Oil Refinery Workers and Asbestos

How Are Oil Refinery Workers Exposed to Asbestos?

Oil refinery workers operated in high-heat environments that relied on asbestos-containing materials to insulate machinery and prevent fire hazards. From the 1940s through the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in refineries because of its durability and resistance to heat and chemicals.

Workers who repaired boilers, heat exchangers, pumps and pipes often encountered asbestos insulation. Activities such as cutting, grinding or removing asbestos-containing gaskets and seals disturbed the material, releasing microscopic fibers into the air. 

Maintenance crews, pipefitters and equipment operators faced the greatest exposure to asbestos and risk of diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, especially in older refineries where asbestos remained in aging equipment. Even workers not directly handling asbestos could be exposed through airborne dust circulating in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas. 

Asbestos fibers also clung to work clothes and skin, potentially exposing family members and others through secondhand contact. Many oil refinery workers report supervisors never warned them about asbestos hazards during their careers.

Asbestos Products Associated With Oil Refinery Workers

Asbestos was used throughout oil refineries in both equipment and safety products. It helped control extreme heat, friction and chemical exposure in a high-risk work environment.

Asbestos Products Used by Oil Refinery Workers

• Cement, coatings and sealants: Applied to equipment, floors and structures for added protection.
• Gaskets and packing: Sealed joints and pumps where high pressure and heat were present.
• Pipe and vessel insulation: Wrapped around piping, reactors and distillation columns.
• Protective clothing: Gloves, aprons and hoods designed to resist fire and heat.
• Thermal blankets and fireproof panels: Used in machinery and control rooms.

Many of these asbestos-containing materials became damaged over time, turning brittle and releasing asbestos fibers during repair or replacement. These airborne fibers could stay suspended for hours, putting workers at risk of mesothelioma even after the task was complete.

Manufacturers of Products Oil Refiners Used

Numerous companies manufactured asbestos products that were used in oil refineries. These companies were later named in mesothelioma lawsuits or required to establish asbestos trust funds for exposed workers.

Major Manufacturers

• A.W. Chesterton Company: Chesterton manufactured seals, packing, gaskets, and hydraulic and pneumatic sealing devices that contained asbestos. These products were used at numerous oil refineries throughout the United States.
• Garlock Sealing Technologies: Garlock manufactured several asbestos products used in industrial settings, including oil refineries. Its asbestos products included gaskets, seals, pump packing, valve packing and other types of packing.
• Hercules Packing Corporation: Hercules manufactured asbestos gaskets used in industrial settings, including oil refineries.
• Johns Manville: JM manufactured industrial asbestos building materials used in oil refineries. It also made asbestos-containing parts used on equipment, including pump packing, asbestos cement, adhesives, putty and insulation.
• Philip Carey: Philip Carey manufactured asbestos insulation materials for industrial purposes. This included boilers, industrial equipment and pipes. These kinds of products were common at oil refineries.
• Pittsburgh Corning: This company manufactured asbestos insulation under the brand name Unibestos. Unibestos pipe insulation was used throughout many oil refineries. Unfortunately, these products contained South African amosite asbestos, which is known to be highly carcinogenic.

These products were common across U.S. oil refineries and posed dangers long after installation. Maintenance teams working on older infrastructure remain at risk of mesothelioma if materials are not properly identified and removed.

Oil Refinery Workers and Mesothelioma

Decades of research have shown that oil refinery workers face a heightened risk of mesothelioma because of prolonged asbestos exposure. A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health found refinery workers had significantly higher rates of mesothelioma than the general population, especially among maintenance staff.

Exposure to asbestos causes other cancers, including lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. It also causes asbestosis, an incurable pulmonary disease that involves progressive scarring of lung tissue. According to a 2022 report by the European Commission, more than 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past exposure to asbestos.

Oil refineries often lacked sufficient ventilation, allowing asbestos dust to build up in enclosed spaces. Because mesothelioma symptoms typically take 20 to 60 years to appear, many refinery workers are not diagnosed until long after they have retired.

Stories from refinery workers illustrate the reality of this occupational asbestos exposure. Some report frequent exposure to insulation dust during shutdowns and repairs, while others recall using asbestos gloves daily without being aware of the associated health risks. These exposures have resulted in thousands of mesothelioma cases directly linked to refinery work.

Compensation for Exposed Oil Refinery Workers

Oil refinery employees who develop mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis can sue the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Employees can file personal injury claims, while relatives of decedents can file wrongful death claims. 

Financial awards can help cover treatment costs, lost wages, and travel expenses related to care. If a loved one has died from mesothelioma, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit, an asbestos trust fund claim or both. You may be eligible for mesothelioma compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages and funeral expenses.

Common Compensation Options

• Asbestos trust fund claims: Available through companies that filed bankruptcy but still owe compensation.
• Personal injury lawsuits: Filed against product manufacturers responsible for asbestos exposure.
• VA benefits: For veterans who worked in military-operated or contracted oil facilities.
• Workers’ compensation: May apply to state-regulated claims for occupational illness.

In 2024, Hess Corporation paid up to $187 million to settle asbestos injury claims in connection with an oil refinery that had been operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands. California’s appeals court in March 2021 upheld a $25 million verdict for Houshang Sabetian, an oil refinery worker whose asbestos exposure from 1971 to 1982 led to testicular mesothelioma. 

Filing a legal claim does not affect access to medical care. A mesothelioma attorney can help identify all possible compensation sources and manage filing deadlines. Many refinery workers and their families have received life-changing financial support after a diagnosis.

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