Construction Workers

Construction Workers
Building, renovation, and demolition exposure
Risk Level	Very High
SMR (Mesothelioma)	6.86
Italian Study	2,310 cases
Peak Asbestos Use	800,000 tons (1973)
Current Workers	7.5-11 million
Verdict Example	$7.3 million
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Executive Summary

Construction workers represent one of the largest occupationally-exposed populations in American industrial history, with an estimated 1.3 million workers still facing asbestos exposure annually when working on pre-1980 buildings, and millions more exposed historically during the peak asbestos construction era. The 2025 UK Health and Safety Executive report documents skilled construction trades with a combined PMR of 248.7 and 2,745 deaths—the largest absolute number of any occupational category, accounting for approximately 18.5% of all mesothelioma cases and 25% of asbestosis deaths according to NIOSH. Construction workers encountered asbestos in virtually every building material used during the asbestos era, from joint compound and floor tiles to roofing materials, insulation, and fireproofing. The combination of direct material handling and bystander exposure from adjacent trades created cumulative exposure throughout construction careers. According to Danziger & De Llano, construction workers have recovered substantial compensation, with verdicts reaching $60 million in New York—the largest single-plaintiff verdict in NYC asbestos litigation history—and $48 million for a Los Angeles construction worker exposed while building homes in the 1970s.

The construction industry consumed 70-80% of all asbestos during peak usage years, incorporating it into products used across every building trade. Carpenters worked with joint compound containing 3-15% asbestos and ceiling tiles with up to 30% asbestos. Roofers installed asbestos shingles and felts. Electricians encountered asbestos wire insulation. Plumbers and pipefitters worked with asbestos pipe insulation and gaskets. Insulation Workers applied materials containing up to 95% asbestos. Drywall workers sanded asbestos-containing joint compound, while Demolition Workers disturbed asbestos throughout pre-1980 structures. An estimated 733,000 public and commercial buildings in the United States still contain asbestos materials, ensuring continued exposure risk for construction workers performing renovation, maintenance, and demolition work. Over $30 billion remains available in 60+ active asbestos trust funds, with major trusts from joint compound and insulation manufacturers providing compensation for documented construction worker exposure.

Construction worker asbestos exposure at a glance:

• Nearly 7x expected mesothelioma rate — Building Trades Medical Screening Program found an SMR of 6.86, compared to 1.0 for the general population
• Largest occupational death toll — UK HSE 2025 report: 2,745 construction trade deaths from mesothelioma, accounting for 18.5% of all mesothelioma deaths nationwide
• 70-80% of all asbestos consumed — The construction industry used more asbestos than any other sector, embedding it in products across every building trade
• 1.3 million still exposed annually — Construction workers renovating or demolishing pre-1980 buildings continue to encounter asbestos materials decades after peak usage ended
• 733,000 buildings still contaminated — Public and commercial structures across the U.S. still contain asbestos, compared to virtually zero new installations after the 1980s
• $60 million top verdict — Largest single-plaintiff asbestos verdict in NYC history, with a $48 million verdict for a Los Angeles construction worker also on record
• 5-10+ trust funds per worker — Unlike single-product workers, construction workers' diverse exposure qualifies them for claims with more trusts than almost any other occupation
• Three-phase exposure — New construction, renovation, and demolition each created distinct hazards, meaning asbestos risk persisted across all career stages
• 25% of asbestosis deaths — NIOSH data shows construction workers account for one-quarter of all asbestosis fatalities, the highest proportion of any industry

Key Facts

Metric	Finding
Standardized Mortality Ratio	SMR 6.86 for mesothelioma — Building Trades Medical Screening Program, nearly 7x the expected death rate for the general population
Italian Registry Study	2,310 mesothelioma cases from 31,000+ analyzed (7.5%) attributed to construction-sector exposure, 1993-2018 registry data
Exposure Certainty Rate	65% of construction job types classified with "certain" asbestos exposure in epidemiological studies, the highest confidence classification
UK HSE Combined PMR	PMR 248.7 with 2,745 deaths — 2025 report, skilled construction trades had largest absolute mesothelioma death count of any occupational category
Peak U.S. Asbestos Consumption	800,000 tons in 1973 — coinciding with the post-war building boom that employed hundreds of thousands of construction workers
Transite Siding Volume	28+ million sq ft documented from one supplier alone — containing 12-50% asbestos at ~4.1 lbs/sq ft, representing millions of pounds installed
Floor Tile Asbestos Content	15-35% asbestos in vinyl asbestos tiles (VAT), ubiquitous in American buildings from 1920s through 1980s (Armstrong, GAF, Johns-Manville manufacturers)
Largest NYC Verdict	$60 million — largest single-plaintiff asbestos verdict in NYC history for a construction worker
Johns-Manville Trust Payment	5.1% of $350,000 scheduled mesothelioma value — from the first asbestos bankruptcy trust established in 1988 with $2.5B initial funding
W.R. Grace Trust Payment	31% payment rate — among highest percentages of major asbestos trusts; Zonolite insulation installed in millions of homes
Armstrong Trust Payment	10.8% payment rate — covering floor tiles and ceiling tiles, two of the most common construction materials containing asbestos
Current Workforce at Risk	7.5-11 million active construction workers, with 1.3 million still encountering asbestos annually when working on pre-1980 structures

