Construction Worker Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure
Job-Related Asbestos Exposure for Construction Workers
If you or someone you love developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related health condition after working in construction, you may be entitled to compensation.
Asbestos-related health risks have long been associated with, and prevalent among, workers in the construction industry, which is why workers in a variety of construction and building trades comprise the vast majority of mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer diagnoses made each year. And while construction workers who performed their trades prior to the 1980s faced considerable exposure risks, millions of workers in the industry today are still exposed to this deadly mineral.
At SWMW Law, our nationally recognized trial team has fought for countless current and former construction workers diagnosed with life-altering illnesses due to work-related asbestos exposure. If you have questions about your options for pursuing legal action and a financial recovery of your damages, we want to help.
SWMW Law proudly serves construction workers, building trades workers, and families across the country. Call (888) 422-8877 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
How Construction Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos
Asbestos was for decades the mineral of choice used in construction not only because it was inexpensive and easy to acquire, but also because its strength, fire-resistance, and light weight made it suitable for a variety of building materials and applications.
As a result, most asbestos produced during the 20th century was used in construction.
Given the sheer volume of asbestos used in construction, laborers and skilled trades workers throughout the industry were routinely exposed to asbestos during new construction, renovations, demolition, and even day-to-day maintenance work, especially if they worked prior to the 1980s when U.S. regulators began to curtail the use of asbestos.
Unfortunately, this elevated level of exposure put millions of workers at risk of developing serious and deadly conditions like mesothelioma, which is caused by inhaling or ingesting fibers from disturbed and damaged asbestos. Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can also cause workers to develop other types of cancers and health conditions, many of which do not manifest until decades after a person’s initial exposure.
What Our Clients Say About Working With SWMW Law
At SWMW Law, we’re more than legal advocates — we’re a source of support during the most difficult times in our clients’ lives. We’re proud to be trusted by families across the country, and even prouder to share what they have to say about working with us.
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“SWMW did an amazing job! They started the process with my father but during the process my father passed. They were so helpful when it came to us, his children, taking over in place of my dad. They answered every call and were extremely patient and supportive of us. They really did a great job with keeping us informed and educated. They fought for us. I would recommend them to anyone that hears the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. They will fight for you 100% of the way. Thank you SWMW Team for your support and patience! We truly appreciate all of you! – The Anderson’s”
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I would personally like to thank you and your staff for how you’ve have helped me and my family with a bit of our loss. It doesn’t bring my dear wife back, but it helps relieve some of our daily stress as we push on. Thank you.
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Everyone at SWMW Law have went above & beyond. They’ve been so compassionate & so very helpful. I really didn’t think I would be getting anything for my late husband. I feel like they have found every way possible to get something in the memory of my late husband. He didn’t deserve to pass the way he did, & SWMW Law are making sure his death wasn’t in vain. Ty you to Lyndsy & everyone who has put long hours into helping me. My deepest appreciation to you all.
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I am very impressed with the quality of work that SWMW Law has done for me. All of my questions were answered quickly and everyone I had contact with were very kind and professional. I would highly recommend this law firm. Thanks to everyone at the firm for all that you have done for me.
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I cannot say enough wonderful things about the SWMW Law Firm. This firm has a team of amazing, smart and professional attorneys and staff. They really care about their clients and go above and beyond to obtain justice. If I could give them more than 5 stars I would!! Thank you all for your incredible work that you do!
Call For a FREE Consultation
SWMW Law is dedicated to helping victims and families in the fight against corporations that care more about profits than people. Comprised of award-winning attorneys, our team has helped clients take on powerful defendants in courts across the country and has helped countless victims and families secure the justice and compensation they deserved.
If you have questions about an asbestos claim involving work in construction, call (888) 422-8877.
Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Construction
Because asbestos was used in an overwhelming amount of construction products and building materials through the mid- to late 20th century, construction workers routinely handled asbestos-containing materials. Construction workers were historically exposed to asbestos across many industries and varying types of jobsites, including industrial, commercial, municipal, and residential construction and remodeling jobsites.
