Louisiana Plumbers & Pipefitters and Mesothelioma
Pipefitters were among the most commonly exposed occupations of the 20th century. The widespread use of asbestos-containing products in construction, plumbing systems, and piping systems has led to countless Louisiana plumbers and pipefitters being exposed to asbestos in their work environments. Workers are now receiving diagnoses for asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma due to its decades-long latency period.[1]
Last Updated:
- May 16, 2025
Key Facts About Plumbers and Pipefitters
Asbestos Exposure Risk:
High
Causes of Exposure:
Working with asbestos products or around other trades using such materials.
Asbestos Products:
Pipe insulation, block insulation, insulating cements, firebrick, refractory products, gaskets, rope packing, and more.
Job Sites:
Oil refineries, chemical plants, power plants, paper mills, and more.
Local Branches:
Local 60 (Metairie/New Orleans) Lodge 198 (Baton Rouge)
Compensation Available:
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, or asbestosis.
How Were Plumbers and Pipefitters Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana?
Between the 1930s and 1980s, pipes and plumbing systems were often insulated with asbestos for its durability and heat resistance. Plumbers and pipefitters often handled or removed this asbestos-containing insulation to reach the pipes. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials can release the toxic mineral’s microscopic fibers into the air, where they can be inhaled or ingested by nearby workers.
Even everyday duties like repairing water heaters and installing and repairing toilets put these workers at risk. Thus, many Louisiana plumbers and pipefitters were frequently exposed to asbestos while using materials containing the fibrous mineral and working around other tradespeople using such materials on industrial and commercial job sites.
A Local 60 Pipefitter's Story
“We didn't know it was that dangerous.”
I joined the Local 60 in 1963 and served a five-year apprenticeship. I went to several job sites all up and down Mississippi River. I was exposed to asbestos while cutting out insulation to put in pipes. Anytime we had to cut into a line, we knocked off the insulation or asbestos insulation. We didn’t know it was that dangerous. But when they needed a fitter to go in there and help them, I went in there. We called ’em the asbestos crew.
Asbestos Products That Exposed Plumbers and Pipefitters
The most common asbestos products plumbers and pipefitters are exposed to in Louisiana were high-temperature thermal insulation materials. Many plumbing components and industrial plant piping systems were insulated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, to make them fireproof and heat-resistant. Some of the asbestos-containing products plumbers and pipefitters were exposed to in Louisiana include the following:
- Gasket and Seals
- Block Insulation
- Firebricks
- High-Temperature Insulation Cement
- Older Plumbing Fixtures
- Pipe Insulation
- Refractory Cement
- Spray Refractory Products
- Valve Packing Material
Working with or near these materials for years or decades significantly increases the risk of developing an asbestos disease like mesothelioma.
Did You Know?
Plumbers and pipefitters were not given safety guidelines by employers or the manufacturers, provided with personal protective equipment, or told the truth about the material’s harmful health effects until the 1980s. By then, millions of people had already been exposed.
Manufacturing Companies of Asbestos-Containing Products
If you are a Louisiana plumber or pipefitter diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or gastrointestinal cancer, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the asbestos-containing products you were exposed to at work.
A few of the potentially liable companies include:
| Manufacturer | Product |
|---|---|
| Johns Manville | Pipe and Block Insulation, Insulating Cements |
| Owens-Corning | Pipe Insulation |
| Combustion Engineering | Insulating Cements |
| Fiberboard Corp. (Plant & Rubber Co.) | Pipe and Block Insulation, Insulating Cements |
| GAF-Ruberoid | Pipe and Block Insulation, Insulating Cements |
| W.R. Grace & Co. | High Temperature Insulating Cement, Spray Fireproofing |
| Celotex Corp (Phillip Carey) | Pipe and Block Insulation, Insulating Cements |
Questions About Mesothelioma?