Why Are Construction Workers at Such High Risk?

According to Danziger & De Llano, Construction workers encountered asbestos in more product types than almost any other occupation, creating multiple exposure pathways throughout their careers.

Three Phases of Construction Exposure:

New Construction (Pre-1980s): Building new structures during the asbestos era exposed workers to freshly manufactured products. Installation activities—cutting, fitting, mixing, and applying—generated substantial airborne fibers. The post-World War II building boom from the 1950s through 1970s employed hundreds of thousands of construction workers at the same time asbestos products reached peak usage.

Renovation and Remodeling: Renovation presents particularly hazardous exposure because workers disturb existing asbestos materials whose presence is often unknown. Drilling, cutting, and demolition activities release fibers from aged, friable materials that have degraded over decades.

Demolition: Building demolition releases maximum asbestos concentrations as structures containing dozens of asbestos product types are torn apart. The violent nature of demolition shatters materials and produces visible dust clouds. Modern demolition requires asbestos surveys and abatement, but historical demolition proceeded without such protections.

Key Statistics:

• Italian study: 2,310 mesothelioma cases from construction exposure among 31,000+ analyzed
• 65% of construction job types showed certain asbestos exposure
• SMR 6.86 for mesothelioma in Building Trades Medical Screening Program
• U.As Mesothelioma.net notes, S. peak asbestos consumption: 800,000 tons in 1973

Current Risk Continues: The EPA estimates millions of buildings still contain asbestos materials. Construction workers performing renovation work today continue to face exposure when disturbing materials installed before the 1980s.

What Building Materials Contained Asbestos?

As reported by Mesothelioma.net, Construction workers encountered asbestos in virtually every category of building materials.

Thermal Insulation:

Pipe Insulation: Hot water, steam, and process piping utilized asbestos pipe insulation including brands like Kaylo (Owens Corning), Calsilite (GAF), and Johns-Manville products. Insulation came in molded sections and bags of insulating cement mixed by workers.

Boiler and Equipment Insulation: Large commercial and industrial boilers could contain thousands of pounds of asbestos insulation. Workers applied block insulation, cement, and cloth wrapping to these components.

Building Insulation: W.R. Mesothelioma.net states that Grace's Zonolite vermiculite attic insulation, mined near Libby, Montana and contaminated with tremolite/actinolite amphibole asbestos, was installed in millions of American homes from the 1940s through 1980s.

Fireproofing (Spray-On):

Spray-applied fireproofing represented an extremely hazardous application. W.R. Grace's Monokote products were sprayed onto structural steel in high-rise buildings. The spraying process aerosolized asbestos fibers, exposing applicators to peak concentrations. The EPA banned spray-applied asbestos fireproofing in 1973.

Floor Tiles:

As Mesothelioma Lawyer Center explains, Vinyl asbestos floor tiles (VAT) were ubiquitous in American buildings from the 1920s through 1980s:

• Common sizes: 9x9 inches and 12x12 inches
• Asbestos content: 15-35%
• Major manufacturers: Armstrong World Industries, GAF Corporation, Johns-Manville
• Cutting tiles to fit borders released fibers
• Removal during renovation created substantial exposure

Roofing Materials:

Product	Asbestos Content	Exposure Risk
Roofing felt	Up to 60% chrysotile (GAF/Ruberoid)	Underlayment handling
Built-up roofing	Asbestos felt layers	Multi-ply system installation
Asphalt shingles	Variable	Cutting and installation
Roll roofing	Asbestos in base mat	Unrolling and cutting

Siding and Exterior Products:

Asbestos-cement siding ("transite" after the Johns-Manville brand) contained 12-50% asbestos by weight. A vintage Johns-Manville data sheet documented approximately 28,046,500 square feet of corrugated transite installed in just a few years from the early 1940s. With transite containing 45-50% asbestos at approximately 4.1 pounds per square foot, this represented millions of pounds of asbestos installed.

Joint Compound and Texture Coatings:

Drywall joint compound and texture coatings contained asbestos through the 1970s and into the 1980s. According to Danziger & De Llano's records, workers mixed joint compound from powder, applied it, and sanded it smooth—all activities generating airborne fibers. "Popcorn" ceilings often contained asbestos.

"What makes construction cases unique is the sheer variety of exposure sources. A single construction worker might have encountered asbestos in pipe insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, joint compound, and ceiling tiles over a career. This creates claims against multiple manufacturers and multiple trust funds, which can significantly increase total recovery."

— Rod De Llano, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

Which Construction Jobs Faced Highest Exposure?

Per Mesothelioma Lawyer Center, Different construction tasks created varying exposure intensities, with some jobs presenting extreme risk.

High-Risk Construction Activities:

Insulation Work:

• Cutting and fitting pipe insulation
• Mixing and applying insulating cement
• Removing deteriorated insulation during renovation
• Highest exposure concentrations of any construction activity

Drywall and Finishing:

• Mixing joint compound from powder
• Sanding dried joint compound
• Applying texture coatings
• All activities released embedded fibers

Flooring Installation:

• Cutting vinyl asbestos tiles
• Scraping old floor tiles during renovation
• Removing mastic adhesives
• A ceiling tile installer won a $4.5 million verdict in 2007

Roofing Work:

• Tear-off of existing asbestos roofing
• Cutting roofing felts and shingles
• Built-up roofing installation
• Decades-old materials fragmented easily

Demolition:

• Tearing down pre-1980 structures
• Disturbing multiple asbestos materials simultaneously
• Highest overall exposure during uncontrolled demolition
• Modern regulations require abatement before demolition

Historical records from Mesothelioma.net show that General Laborers:

• Material handling and cleanup
• Working in proximity to all trades
• Sweeping areas contaminated with asbestos dust
• Bystander exposure from adjacent activities

Bystander Exposure:

Construction sites feature multiple trades working simultaneously. A carpenter framing walls worked near:

• Insulators covering pipes
• Drywall finishers sanding joint compound
• Roofers tearing off old roofs
• Other workers generating asbestos dust

This bystander exposure meant even workers not directly handling asbestos materials experienced significant fiber exposure.

Small Contractor Risk: Workers at small contracting companies often faced the highest exposure because they performed multiple trades without specialization and typically had fewer safety protections than workers at large construction firms.

What Legal Actions Have Construction Workers Won?

As Mesothelioma Lawyer Center legally documents, Construction workers have obtained significant verdicts and settlements for asbestos-related diseases.

Notable Construction Verdicts:

School Construction — $7.3 Million: A construction worker exposed to asbestos during school building projects received a $7.3 million damages award for mesothelioma.

Ceiling Tile Installer — $4.5 Million: A ceiling tile installer who developed mesothelioma won a $4.5 million verdict in 2007 against Bondex International, Simpson Timber Co., and Conwed Corp. for years of ceiling tile installation.

World Trade Center Construction: Courts have allowed mesothelioma cases to proceed based on asbestos exposure during World Trade Center construction, including secondary exposure claims.

Legal analysis by Mesothelioma Lawyer Center indicates that Goodyear Floor Tiles: Litigation has established liability for asbestos-containing floor tiles, with courts allowing mesothelioma lawsuits to proceed against flooring manufacturers.

Multiple Defendant Cases:

Construction cases typically involve:

• Multiple manufacturers named based on specific product exposure
• Building material companies as primary defendants
• General contractors in some cases
• Property owners under premises liability theories

"Construction workers often faced a challenge that workers in other industries didn't—they moved between job sites constantly and handled materials from many different manufacturers. While this makes documenting exposure more complex, it also means they may qualify for compensation from numerous trust funds. An experienced attorney can help piece together the exposure history."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

Which Manufacturers Are Responsible?

Major building material manufacturers produced asbestos-containing products for decades. As Mesothelioma.net documents, many have filed bankruptcy and established trusts for victim compensation.

Major Manufacturer Trust Funds:

Company	Products	Trust Payment %
Johns-Manville	Insulation, transite, roofing, tiles	5.1%
W.R. Grace	Zonolite, Monokote fireproofing	31% (among highest)
Armstrong World Industries	Floor tiles, ceiling tiles	10.8%
Owens Corning	Kaylo insulation, Fibreboard products	4.7%
U.S. Gypsum	Wallboard, joint compound, plaster	6%
GAF Corporation	Roofing felts (up to 60% asbestos), flooring	Varies
National Gypsum	Gold Bond® wallboard, joint compound	Varies

Johns-Manville Corporation: The dominant asbestos products manufacturer, Johns-Manville produced virtually every category of asbestos building materials. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982 (one of the first major asbestos bankruptcies) and established the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust in 1988 with $2.5 billion initial funding. As documented by Danziger & De Llano, the trust currently pays 5.1% of scheduled values, with a mesothelioma scheduled value of $350,000.

W.R. Grace & Company: W.R. Grace manufactured Zonolite vermiculite insulation (contaminated with Libby, Montana amphibole asbestos) installed in millions of homes, plus Monokote spray fireproofing. According to Mesothelioma.net, the WRG trust pays approximately 31% of scheduled values—among the highest payment percentages of major trusts.

Armstrong World Industries: Armstrong manufactured vinyl asbestos floor tiles and ceiling tiles. The trust currently pays 10.8% of scheduled values.

Which Trust Funds Can Construction Workers File With?

Danziger & De Llano's historical analysis indicates that Construction workers' diverse exposure history often qualifies them for claims with multiple bankruptcy trusts.

Common Trust Funds for Construction Exposure:

Insulation Exposure:

• Johns-Manville Trust
• Owens Corning Trust
• Pittsburgh Corning Trust
• Celotex Trust

Flooring Exposure:

• Armstrong World Industries Trust
• GAF/Ruberoid Trust
• Congoleum Trust

Roofing Exposure:

• GAF Corporation Trust
• Johns-Manville Trust
• Celotex Trust

Drywall/Joint Compound Exposure:

• U.S. Gypsum Trust
• National Gypsum Trust
• W.R. Grace Trust

Fireproofing Exposure:

• W.R. Grace Trust (31% payment)

Multiple Claims:

Unlike workers in single-product industries, construction workers often qualify for claims with 5-10 or more trust funds based on their varied exposure history. As Danziger & De Llano notes, Total recovery from combined trust fund claims can be substantial.

Documentation Challenge: Construction workers moved between many job sites and handled products from numerous manufacturers. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help reconstruct work history and identify all applicable trust funds based on the types of materials commonly used during specific time periods and geographic areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Mesothelioma Risk for Construction Workers?

Construction workers face nearly 7 times the expected mesothelioma death rate, with a Standardized Mortality Ratio of 6.86 documented by the Building Trades Medical Screening Program. The 2025 UK Health and Safety Executive report found skilled construction trades accounted for 2,745 mesothelioma deaths with a combined PMR of 248.7, the largest absolute number of any occupational category. NIOSH estimates construction workers account for approximately 18.5% of all mesothelioma cases and 25% of asbestosis deaths.

How Long After Construction Work Does Mesothelioma Develop?

Mesothelioma typically develops 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure. Because U.S. asbestos consumption peaked at 800,000 tons in 1973 during the height of post-war construction, new mesothelioma diagnoses from that era continue to appear decades later. Construction workers exposed during the 1950s through 1980s remain at elevated risk today, and workers renovating pre-1980 buildings face ongoing exposure to legacy asbestos materials.

Are Construction Workers Still Being Exposed to Asbestos?

Yes. An estimated 1.3 million construction workers encounter asbestos annually when performing renovation, maintenance, or demolition on pre-1980 buildings. Approximately 733,000 public and commercial buildings in the United States still contain asbestos materials. Modern OSHA regulations require asbestos training and abatement before demolition, but not all contractors comply, and many workers are unaware that materials they disturb contain asbestos.

What Compensation Can Construction Workers Receive?

Construction workers diagnosed with mesothelioma can pursue compensation through multiple channels simultaneously. Jury verdicts have reached $60 million (largest NYC asbestos verdict) and $48 million (Los Angeles construction worker). Over $30 billion remains available in 60+ active asbestos trust funds, and construction workers' diverse exposure history often qualifies them for claims with 5-10 or more trusts. Major trusts include Johns-Manville (5.1%), W.R. Grace (31%), and Armstrong (10.8%).

Which Construction Trades Face the Highest Mesothelioma Risk?

Insulation workers, drywall finishers, and demolition workers face the highest direct exposure concentrations. However, the Italian National Mesothelioma Registry found mesothelioma cases across all construction trades including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, and general laborers. Bystander exposure on multi-trade construction sites means even workers not directly handling asbestos materials experienced significant fiber inhalation from adjacent activities.

Which Trust Funds Can Construction Workers File With?

Construction workers commonly qualify for multiple trust funds based on their varied exposure history: insulation exposure (Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, Pittsburgh Corning, Celotex), flooring exposure (Armstrong, GAF/Ruberoid, Congoleum), roofing exposure (GAF, Johns-Manville), drywall exposure (U.S. Gypsum, National Gypsum, W.R. Grace), and fireproofing exposure (W.R. Grace at 31% payment). Combined trust recoveries can be substantial when filing with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Can Construction Workers' Family Members File Claims?

Yes. Construction workers carried asbestos fibers home on clothing, shoes, hair, and skin, creating secondary exposure for family members. Courts have recognized secondary exposure claims in construction cases, including World Trade Center construction-related claims. Family members who handled contaminated work clothing or lived with construction workers during the peak asbestos era may be entitled to compensation from the same manufacturers and trust funds.

What Documentation Do Construction Workers Need to File a Claim?

Construction workers need employment records (tax records, union records, employer information), documentation of job sites and building types worked on, identification of specific materials handled (floor tiles, joint compound, insulation, roofing), medical records linking diagnosis to asbestos, and any product-specific information. Because construction workers moved between many job sites and handled materials from numerous manufacturers, an experienced mesothelioma attorney can help reconstruct exposure history and identify all applicable trust funds.

Quick Statistics

• Roofing felt: up to 60% asbestos — GAF/Ruberoid roofing felts contained among the highest asbestos concentrations of any construction material, with roofers exposed during multi-ply built-up roofing installation
• Spray fireproofing banned 1973 — EPA banned spray-applied asbestos fireproofing due to extreme airborne fiber concentrations during application; W.R. Grace's Monokote was the leading product
• Joint compound: 3-15% asbestos — Drywall workers mixed powder, applied, and sanded joint compound through the 1970s and into the 1980s, releasing embedded fibers at every stage
• Ceiling tiles: up to 30% asbestos — Commonly used in commercial and institutional buildings, with a $4.5 million verdict awarded to a ceiling tile installer in 2007
• Insulation: up to 95% asbestos — Thermal insulation applied to pipes, boilers, and equipment contained the highest asbestos content of any building material
• $7.3 million school verdict — Construction worker exposed to asbestos during school building projects received one of the highest construction-specific awards on record
• Zonolite in millions of homes — W.R. Grace's vermiculite attic insulation, contaminated with Libby, Montana amphibole asbestos, was installed from the 1940s through 1980s across the U.S.
• $2.5 billion initial trust funding — Johns-Manville established the first asbestos bankruptcy trust in 1988, setting the legal framework for 60+ subsequent trust funds now holding $30B+ combined
• WTC construction exposure — Courts have allowed mesothelioma cases to proceed based on asbestos exposure during World Trade Center construction, including secondary exposure claims
• Multi-defendant cases standard — Construction lawsuits typically name multiple manufacturers, general contractors, and property owners, with product identification across decades of varied job sites

How Can Construction Workers Get Help?

As reported by Danziger & De Llano, If you or a family member worked in construction between 1940 and 1990 and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to significant compensation from multiple sources.

Important Time Limits: Each state has specific statutes of limitations for asbestos claims. These deadlines typically begin running from diagnosis date. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney promptly to protect your legal rights.

What to Do Next:

1. Gather Employment Records: Collect documentation of your construction career including tax records, union records, and employer information
2. Document Job Sites: List the types of buildings you worked on and the time periods (commercial, residential, industrial, schools, etc.)
3. Identify Materials Handled: Note any specific products you remember—floor tiles, joint compound, insulation, roofing materials
4. Obtain Medical Records: Get documentation of your diagnosis and any medical opinion linking it to asbestos exposure
5. Contact Experienced Attorneys: Mesothelioma attorneys can identify all applicable trust funds and litigation options

Free Case Evaluation — Construction workers may qualify for compensation from multiple asbestos trust funds plus litigation against non-bankrupt defendants. The Building Trades Medical Screening Program found mesothelioma rates nearly 7 times expected levels. Call (855) 699-5441 for a free, confidential consultation.

See Also

• Agricultural Workers and Asbestos Exposure
• Water Treatment Workers
• Hanford Nuclear Reservation