Textile Mill Workers

Textile Mill Worker Asbestos Exposure
EXTREME risk occupation – direct asbestos manufacturing
Risk Level	EXTREME
SMR (Lung Cancer)	3.55
Airborne Asbestos	68% of dust
Peak Exposure Era	1920s-1980s
Products Made	Asbestos cloth, blankets, yarn
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Textile Mill Workers and Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure Risks, Compensation & Legal Rights

Executive Summary

Textile mill workers faced varying degrees of asbestos exposure depending on their specific roles and the products manufactured at their facilities, with workers in asbestos textile production facing extreme risk while those in general textile manufacturing experienced facility-based exposure. An Italian epidemiological study documented that asbestos textile workers faced 37 times the mesothelioma risk of unexposed populations, making asbestos textile production among the most hazardous occupations ever documented. Industrial hygiene studies found that 68% of samples in textile mill work areas contained airborne asbestos, with standardized mortality ratios reaching 3.55 for mesothelioma among textile workers. Textile manufacturing accounted for 9% of all asbestos illness cases in comprehensive surveillance studies, reflecting the widespread use of asbestos in both product manufacturing and facility insulation. According to Danziger & De Llano, textile workers diagnosed with mesothelioma may pursue compensation through multiple sources including trust funds and direct litigation.

The textile industry's use of asbestos encompassed both product manufacturing and facility operations. Asbestos textile facilities produced fireproof cloth, welding blankets, brake linings, gaskets, and protective equipment—all requiring workers to handle raw asbestos fibers throughout production. Workers in general textile mills encountered asbestos in facility insulation, boiler systems, and machinery components even when not manufacturing asbestos products directly. Like Paper Mill Workers and Factory Workers, textile workers operated machinery in industrial environments where high-temperature processes required asbestos insulation. Sewing machine operators, spinners, weavers, and knitting machine operators all faced potential exposure depending on facility conditions and products manufactured. Insulation Workers and Boilermakers who maintained textile mill equipment created additional bystander exposure. Major asbestos textile manufacturers operated throughout the northeastern and southern United States, and workers from these facilities continue receiving mesothelioma diagnoses decades after exposure ended.

Key Facts

Key Facts: Textile Mill Worker Asbestos Exposure

Risk Classification: EXTREME – direct asbestos manufacturing created highest industrial exposures Lung Cancer SMR: 3.55 – more than triple expected mortality rate Airborne Dust Composition: 68% asbestos documented in some textile facilities Peak Exposure Period: 1920s-1980s, some manufacturing continuing later Primary Exposure Sources: Opening raw asbestos bales, carding, spinning, weaving Products Manufactured: Asbestos cloth, yarn, blankets, rope, tape, protective garments Major Manufacturing Locations: North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut Key Employers: Johns-Manville, Raybestos-Manhattan, Philip Carey, Amatex Exposure Comparison: Second highest risk after miners and insulation workers Trust Fund Availability: Johns-Manville Trust ($5+ billion paid), multiple others

What Asbestos Exposure Did Textile Mill Workers Face?

Textile mill workers faced continuous, high-concentration asbestos exposure throughout every step of the manufacturing process.

Raw Asbestos Handling (Initial Extreme Exposure):

Workers opened compressed bales of raw asbestos fiber, releasing massive fiber clouds into work areas. Raw asbestos was then separated, cleaned, and prepared for processing—all done by hand or with minimal mechanical assistance.

Carding and Spinning (Processing Operations):

• Carding: Asbestos fibers were mechanically aligned and separated using carding machines—high-speed equipment that created continuous fiber releases
• Spinning: Prepared asbestos was spun into yarn on textile equipment, generating additional airborne fiber exposure
• Twisting and Plying: Combining asbestos yarns into heavier threads added processing steps with cumulative exposure

Weaving and Finishing:

Workers operated looms weaving asbestos yarn into cloth, blankets, and other textile products. Cutting, trimming, and finishing operations released additional fibers from the finished materials.

