Laggers

Lagger Asbestos Exposure
EXTREME risk – industrial/marine insulation workers
Risk Level	EXTREME
Italian Study SMR	575 Mesothelioma
Peak Exposure Era	1940-1980
Primary Products	Pipe covering, equipment insulation
U.S. Terminology	Insulators, pipe coverers
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Laggers and Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure Risks, Compensation & Legal Rights

Executive Summary

Laggers—the British and Australian term for industrial insulation workers—rank among the highest-risk occupations for mesothelioma, alongside asbestos miners and textile workers. In the United States, these workers are typically called insulators, pipe coverers, asbestos workers, or heat and frost insulators, but the occupation and extreme exposure risk remain identical regardless of terminology. Laggers in industrial and marine settings applied, maintained, and removed asbestos insulation from pipes, boilers, turbines, and other high-temperature equipment—creating direct, daily contact with raw asbestos materials. The Italian shipyard study documented an extraordinary SMR of 575 for pleural mesothelioma among workers in this category—nearly six times the expected mortality. Studies consistently show insulation workers have the highest asbestosis PMR of any occupation (109.2), with cumulative exposures reaching tens of thousands of fiber-days per cubic centimeter. Both the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and medical literature confirm that this trade experienced catastrophic disease rates from asbestos exposure.

Key Facts

Key Facts: Lagger (Industrial Insulator) Asbestos Exposure

Risk Classification: EXTREME – highest asbestosis PMR of any occupation Asbestosis PMR: 109.2 (CDC data) – highest documented occupational rate Italian Shipyard Study SMR: 575 for pleural mesothelioma (5.75× expected) Peak Exposure Period: 1940-1980, with shipyard and industrial work continuing later Primary Exposure Sources: Pipe insulation (15-90% asbestos), equipment insulation, asbestos cement Fiber Concentrations: 5-100+ f/cc documented during insulation installation/removal U.S. Terminology: Insulators, pipe coverers, asbestos workers, heat and frost insulators British/Australian Term: Laggers (industrial and marine insulation focus) Work Settings: Shipyards, power plants, refineries, industrial facilities, marine vessels Trust Fund Availability: Multiple trusts; Johns-Manville alone has paid $5+ billion

Understanding the Terminology: Laggers vs. Insulators

The term "lagger" is primarily used in British and Australian workplaces to describe industrial insulation workers, particularly those working in:

• Industrial settings: Refineries, power plants, chemical plants
• Marine settings: Shipyards, naval vessels, merchant ships

In the United States, these same workers are classified as:

• Heat and Frost Insulators (union terminology)
• Pipe Coverers or Pipe Insulators
• Asbestos Workers (historical term)
• Industrial Insulators

The distinction from general building insulators is important: laggers/industrial insulators focused on process equipment, piping systems, and marine applications requiring higher-temperature insulation—and thus higher asbestos content materials.

"Whether you call them laggers, insulators, or pipe coverers, these workers had the most direct, intensive asbestos exposure of any trade. They mixed raw asbestos with cement, applied it by hand to hot pipes, and removed deteriorated insulation in confined spaces. The PMR of 109.2 for asbestosis—more than 100 times expected—tells the whole story."

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

What Asbestos Exposure Did Laggers Face?

Laggers/industrial insulators had direct, daily contact with asbestos materials throughout their careers.

Pipe and Equipment Insulation Installation:

• Mixing Asbestos Cement: Opening bags of dry asbestos fiber and mixing with cement created massive fiber clouds (100+ f/cc documented)
• Applying Wet Asbestos Mud: Troweling asbestos-cement mixture onto pipes and equipment
• Fitting Pre-Formed Pipe Sections: Cutting and shaping asbestos pipe covering to fit around pipes
• Finishing and Jacketing: Applying canvas and metal jacketing over asbestos insulation

Insulation Removal (Highest Exposure):

Removing deteriorated asbestos insulation generated the most extreme exposures:

• Ripping out aged, friable insulation released massive fiber quantities
• Dry removal without wet methods created 10-100+ f/cc concentrations
• Confined spaces in ships, boilers, and vessels multiplied exposure levels

Shipyard and Marine Work:

Marine laggers worked on naval vessels and merchant ships:

• Insulating steam pipes, boilers, turbines in ship engine rooms
• Working in confined spaces below decks with minimal ventilation
• Exposure compounded by ship-wide asbestos use in fireproofing, gaskets, floor tiles

Which Asbestos Products Did Laggers Encounter?

Laggers worked directly with the highest-asbestos-content materials:

Product Type	Asbestos Content	Manufacturers
Pipe Insulation (85% Magnesia)	15% asbestos (85% magnesia)	Johns Manville, Philip Carey
Asbestos-Cement Insulation	15-50% asbestos mixed with cement	Johns Manville, Carey, multiple
Asbestos Block Insulation	80-90% asbestos	Johns Manville, Owens-Corning
Asbestos Blanket Insulation	50-85% asbestos	Johns Manville, Philip Carey
Insulating Cement/Mud	15-50% asbestos	Johns Manville, various
Marine Insulation	15-90% various types	Johns Manville, naval suppliers

Where Were Laggers Most Exposed?

Shipyards: Naval and commercial shipyards including Pearl Harbor, Puget Sound, Norfolk, Newport News, and commercial yards on both coasts.

Power Plants: Coal, nuclear, and gas-fired facilities with extensive steam systems requiring constant insulation maintenance.

Refineries: Petrochemical facilities with miles of high-temperature process piping.

Naval Vessels: Ships required complete insulation systems for steam propulsion, creating concentrated exposure in confined engine rooms and machinery spaces.

⚠ Italian Shipyard Study Finding: The Genoa shipyard study (1960-2014) documented an SMR of 575 for pleural mesothelioma among insulation workers—nearly six times the expected rate. This represented the highest occupational risk documented in the study, confirming laggers as an extreme-risk occupation.

What Compensation Can Laggers Receive?

Laggers diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to substantial compensation from multiple sources.

Major Trust Funds:

Insulation workers can file claims with trusts established by their primary product manufacturers:

• Johns-Manville Trust: Largest trust; over $5 billion paid; primary insulation manufacturer
• Owens-Corning Trust: Major insulation products manufacturer
• Philip Carey Corporation Trust: Pipe insulation, asbestos cement products
• Armstrong World Industries Trust: Building and industrial insulation

Key Defendant Manufacturers:

• Johns Manville (largest asbestos insulation company)
• Owens-Corning (Kaylo insulation products)
• Philip Carey Corporation
• Armstrong World Industries
• Multiple industrial insulation contractors

VA Benefits for Veteran Laggers:

Navy and shipyard veteran insulators may qualify for:

• 100% VA disability rating ($3,900+/month)
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for survivors
• Aid and Attendance benefits

"Insulation workers—whether called laggers, pipe coverers, or asbestos workers—have some of the strongest claims because the causal link between their work and disease is irrefutable. The PMR of 109.2 for asbestosis and the extensive medical literature make these cases straightforward to prove."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

How Can Laggers Document Exposure?

Successful claims require documenting insulation work:

Employment Records:

• Union membership (Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers)
• Contractor employment records
• Shipyard or facility employment history

Military Service Records (if applicable):

• DD-214 documenting rating/MOS
• Duty station assignments
• Ship assignments for naval personnel

Product Documentation:

• Specific insulation products used at worksites
• Contractor records showing product suppliers
• Site-specific documentation of asbestos insulation use

✓ Union Records: The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers maintains membership records that can document work history. These records, combined with site-specific evidence, establish exposure at specific facilities.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one worked as a lagger, insulator, or pipe coverer and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The attorneys at Danziger & De Llano have decades of experience representing insulation workers exposed to asbestos.

Don't Wait — Time Limits Apply PMR 109.2 for Asbestosis | SMR 575 for Mesothelioma (Italian Study) Over $30 BILLION available through asbestos trust funds.

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