, including at the Port of New Orleans. His daughter noted that the settlement funds her father received served as a safety net for their family during challenging times.
We place the settlement funds we get in what we call the ‘family fund account’ for any immediate and extended family member that needs any help with bills, school supplies, repairs, etc. and when Hurricane Katrina hit, we were able to make it through without having to wait on the government assistance.
– Daughter of the Laborer
Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates Today
If you or a loved one were a mechanic in Louisiana and suspect asbestos exposure, Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates can provide the information you need. We can connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who can recommend the best mesothelioma physicians and answer any other questions you may have at that time.
Content Reviewed by
Todd Kale
Todd Kale meets with mesothelioma patients and their families across Louisiana to investigate their asbestos exposure, providing compassionate support and guidance during a difficult time.