"Asbestos textile workers had the most direct, intensive exposure of any industrial occupation outside asbestos mining. They weren't working around asbestos—they were literally manufacturing asbestos products by hand, breathing fibers that constituted nearly 70% of the air they inhaled."

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

Which Asbestos Products Did Textile Mill Workers Manufacture?

Textile mill workers produced the asbestos products that were then used across all other industries:

Product Type	Asbestos Content	End Uses
Asbestos Cloth/Fabric	80-100% woven asbestos	Welding blankets, fire curtains, protective clothing
Asbestos Yarn/Thread	100% asbestos fiber	Packing, insulation, woven products
Asbestos Blankets	80-100% woven asbestos	Welding, foundry, fire protection
Asbestos Rope/Cord	100% braided asbestos	Packing, gaskets, insulation
Asbestos Tape	80-100% asbestos	Pipe insulation, electrical insulation
Protective Garments	80-100% asbestos textile	Gloves, aprons, leggings, suits

Where Were Textile Mill Workers Most Exposed?

North Carolina: Major concentration of asbestos textile manufacturing in the state's textile belt.

New Jersey: Raybestos-Manhattan and other manufacturers operated large textile facilities. Manville, NJ—named for Johns-Manville—was a major asbestos textile center.

Pennsylvania: Multiple asbestos textile and product manufacturing facilities operated in industrial areas.

Connecticut: Raybestos-Manhattan headquarters and manufacturing in Stratford and other locations.

Key Employers:

• Johns-Manville: Largest U.S. asbestos company; operated textile manufacturing
• Raybestos-Manhattan: Major textile and friction products manufacturer
• Philip Carey Corporation: Produced asbestos textiles and products
• Amatex Corporation: Asbestos textile manufacturer

⚠ 68% Airborne Asbestos Finding: Studies of asbestos textile facilities documented that 68% of airborne dust was asbestos fiber—the highest percentage documented in any industrial setting. Workers breathed air that was more asbestos than not throughout their shifts.

What Compensation Can Textile Mill Workers Receive?

Textile mill workers diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to substantial compensation.

Major Trust Funds:

Textile mill workers may file claims with trusts established by their direct employers:

• Johns-Manville Trust: Largest asbestos trust; has paid over $5 billion; payment percentage 5.1%
• Raybestos-Manhattan Trust: Claims for textile and friction products workers
• Amatex Corporation Trust: Established for workers at Amatex textile facilities
• Philip Carey Corporation Trust: Claims for textile product manufacturing

Litigation Against Solvent Defendants:

Some textile product end-users remain solvent defendants, and lawsuits may proceed against companies that used asbestos textiles manufactured by these workers.

"Textile mill workers have some of the strongest exposure evidence of any occupation. The SMR of 3.55 for lung cancer—more than triple expected—and the 68% airborne asbestos finding establish definitively that these workers faced extreme hazards. The companies knew, and internal documents prove they knew."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

What Are the Documented Health Outcomes?

Lung Cancer SMR 3.55:

Textile mill workers had standardized mortality ratios for lung cancer more than three times the expected rate—among the highest documented for any industrial occupation.

Mesothelioma Risk:

Direct asbestos handling created maximum mesothelioma risk. Studies rank textile workers second only to asbestos miners and insulation workers in disease incidence.

Asbestosis:

High fiber concentrations produced severe asbestosis rates among long-term workers, with progressive lung scarring developing even after exposure ceased.

✓ Documentation Tip: Textile mill workers should document employment at specific facilities (Johns-Manville Manville NJ, Raybestos-Manhattan Stratford CT, etc.). Company employment records, union documentation, and Social Security earnings statements establish exposure at these high-risk facilities.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one worked in asbestos textile manufacturing 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 68% of Airborne Dust Was Asbestos | SMR 3.55 Lung Cancer Over $30 BILLION available through asbestos trust funds.

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