Louisiana Insulators and Mesothelioma
Asbestos-containing insulation posed serious health risks for insulators who worked between the 1930s and 1980s. Toxic asbestos was used in almost all high-temperature thermal insulation products manufactured during that period. This insulation was used extensively in oil refineries, chemical plants, power plants, paper mills, shipbuilding, ship repair, commercial buildings, construction, and manufacturing facilities. This put Louisiana insulation workers at the highest risk for asbestos exposure among all tradespeople.
Last Updated:
- May 12, 2025
Key Facts About Insulators
Asbestos Exposure Risk:
Very high. Insulators were the most exposed trade.
Causes of Exposure:
Working hands-on with all types of asbestos-containing thermal insulation products.
Asbestos Products:
Pipecovering, block insulation, insulation cements, spray fireproofing, spray soundproofing, and refractory insulation products.
Job Sites:
Oil refineries, chemical plants, power plants, paper mills, and more.
Local Branches:
Local Lodge 53 (Kenner) Local Lodge 112 (Lake Charles)
Compensation Available:
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, or asbestosis.
How Were Insulators Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, all insulators were exposed to asbestos.
Insulators worked hands-on daily with asbestos-containing thermal insulation products in plants, refineries, and other industrial buildings. Workers didn’t wear protective masks (as seen in the photo above) because they were never told it was dangerous.
Installing and removing asbestos insulation often involved cutting and tearing the material, releasing the microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Without proper protection, workers unknowingly inhaled or ingested these fibers, leading to diseases like mesothelioma to develop decades later.
Did You Know?
Insulators were the most exposed trade. Please pay attention to your body and get annual checkups and chest x-rays if you believe you may have been a victim of occupational asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Products Used by Insulators in Louisiana
The asbestos products used by insulators were high-temperature thermal insulation products. Asbestos was widely used in insulation for plant piping systems, equipment like boilers, pumps, valves, catalytic crackers, vessels, hot metals, or buildings like plants or refineries with hot equipment. Pipes carrying steam or chemicals were often insulated with asbestos. Other asbestos-containing products that insulators often used include the following:
- Pipecovering
- Spray fireproofing
- Spray soundproofing
- High-temperature insulation cements
- Insulation cement
- Refractory insulation products
- Block insulation
- Felt insulation
- Plastic insulation
- Valve insulation
Manufacturing Companies of Asbestos-Containing Products
Many manufacturers in Louisiana produced asbestos insulation products and didn’t advise workers of its dangers. If you are an insulator who has developed an asbestos-related disease, a few of the manufacturers who might be liable for your exposure 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 |
Which Job Sites in Louisiana Exposed Insulators to Asbestos?
The most common job sites in Louisiana that exposed insulators to asbestos were shipyards, oil refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, fertilizer plants, and power plants. Specifically, a few job sites known to have exposed workers to asbestos are:
- Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans
- Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport
- ExxonMobil Refinery in Baton Rouge
- Shell Chemical Plant in Norco
- Chalmette Refining in Chalmette
- International Paper Mill in Bogalusa
- Allied Chemical Plant in Baton Rouge
- Entergy Power Plants throughout Louisiana
- Dow Chemical Company in Plaquemine
- Monsanto Chemical Plant in Luling
- DuPont Chemical Plant in LaPlace
- BASF Chemical Plant in Geismar
Questions About Mesothelioma?
Many insulators are uncertain about what steps to take after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
How Local Unions Support Insulators with Mesothelioma
The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers[2] is a trade union in the United States and Canada that represents nearly 30,000 workers in numerous construction trades involved with insulation. In the late 1900s, the union supported research and campaigns to promote awareness that workers exposed to asbestos died in hugely disproportionate numbers from cancer.
The Heat & Frost Insulators Locals in Louisiana include:
- Local 53 in Kenner, LA
- Local 112 in Lake Charles, LA
Local unions can support Insulators with mesothelioma by providing educational materials and asking law firms like our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., to speak to the 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 May Be Available for Insulators with Mesothelioma in Louisiana?
There may be compensation available for Louisiana insulators and their families if they were exposed to asbestos and subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
1) Mesothelioma Lawsuits: You may be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to recover compensation for your medical bills, current and future treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
2) Asbestos Trust Funds: Asbestos product manufacturers established asbestos trust funds to compensate patients and their families. The trusts currently contain about $30 billion in combined funds.
Mesothelioma Settlements for Insulators
The settlement range for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients is $500,000 to $10 million. Results may vary.
Here is a noteworthy recovery won by our sponsor, Baron & Budd P.C., for a Louisiana insulator diagnosed with mesothelioma:
$8 Million Settlement for an Insulator with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Our sponsor recovered $8 million in total settlements for a Local 53 insulator diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while working in oil refineries and chemical plants throughout Louisiana. He was exposed while installing and tearing out asbestos-containing insulation products. Insulators have the highest exposure to asbestos of any of the trades.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
Order Your Free Mesothelioma Book
Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you worked as an insulator and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma from occupational asbestos exposure, contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates for more information. We will connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who can recommend the best mesothelioma physicians and may be able to help you pursue 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
- Asbestosis in Louisiana – La Dept. of Health. Louisiana Department of Health. (n.d.). https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-EH/envepi/occ_health/Documents/Journal_LSMS_asbestosis.pdf
- International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers. (n.d.). Insulators union. Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers. https://www.insulators.org