Many plumbers and pipefitters are uncertain about what steps to take after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Louisiana Job Sites Where Plumbers & Pipefitters Were Exposed
The common job sites in Louisiana where plumbers and pipefitters were exposed to asbestos include refineries, chemical plants, fertilizer plants, paper mills, and power plants. Plumbers and pipefitters may also have been exposed in hospitals, churches, schools, and commercial buildings. A few of the Louisiana job sites known to have exposed workers to asbestos include:
- ExxonMobil Refinery in Baton Rouge
- Allied Chemical Plant in Baton Rouge
- Georgia Gulf Paper Mill in Plaquemine
- Air Liquide Chemical Plant in Plaquemine
- Praxair Chemical Plant in Geismar
- Shell Chemical Plant in Geismar
- Imperial Sugar Mill in Gramercy
- Kaiser Aluminum in Gramercy
- DuPont Chemical Plant in LaPlace
- Motiva Refinery in Norco
- International Paper Mill in Bogalusa
- Entergy Power Plants throughout Louisiana
However, the above list is only some of the job sites, and plumbers and pipefitters may have been exposed to asbestos wherever they worked in Louisiana.
A Son's Story
"My dad was never warned of any type of dangers.”
My dad worked at a fertilizer plant in Convent, Louisiana. He did the technical things around the plant as far as cutting pipes, pipe fittings, welding. Just industrial things around the plant. I’m not aware that my dad knew he was being exposed to asbestos at the plant. He’s never made us aware or that he was warned of any type of dangers or harmful products or chemicals or anything at the plant.
How Local Unions Support Plumbers and Pipefitters with Mesothelioma
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada represents about 376,000 plumbers, pipefitters, and other trade workers in the North American construction industry.
Plumber and Pipefitter Locals in Louisiana Include:
- Local Lodge 60 in Metairie/ New Orleans, LA
- Local Lodge 198 in Baton Rouge, LA
These local unions can support and help Louisiana plumbers and pipefitters with mesothelioma by providing educational materials about safety risks and asking law firms like our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., to speak to their membership about possible 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.
What Compensation Is Available for Plumbers and Pipefitters in Louisiana?
There is compensation available for Louisiana plumber-pipefitters and their families if they believe they were victims of asbestos exposure and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer. You generally have two options for pursuing compensation:
1) Mesothelioma Lawsuits: In a mesothelioma lawsuit, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and more.
2) Asbestos Trust Funds: You can file a claim with the asbestos trust funds to recover your damages. There is approximately $30 billion combined still available in these funds.
Mesothelioma Verdicts for Plumbers and Pipefitters
Mesothelioma and lung cancer patients can receive anywhere from $500,000 to $10 million in a settlement, but the payout may be higher in a verdict. Results always vary.
Here are some notable results obtained by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., for those suffering from asbestos-related diseases:
$36.7M Verdict for Retired Union Pipefitter Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana
This verdict was the largest asbestos jury award ever awarded to a single plaintiff in Louisiana—$36.7 million. The plaintiff was a retired union member exposed to asbestos through his work as a Local 60 pipefitter. A jury found more than twenty Louisiana-based companies liable for causing his pleural mesothelioma through his work as a pipefitter at numerous plants in the late 60s and early 70s. After a six-day-long trial, the jury found the companies were negligent in their responsibility to warn workers about the health hazards of the asbestos products in their facilities.
Over $7M Verdict for a Pipefitter Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana Petrochemical Plants
This $7+ million verdict was won for a pipefitter who was a member of Local 198 in Baton Rouge and worked in and out of oil refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities throughout Louisiana. He worked as a pipefitter, and his duties included maintaining and welding existing miles-long piping systems. Most of these pipes were covered in asbestos-containing pipe covering and insulating cement. To perform maintenance, he would need to knock off the insulation products with a hammer or pull them down by hand. This process created so much dust that witnesses compared it to snow. He was exposed to this condition for decades.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you or a loved one was a plumber or pipefitter in Louisiana and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer from asbestos exposure, Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates can help provide information. We will connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who can recommend the best mesothelioma physicians and advise you on the best route for compensation.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, and we urge you to act quickly.
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.
Cited Source
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023a, May 19). Asbestos toxicity: Who is at risk of exposure to asbestos? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_atsdr_cdc_gov/csem/asbestos/who_is_at_risk.html
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- Asbestos Exposure for Plumbers & Pipefitters
- Asbestos Products Used By Plumbers & Pipefitters
- Louisiana Job Sites with Asbestos Exposure
- Local Union Support for Plumbers & Pipefitters
- What Compensation May Be Available for Plumbers & Pipefitters?
- Mesothelioma Verdicts for Plumbers & Pipefitters
- Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates