Paper Mill Workers

Paper Mill Worker Asbestos Exposure
Very high-risk occupation for mesothelioma
Risk Level	Very High
Pleural Plaques	100% of meso cases
Peak Exposure Era	1920s-1990s
Primary Products	Dryer felts, steam insulation, gaskets
Major Verdict	$16.67 Million
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Paper Mill Workers and Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure Risks, Compensation & Legal Rights

Executive Summary

Paper mill workers faced intensive asbestos exposure through both the industrial environment and specialized manufacturing processes unique to papermaking. The paper production process requires massive machinery operating under high heat and pressure, with steam-driven dryer sections using asbestos-containing felts as integral components. These dryer felts—manufactured by companies including Scapa Waycross, AstenJohnson, and Fibreboard—contained asbestos fibers and required frequent replacement, creating extreme exposure events when deteriorated felts were chiseled and pried off dryer rollers. A study of 63,000 paper mill workers found that 36% had documented asbestos exposure, primarily from dryer felts, pipe insulation, and equipment components. Epidemiological research documented that 100% of examined workers showed pleural plaques on chest imaging—universal evidence of asbestos exposure. According to Danziger & De Llano, paper mill workers have recovered substantial compensation, with verdicts reaching $16.67 million in documented cases.

The scope of asbestos use in paper manufacturing extended far beyond dryer felts. Paper machine operators, dryer operators, and maintenance workers faced continuous exposure from pipe insulation covering steam lines throughout mill facilities, boiler insulation in power generation areas, pump and valve packing, and gasket materials in processing equipment. Like Power Plant Workers and Chemical Plant Workers, paper mill workers operated in industrial environments where asbestos was ubiquitous in high-temperature applications. Boilermakers and Plumbers and Pipefitters who maintained paper mill equipment created additional bystander exposure when disturbing insulation materials. Major paper companies including International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, and Weyerhaeuser operated facilities where workers were exposed for decades without adequate warnings or protection. The 20-50 year latency period for mesothelioma means workers exposed during the peak era continue developing disease, and over $30 billion remains available in asbestos trust funds for qualified claimants.

Key Facts

Key Facts: Paper Mill Worker Asbestos Exposure

Risk Classification: Very High – 100% of mesothelioma cases showed pleural plaques Pleural Plaque Finding: Highest percentage of any occupational group in multi-site study Norwegian Study: 23,718 workers followed; increased mesothelioma in maintenance workers Peak Exposure Period: 1920s-1990s, with dryer felt exposure continuing later Primary Exposure Sources: Dryer felts (10-50% asbestos), steam insulation, boiler gaskets Felt Replacement Exposure: "Large amounts of deadly asbestos fibers" released during chiseling Major Verdict (Scapa Waycross): $16.67 million for Crown paper mill worker Second Major Verdict: $10.2 million (Barabin case) against Scapa and AstenJohnson Maintenance Workers: Highest risk group documented in epidemiological studies Trust Fund Availability: Fibreboard Trust, Johns-Manville Trust, Garlock Trust, Georgia-Pacific Trust

What Asbestos Exposure Did Paper Mill Workers Face?

Paper mill workers encountered asbestos through every aspect of the massive paper production process.

Paper Machine Dryer Felts (Unique High-Risk Exposure):

Paper machine dryer felts represent the most significant and unique asbestos exposure source in paper mills. These specialized fabrics were installed on dryer sections to press against wet paper, removing moisture as paper passed over heated cylinders (200-350°F).

The felt replacement process created extreme exposure: "The caked-on felt, which had been under immense pressure for many weeks as paper was compressed between the rollers often 24-hours a day, usually had to be chiseled and pried off in bits and pieces, releasing large amounts of deadly asbestos fibers into the air all around the paper mill workers."

Steam System Insulation:

Paper mills consumed enormous quantities of steam for drying paper and processing wood pulp. Miles of steam pipes—operating at pressures up to 600 psi and temperatures up to 500°F—were wrapped in asbestos insulation that degraded over time, particularly at joints, valves, and expansion loops.

"Paper mill workers had one of the most hazardous exposure profiles we document. The dryer felt replacement process alone—chiseling off asbestos-laden material that had been compressed for weeks under heat and pressure—released fiber concentrations that likely exceeded anything in typical construction or insulation work."

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

Which Asbestos Products Did Paper Mill Workers Encounter?

Paper mill workers encountered asbestos throughout the production environment:

Product Type	Asbestos Content	Manufacturers
Paper Machine Dryer Felts	10-50% asbestos fibers	Scapa Waycross, AstenJohnson, Fibreboard
Pipe Insulation	20-85% chrysotile/amosite	Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, Fibreboard
Boiler Insulation	30-70% various types	Combustion Engineering, Babcock & Wilcox
Gaskets and Packing	40-100% compressed chrysotile	Johns-Manville, Garlock
Roll Coverings	5-30% asbestos content	Specialty manufacturers
Fire Doors/Panels	15-50% asbestos-cement	Johns-Manville, U.S. Gypsum

Where Were Paper Mill Workers Most Exposed?

Dryer Sections: Workers performing felt changes on paper machines faced the highest exposure during removal of deteriorated asbestos-containing felts.

Boiler Houses: Boiler workers cleaned tubes, scraped deteriorated gaskets from doors, repaired valves, and worked around asbestos-insulated steam lines throughout boiler rooms.

Maintenance Departments: Norwegian research documented maintenance workers faced the highest risk—they handled asbestos during valve repacking, gasket replacement, insulation work, felt changes, and equipment overhauls.

Georgia-Pacific Mills: Workers at Georgia-Pacific paper mills were exposed during boiler, valve, and pipe maintenance work.

⚠ 100% Pleural Plaque Finding: In a study of 1,445 mesothelioma cases, 100% of paper mill workers showed pleural plaques—the highest percentage of any occupation. Pleural plaques are calcified scarring on the lung lining that definitively indicates prior asbestos exposure.

What Compensation Can Paper Mill Workers Receive?

Paper mill workers diagnosed with mesothelioma have received substantial compensation through litigation and trust funds.

Major Verdicts:

• $16.67 Million Verdict (Scapa Waycross): Paper mill worker's family awarded against manufacturer of asbestos-containing dryer felts for worker who developed mesothelioma at Crown paper mill
• $10.2 Million Verdict (Barabin case): Worker at Crown mill in Washington developed mesothelioma in 2006; won verdict against Scapa Waycross and AstenJohnson for dryer felt exposure
• £685,000 UK Settlement: Family of paper mill worker who died from mesothelioma at age 53

Industry-Specific Trust Funds:

Paper mill workers may file claims with multiple trusts:

• Johns-Manville Asbestos Trust – Over $5 billion paid; claims for pipe insulation, gaskets, packing
• Fibreboard Corporation Trust – Claims for dryer felts and paper mill materials
• Garlock Sealing Technologies Trust – Gaskets and packing in valves, pumps, piping
• Georgia-Pacific Trust – Paper mill operations with asbestos exposure

Key Defendant Manufacturers:

• Dryer Felt Manufacturers: Scapa Waycross (multiple major verdicts), AstenJohnson, Fibreboard
• Paper Mill Operators: Crown Zellerbach, Georgia-Pacific, International Paper
• Insulation Manufacturers: Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, Fibreboard Corporation

"The $16.67 million verdict against Scapa Waycross established that dryer felt manufacturers knew their products were dangerous. Paper mill workers who developed mesothelioma from felt exposure have strong cases, and company records help identify exactly which products were used at specific mills."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

What Are Current Exposure Risks?

Legacy Exposure in Operating Mills:

Many paper mills continue operating in facilities constructed during peak asbestos use (1920s-1990s). Paper machines have extraordinarily long service lives—often 50-70 years—meaning equipment installed during the 1950s-1970s remains in operation with legacy asbestos components.

Demolition of Closed Plants:

The U.S. paper industry has consolidated significantly. These facilities contain extensive asbestos in massive paper machines, miles of insulated piping, and building structures.

✓ Documentation Tip: Paper mill workers should identify which dryer felt manufacturers supplied their mill. Crown mills used Scapa Waycross and AstenJohnson products—if you worked at a Crown facility, this evidence is already established through prior litigation.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one worked in a paper mill and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The attorneys at Danziger & De Llano have decades of experience representing industrial workers exposed to asbestos.

Don't Wait — Time Limits Apply $16.67 Million Verdict Against Dryer Felt Manufacturer 100% of paper mill mesothelioma cases showed pleural plaques.

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