Louisiana Welders and Mesothelioma
Welders are integral to constructing and maintaining ships, pipelines, and all industrial plants throughout Louisiana. Unfortunately, throughout the 1900s, nearly every welder has been exposed to asbestos-containing materials daily in the course of their work at construction sites or industrial settings. Because of long-term occupational asbestos exposure, welders face a very high risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, and asbestosis.
Last Updated:
- May 12, 2025
Key Facts About Welders
Asbestos Exposure Risk:
High
Causes of Exposure:
Working around other tradesmen using asbestos-containing materials and tearing out asbestos-containing materials themselves.
Asbestos Products:
Almost none. They worked around other trades using asbestos products.
Job Sites:
Oil refineries, shipyards, chemical plants, power plants, paper mills, and all industrial facilities.
Local Branches:
Iron Workers Local Union 623 (Baton Rouge) United Steelworkers (USW) District 13 (Gonzales) Sheet Metal Workers Local 10
Compensation Available:
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or colon cancer, or asbestosis.
How Were Welders Exposed to Asbestos?
In Louisiana, welders encountered asbestos daily while working around other tradespeople who used asbestos-containing materials in their work. Welders were also exposed because the high temperatures generated during welding often disturbed asbestos-containing materials, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Poor ventilation in workshops, on construction sites, on ships, and in shipyards allowed airborne asbestos particles to linger in the air.
Microscopic asbestos fibers float in the air, affecting any trade on a job site, especially in areas with poor ventilation. Welders can then inhale or ingest the fibers, which can become embedded in the tissue surrounding bodily organs like the lungs. This can lead to inflammation and the development of deadly cancers, such as mesothelioma.
A Local 60 Member's Story
“That's where I think that I got my main dose of asbestos.”
I joined Local 60 in 1963 and served a five-year apprenticeship. I went to several job sites at chemical plants and oil refineries all up and down Mississippi River. The last couple jobs, I was becoming what they call a hot welder. They heat this pipe up to 1,200 degrees before you even start welding. And in that process they wrap the pipe with asbestos and then they put insulation in between the asbestos and they fold it over.
Asbestos Products Exposed to Welders
Before asbestos regulations were implemented, some welding rods had an asbestos coating to protect them from extreme heat–but the heat could break down the asbestos fibers and release them into the air, resulting in inhalation. Some other asbestos-containing products that welders may have been exposed to include the following:
- Insulation on Metal pipes
- Asbestos Insulation
- Spray-on asbestos materials
- Protective clothing
- Metal molds
- Boilers
- Welding blankets
- Welding rods
- Welding paper
- Asbestos Insulating Cement
These are only some of the estimated 6,000 types of asbestos-containing products manufactured during the peak of asbestos use in the late 1950s and 1970s.
Did You Know?
In a study of nearly 13,000 welders, researchers found an estimated 20-40% of welders have an elevated risk of lung cancer due to asbestos exposure.[1]
Manufacturing Companies of Asbestos Products
Those affected by asbestos exposure may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers that made the products to which they were exposed. Some manufacturers potentially liable for asbestos exposure in the workplace include the following:
- Airco
- Ace Hardware Corp.
- Hobart
- HK Porter
- Lincoln Electric Co.
- Johns-Manville
Many of these companies knew for decades about the health hazards posed by asbestos, yet they continued using the material, prioritizing profits over people.
Questions About Mesothelioma?
Many welders need help with determining the source of their asbestos exposure.
Where Did Exposure Occur for Welders in Louisiana?
Welders in Louisiana may have been exposed to asbestos on numerous job sites due to their integral role in multiple industries. In particular, Welders are especially at risk at the following types of job sites:
Support From the Local Unions in Louisiana
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada represents nearly 400,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, HVAC technicians, welders, and pipeliners working in the construction industry throughout North America. The UA has three local lodges in Louisiana:
Welder Unions and Locals in Louisiana Include:
- Iron Workers Local Union 623
- United Steelworkers (USW) District 13
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 10
Local unions also support welders 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, how to avoid them, and treatment options.
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 for Welders with Mesothelioma
Compensation is available for Louisiana welders and families impacted by asbestos exposure. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an exposure-related disease, you have a couple of options to pursue justice.
1) Mesothelioma Lawsuits: You may file a mesothelioma lawsuit against those responsible for your asbestos exposure, such as the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.
2) Asbestos Trust Funds: If the company responsible has filed for bankruptcy protection, you may be eligible to file a claim with an asbestos trust fund. These trust funds contain roughly $30 billion combined.
Mesothelioma Settlements for Welders
Mesothelioma and lung cancer patients can recover anywhere from $500,000 to $10 million in compensation.
An attorney may be able to settle your mesothelioma claim in less than a year without filing a lawsuit or going to court. However, there are strict deadlines that apply to these claims.
Our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., has obtained countless settlements and verdicts for Louisiana welders exposed to asbestos on the job. Many of these results are in the millions of dollars, including the following:
$36.7 million
jury verdict for a Local 60 pipefitter and welder who was diagnosed with mesothelioma—the largest asbestos verdict for a single client in Louisiana history.
Over $7 million
in total settlements for a pipefitter and welder who developed biphasic pleural mesothelioma after working at many petrochemical plants along the Mississippi River around Baton Rouge
$4 million
in total settlements for a union pipefitter and welder who developed epithelioid pleural mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at aluminum plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, and power plants in southeast Louisiana.
$3 million
for a Louisiana welder and his family after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 51 at various shipyards and from secondary exposure when he was a child because he lived with a sheet metal worker and a welder.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
A Loving Father's Story
“Just Sort of Took Over My Whole Life”
A retired, 59-year-old Metairie resident was diagnosed with mesothelioma while enjoying the quality time he spent with family during his retirement. His diagnosis was the result of years of occupational exposure to asbestos during his dedicated work as a welder at various industrial sites across Louisiana. After the mesothelioma diagnosis, his life took a drastic turn. Spending time with family—his wife, two daughters, and granddaughter— became increasingly difficult as he was often bedridden for hours recovering from treatment. Mesothelioma left him so weak that he feared he might not survive long enough to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
Our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., took on his case and fought relentlessly on his behalf. The case was fought all the way up to the Louisiana Supreme Court, where $3.7 million was won as a result.
Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you or a loved one has worked as a welder in Louisiana—even if it was decades ago—and has developed an asbestos-related disease, contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates today. We will connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who can direct you to the best mesothelioma physicians in your area and advise you on the best route for compensation. It’s critical to get engaged as soon as possible because mesothelioma is an aggressive and fast-moving cancer.
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
- MacLeod, J. S., Harris, M. A., Tjepkema, M., Peters, P. A., & Demers, P. A. (2017, September). Cancer risks among welders and occasional welders in a national population-based Cohort Study: Canadian Census Health and Environmental Cohort. Safety and health at work. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605892/