Texas Asbestos Exposure Jobsites
For decades, Texas workers at oil refineries, petrochemical plants and Gulf Coast shipyards were exposed to asbestos. If you or a family member were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may qualify to file a claim.
- Looking for a specific Texas jobsite? Jump to the jobsite list below.
- Diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer after working in Texas? See Legal Options for Texas Workers. A free, confidential case evaluation is available anytime.
Why Texas Workers Faced High Asbestos Risk
Texas workers faced asbestos exposure because petrochemical and chemical plants, oil refineries and shipyards in the state used asbestos insulation heavily until the 1970s. Many workers were diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma due to occupational exposure.
Exposure was centered in major industrial corridors within the Gulf Coast. These included the Houston Ship Channel petrochemical complex, the Beaumont/Port Arthur refinery row and heavily maritime-focused regions like Texas City.
In these working environments, asbestos was the industry standard for heat-resistant insulation, gaskets and fireproofing. Maintenance and routine work on boilers and pipes in cramped spaces meant that workers inhaled the microscopic airborne fibers. Since asbestos-related conditions have a long latency period of 20 to 60 years, many Texas workers who handled these materials decades ago are now facing diagnoses today.
Texas Asbestos Jobsites by Industry
Texas has numerous jobsites with verified asbestos presence, including locations in Houston and Dallas. Due to its heavy reliance on the energy, maritime and manufacturing sectors, Texas ranks among the highest in the nation for toxic workplace exposures, leaving decades of industrial laborers vulnerable to asbestos-related illnesses.
Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Texas
- Oil refineries: Insulators, pipefitters and boilermakers faced some of the highest asbestos exposure in Texas refineries at ExxonMobil Baytown, Valero/Premcor Port Arthur, Marathon Texas City, Motiva Port Arthur and Shell Deer Park.
- Petrochemical and chemical plants: Workers encountered asbestos through insulation on reactors, piping and furnaces at plants like Dow Chemical Freeport, Union Carbide Texas City and Chevron Phillips.
- Power plants and utilities: Coal and gas power generation across the Gulf Coast and Dallas-Fort Worth corridor used asbestos in turbines, boilers and insulation.
- Shipyards: Shipbuilding and repair workers used asbestos in boilers, pipe lagging and bulkheads at Todd Shipyards (Galveston), Levingston Shipbuilding (Orange) and AMFELS (Brownsville).
- Steel mills and construction: Insulators, drywallers, roofers and other workers in steel production and construction trades across the state may have encountered asbestos throughout their careers.
Working with asbestos materials during your career does not guarantee that you will develop an asbestos-related disease. However, the risks are higher for workers in these industries, especially those who handled dangerous materials in confined spaces.
Texas Asbestos Jobsites
Thousands of jobsites in the state exposed workers to asbestos, including Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil Baytown and Todd Shipyards. Experts have also identified other shipyards, petrochemical plants and refineries as asbestos jobsites.
| Jobsite | City / Region | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| AMFELS Shipyard | Brownsville | Shipyard |
| Dow Chemical | Freeport | Petrochemical |
| ExxonMobil Baytown | Baytown | Refinery |
| Marathon (Texas City Refinery) | Texas City | Refinery |
| Todd Shipyards | Galveston | Shipyard |
| Union Carbide | Texas City | Petrochemical |
| Valero / Premcor | Port Arthur | Refinery |
Texas Occupations at Highest Asbestos Risk
Certain Texas workers face higher asbestos exposure risks, including boilermakers, electricians, insulators and welders. Many people in these occupations are now being diagnosed with serious health issues after close contact with asbestos, particularly in enclosed work environments.
High Risk Occupations
- Boilermakers
- Construction trades
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Pipefitters and steamfitters
- Refinery and petrochemical operators
- Shipyard workers
- Welders
Workers in these occupations may have unintentionally brought asbestos fibers home on their hair, skin, clothes or tools. This could have exposed family members in the home to asbestos. Families of workers who were exposed to asbestos might be eligible to file a secondary exposure claim if they were diagnosed with a related illness. Our attorneys have won secondary exposure claims of up to $17.4 million dollars for our clients.
Legal Options for Texas Workers & Families
If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos through Texas asbestos jobsites or due to secondary exposure, you could be eligible for compensation. A valid legal claim relies on a formal medical diagnosis, not just workplace exposure or worry alone. You may pursue several legal options, depending on your circumstances.
Compensation Options
- Asbestos trust fund claims: People diagnosed with mesothelioma can pursue these claims when a responsible company no longer exists and has set aside a trust fund to provide compensation.
- Personal injury claims: You file these claims directly against the companies and manufacturers responsible for your asbestos exposure.
- Wrongful death claims: Surviving family members bring these claims on behalf of a loved one who passed away from an asbestos-related disease.
Texas generally allows a two-year statute of limitations to file an asbestos personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The discovery rule typically ensures that the clock doesn’t start until the date of diagnosis rather than the date of asbestos exposure. In wrongful death claims, the clock usually begins on the date of death.
Cross-state filing may apply if you file where the exposure occurred or where the defendant is located. Asbestos trust-fund deadlines often operate independently of standard court statutes. Compensation from these cases can help cover medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering.
Explore your legal options now with a free case review
Why Nemeroff Law Firm
Nemeroff Law has spent decades holding companies responsible for asbestos exposure. Asbestos litigation is a highly specialized area that requires experience with mesothelioma cases and Texas law. Results come from firms that try cases for full accountability.
Notable Settlements and Verdicts
- $55.5M Hernandez v. Kelly Moore Paint Company (TX)
- $16.9M Blackburn et al. v. Tyler Pipe Industries (TX)
Nemeroff Law has more than 150 years of combined experience among our attorneys and we have negotiated more than $650 million across our clients. We represent people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families. Our firm charges no fees unless we win and we will travel to assist clients anywhere in the United States.
Our Houston and Dallas offices are ready to help you recover compensation. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Texas mesothelioma attorney today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most asbestos exposure for Texas workers occurred at refineries, petrochemical plants and Gulf Coast shipyards concentrated around Houston Ship Channel, Beaumont/Port Arthur and Texas City. The industries that used the most asbestos in Texas were oil refining, petrochemical and chemical manufacturing, construction, power generation and shipbuilding.
Asbestos has not been fully banned in Texas or the U.S. The EPA finalized a rule in March 2024 to ban chrysotile asbestos. However, as of 2026, this rule is currently undergoing review.
Texas asbestos regulations require anyone conducting asbestos-related work in public or commercial buildings to have a license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Contractors must perform notification, abatement and survey activities in accordance with Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR) (25 TAC Chapter 296) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) standards.
To prove asbestos exposure at a Texas jobsite, you typically provide your work history, employment and union records. You can also rely on the worksite’s documented asbestos use and coworker testimony. Usually, when you provide your work history and employment details to an attorney, they can build the chain of causation for your claim.
The Texas statute of limitations for an asbestos claim when filing a personal injury lawsuit is generally two years. Courts usually apply the discovery rule, which starts the clock at the time of diagnosis or on the date of death in a wrongful death lawsuit. Trust-fund deadlines differ and can be time-sensitive, so consult an attorney immediately.
Yes. In many cases, you can still file a claim. Since mesothelioma has a long latency period, many asbestos companies in Texas that filed for bankruptcy established trust funds that still pay claims today.
People with mesothelioma and their families can recover medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and wrongful death damages. Settlement amounts vary widely. There is no guarantee of a specific outcome or amount.