Louisiana Construction Workers and Mesothelioma
For more than a century, virtually every worker involved in the construction industry was exposed on the job to asbestos, a toxic mineral widely used in countless building products from the 1930s through the 1980s. Practically every home, commercial building, and factory in Louisiana contained asbestos materials, and many still do. Whether or not construction workers worked directly with raw asbestos or products containing it, they were likely exposed just by working around the mineral.
Last Updated:
- May 16, 2025
Because of Louisiana’s direct access to both the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, it was and still is home to countless factories and plants in many industries. Until regulations went into place, every facility used asbestos products. If you worked in construction in Louisiana and have developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, you have legal options and might be entitled to compensation.
Key Facts About Construction Workers
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, insulating cements, firebrick, Refractory products, joint compounds, plaster products, gaskets and packing materials, and more
Job Sites:
Oil refineries, chemical plants, shipyards, power plants, paper mills, commercial buildings, including schools and hospitals, and more
Compensation Available:
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, or asbestosis.
How Were Construction Workers Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana?
Construction workers were often exposed by working directly with asbestos-containing materials, breathing in dust at construction sites, wearing inadequate protective gear, and working around other tradespeople using asbestos-containing materials on industrial and commercial job sites.
The widespread use of asbestos in the construction industry still poses a serious concern today.[1] Construction workers in Louisiana may be exposed to asbestos during new construction, restoration, or demolition of older buildings that contain asbestos materials, particularly those constructed before the 1980s.
Occupations in the Construction Industry with Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Various trades in the construction industry fall under the “construction worker” umbrella, and these trades face varying degrees of risk of occupational asbestos exposure. Some commonly exposed construction trades include the following:
- Bricklayers
- Bulldozer operators
- Carpenters
- Crane operators
- Demolition crews
- Drywallers
- Electricians
- Elevator installers and maintenance
- Insulation workers
- Painters
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Plasterers
- Railroad workers
- Renovation workers
- Roofers
- Tile setters
A Wife's Story
“They Never Mentioned the Dangers at All.”
Asbestos Products Used by Construction Workers in Louisiana
Typically, the asbestos products used by construction workers were high-temperature thermal insulation products. Some construction products that frequently contained asbestos include the following:
- Pipe insulation
- Boiler insulation
- Duct Insulation
- High-temperature insulation cements
- Linoleum
- Floor tiles
- Ceiling tiles
- Popcorn ceiling material
- Adhesives
- Boilers
- Paint
- Piping
- Plaster
- Joint compounds (tape & bed mud)
- Gaskets
- Valve packaging
- Protective gear and clothing
In older buildings, the above products likely still contain asbestos.
High Risk Occupation
Construction workers are among those most affected by asbestos-related diseases. They are one of the occupational groups with the highest rates of mesothelioma.
Manufacturing Companies of Asbestos-Containing Products
- W.R. Grace & Co.
- Celotex Corp (Phillip Carey)
- US Steel Wire & Cable
- Westinghouse
- Anaconda Corp.
- Armstrong World Industries
- Banfill Plastering Inc.
- Bondex
- Johns-Manville Company
- Owens-Corning
- Flexitallic Gasket Co.
Questions About Mesothelioma?
Many construction workers are uncertain about what steps to take after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Which Job Sites in Louisiana Exposed Construction Workers to Asbestos?
The most common job sites in Louisiana that exposed construction workers to asbestos were shipyards, oil refineries, chemical plants, fertilizer plants, and power plants. Workers may also have faced asbestos exposure during the construction or renovation of hospitals, churches, and commercial buildings.
Some of the specific sites known to have contained or produced asbestos-containing products include the following:
- Avondale Shipyard
- ExxonMobil Refinery in Baton Rouge
- Chalmette Refining in Chalmette
- Valero Refinery in Norco
- Shell Chemical in Norco
- Placid Refining in Port Allen
- Dow Chemical Company in Plaquemine
- Norco Chemical, Shell (NMC) in Norco, LA
- DuPont Chemical Plant in LaPlace
- BASF Corporation in Geismar
- Folgers – New Orleans, LA
- Honeywell International in Baton Rouge
Risk of Secondary Exposure
Construction workers could have inadvertently exposed their families to asbestos by bringing home asbestos fibers on their clothing, tools, and equipment. Known as secondary exposure, this has led to cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases among family members.
How Local Unions Support Construction Workers with Mesothelioma
Many construction workers in Louisiana are union members. These unions represent a combined two million workers in the construction industry across the U.S. and Canada. Locals support construction workers with mesothelioma by providing educational materials and asking law firms like our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., to speak to the membership about asbestos exposure and how to avoid it.
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 for Construction Worker Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos as a construction worker in Louisiana, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Mesothelioma patients have two main options for compensation: mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims.
1) Mesothelioma Lawsuits: In mesothelioma lawsuits, construction workers sickened by asbestos exposure can seek to hold asbestos product manufacturers accountable for their losses. Patients with asbestos-related disease may be entitled to compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, pain, and suffering.
2) Asbestos Trust Funds: Many companies responsible for widespread asbestos exposure have filed for bankruptcy protection. The courts ordered these companies to establish trust funds to compensate patients with asbestos-related diseases. These funds still contain an estimated $30 billion combined.
Did You Know?
Your mesothelioma claim may be settled in less than a year without filing a lawsuit or going to court, but it’s important to know there are deadlines to file your claim.
Mesothelioma Settlements for Construction Workers
Mesothelioma and lung cancer patients may be eligible for between $500,000 and $10 million in compensation for their suffering. However, results vary and are not guaranteed.
Here are some noteworthy recoveries won by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., for construction workers with mesothelioma in Louisiana.
Over $2 Million Settlement for Woman Exposed to Asbestos from Father’s Clothes
Our sponsor recovered $2,159,973.51 for a 39-year-old woman who developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos on the clothes of her father, a construction worker.
Over $2 Million Settlement for Career Construction Worker
Our sponsor recovered $2,019,352.53 for an 85-year-old man with mesothelioma who was exposed to asbestos during his career as a construction worker.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
Order Your Free Mesothelioma Book
Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you or a loved one worked at an industrial job site in Louisiana—even if it was decades ago— and has developed mesothelioma, it is important to contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates as soon as possible. We will connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, who can recommend the best mesothelioma physicians and may be able to help you pursue compensation.
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
- Binazzi, A., Di Marzio, D., Verardo, M., Migliore, E., Benfatto, L., Malacarne, D., Mensi, C., Consonni, D., Eccher, S., Mazzoleni, G., Comiati, V., Negro, C., Romanelli, A., Chellini, E., Angelini, A., Grappasonni, I., Madeo, G., Romeo, E., Di Giammarco, A., Carrozza, F., … On Behalf Of The ReNaM Working Group (2021). Asbestos Exposure and Malignant Mesothelioma in Construction Workers-Epidemiological Remarks by the Italian National Mesothelioma Registry (ReNaM). International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 235. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010235