Construction workers both today and in the past faced exposure risks from a variety of asbestos-containing products and materials. Some examples include the following:
- Drywall and Sheetrock
- Joint Compounds and Joint Cements
- Ceiling Tiles
- Floor Tiles and Mastics
- Texturizing Paints and Finishes
- Plaster
- Siding
- Roofing Shingles and Felts
- Caulk
- HVAC Equipment
- Electrical Products
- Thermal Insulation
Many companies produced asbestos-containing products and building materials that put construction workers at risk, and most knew about those risks long before workers and the public. As such, many of these asbestos companies were required to fund asbestos bankruptcy trusts that were created to compensate workers harmed by their products.
Which Types of Construction Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos?
With construction being one of the leading at-risk occupations for asbestos exposure, nearly every type of worker involved in building construction, repair, maintenance, and other similar trades has been exposed to this harmful mineral on the job. People in certain trades, especially those involving insulation, demolition, and other work with a greater risk of disturbing asbestos and releasing airborne fibers, faced elevated levels of exposure.
Many types of construction laborers and workers in related building trades faced risks of occupational asbestos exposure, and some examples are listed below:
- Drywall Workers
- Carpenters
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Electricians
- Insulators
- HVAC Workers
- Laborers
- Painters
- Plasterers
- Tile Setters
- Millwrights
- Masonry Workers and Bricklayers
- Building Remodelers
- Demolition and Wrecking Crews
Studies Show Increased Risks of Mesothelioma, Asbestos-Related Disease Among Construction Workers
Construction is one of the leading at-risk occupations when it comes to developing mesothelioma and other life-altering conditions caused by asbestos exposure. Several studies and epidemiological reviews have made this clear. For example:
- A series of reports from the European Commission found construction workers are more than 3x more likely than workers in most other occupations to die from mesothelioma.
- A 2022 Italian study reviewed over 31,000 diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma over a 15-year period and found nearly 21% of all patients who had an occupational exposure to asbestos worked in the construction sector.
- A 1999 study published in Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene found that North Carolina construction workers who died between 1988 and 1994 were more likely to have died from cancer, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, when compared to the general population.
Compensation and Justice for Construction Workers Exposed to Asbestos
If you or your loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease after working in construction or a related building trade, you may have options to seek justice and compensation.
Because hundreds of companies used asbestos in their facilities and products despite knowing about its dangers, workers who were exposed and later developed an asbestos-related illness have the right to hold these companies liable for their damages. This may include compensation for:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages or lost financial support
- Lost wages or lost financial support
- Loss of consortium and emotional injuries
- Other economic and non-economic losses
At SWMW Law, our legal team has extensive experience representing construction workers and skilled trades workers in legal actions that seek compensation for occupational asbestos exposure. This includes claims seeking compensation from asbestos bankruptcy trusts established by companies that reorganized or went out of business, as well as civil lawsuits against solvent companies that used asbestos and negligently endangered workers.
Because every case is different, the best way to evaluate your available options and the potential value of your case is to have it reviewed personally by an attorney from our firm.
Learn more about your rights and legal options.
Examples of Our Results
SWMW Law has cultivated a record of success litigating high stakes asbestos claims on behalf of power plant workers, families, and victims who worked in other at-risk industries. We’ve taken on some of the nation’s most powerful corporations and insurance carriers and have helped clients nationwide in the fight for justice and fair compensation.
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Settlement
$1.3 Million
Crane Operator with Mesothelioma
Indiana
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Settlement
$885,000
Drywaller with Lung Cancer
California
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Settlement
$847,000
Carpenter with Lung Cancer
Colorado
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Trial Verdict
$12.2 Million
Machine Operator with Mesothelioma
Virginia
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Trial Verdict
$9.7 Million
Mesothelioma *
Wisconsin
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Settlement
$8.3 Million
Pipefitter with Mesothelioma
Missouri
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Settlement
$7.9 Million
Plumber/Pipefitter with Mesothelioma
Illinois
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Settlement
$7.3 Million
Laborer with Mesothelioma
Missouri
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Settlement
$6.9 Million
Pipefitter with Mesothelioma
Illinois
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Trial Verdict
$6 Million
Stemfitter with Meothelioma*
Virginia
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