Pennsylvania Asbestos Exposure Job Sites
Last updated on July 8, 2026
Workers across western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh region face severe health risks from historic and ongoing toxic exposure. At D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, our lawyers in Pittsburgh can help you and your family file a lawsuit to seek justice for negligence resulting in disease and death.
Industrial laborers throughout Allegheny County, Beaver County and Westmoreland County frequently encountered deadly materials such as asbestos and benzene on the job. High-risk industrial job sites in areas such as Neville Island, West Mifflin, McKeesport and Wilmerding used these substances for decades without providing proper protection for employees. Exposure to these toxins causes devastating illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and leukemia.
Where Asbestos And Benzene Exposure Happened In Pennsylvania
Occupational asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania occurred heavily within steel mills, power plants, shipyards and manufacturing facilities. At many Pittsburgh asbestos job sites, heat-resistant asbestos was used to insulate heavy machinery and piping. Meanwhile, operations at local refineries and benzene exposure at coke works introduced severe risks from chemical toxins. Over the years, many workers have died from diseases related to asbestos, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and cancers of the lungs, colon, larynx and stomach.
Often, these workers had jobs in the following fields:
- Steel mills
- Shipyards
- Auto garages
- Chemical factories
- Construction
- Foundries
- Hospitals
- Hotels/casinos
- Military
- Paper mills
- Power stations
- Railroads
- Refineries
- Schools
- Service stations
As a state filled with these types of jobs and industries, Pennsylvania residents may be more susceptible to asbestos exposure than residents of other states. The following list includes confirmed locations where workers were exposed to asbestos in Pennsylvania:
- Allegheny Ludlum – Brackenridge
- Armco Steel – Butler
- Babcock & Wilcox – Koppel
- Bethlehem Steel – Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- Cheswick Power Station – Springdale, Pennsylvania
- Edgar Thomson Steel Works – Braddock
- Fisher Scientific – Pittsburgh
- LTV Steel (fka J&L Steel) – Aliquippa
- Neville Chemical Co. – Neville Island
- Sharon Steel – Farrell, Pennsylvania
- Sharon Steel – Sharon, Pennsylvania
- Shenango Coke Works – Neville Island
- U.S. Steel – Clairton
- U.S. Steel (Duquesne Works) – Duquesne
- U.S. Steel McKeesport – McKeesport, Pennsylvania
- Westinghouse – Turtle Creek
- Westinghouse – East Pittsburgh and Trafford
- Westinghouse Air Brake (Wabco) – Wilmerding, Pennsylvania
- Westinghouse Sharon – Sharon, Pennsylvania
If you developed an illness from these facilities, an industrial exposure lawyer Pennsylvania trusts can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
What Damages Are Available For Asbestos Exposure Victims?
Asbestos exposure can be serious, permanently debilitating and, in many cases, life-threatening. Accordingly, a damages award issued in an asbestos exposure lawsuit will provide extensive coverage for costs and losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Costs of treatment not covered by insurance
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
A job site asbestos exposure lawsuit can also result in the issuing of punitive damages, which are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter them from repeating the misconduct. In cases where the victim passed away on account of asbestos exposure, wrongful death damages may be included as well.
The amount of damages issued or the settlement amount obtained through negotiation will depend on the attorney’s skill and experience in handling the claim. A more experienced lawyer will be able to pinpoint the various losses a person might have incurred because of the exposure and their resulting injuries.
Where Does Pennsylvania Rank In Terms Of Asbestos Exposure?
The number of deaths for malignant mesothelioma is very high in Pennsylvania. In fact, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System, the state ranks third out of all the states and the District of Columbia.
These numbers are age-adjusted death rates in the counties. Adjustments are made for the average age of the residents, as locations with a higher number of older people experience higher rates of death:
- Allegheny County (15.28)
- Beaver County (19.37)
- Berks County (14.84)
- Blair County (9.20)
- Bucks County (18.92)
- Butler County (17.10)
- Cambria County (12.65)
- Chester County (12.22)
- Clearfield County (11.01)
- Crawford County (15.38)
- Cumberland County (10.08)
- Delaware County (21.11)
- Erie County (7.75)
- Fayette County (10.55)
- Lackawanna County (9.40)
- Lancaster County (14.97)
- Lawrence County (16.14)
- Lebanon County (20.31)
- Lehigh County (12.26)
- Luzerne County (11.94)
- Lycoming County (8.87)
- Mercer County (7.58)
- Monroe County (8.68)
- Montgomery County (19.14)
- Northampton County (14.78)
- Philadelphia County (12.22)
- Somerset County (14.32)
- Washington County (14.93)
- Westmoreland County (8.07)
- York County (9.23)
The numbers are just one indicator of the scope and seriousness of cancers and diseases related to asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania. Turn to our firm for representation from skilled and knowledgeable mesothelioma lawsuit attorneys.
Contact us today to talk to our lawyers about a lawsuit for you or a loved one who has been harmed by asbestos in Pittsburgh. We proudly serve clients in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Don’t see your job site listed? Contact D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, to find out if you should be concerned about asbestos exposure. Schedule a free consultation.
How Difficult Is It To Trace Asbestos Exposure To A Job Site?
In cases involving asbestos-related occupational exposure, proving liability can be extra challenging. You will need to prove not only that your injuries are asbestos related but that the source of the exposure was at a specific workplace as well. In addition, it requires proof that the employer is responsible in some way for allowing you to be exposed to such risks.
This can be a daunting task, especially in cases where the asbestos exposure occurred or began a long time ago. Success in an asbestosis lawsuit requires the assistance of a legal team that:
- Has the resources to investigate and research claims deeply for causation evidence
- Has already built up a significant amount of statistical data and records on job site asbestos locations
- Understands the methodology and data analysis needed to trace asbestos exposure to a job site
At D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, we have the resources, experience and data needed to aggressively pursue damage awards for persons who have been affected by asbestos through their jobs.
What Documents Are Used To Prove Job Site Asbestos Exposure?
Proving job site asbestos exposure can require hundreds of documents and multiple depositions for all the parties involved. This type of work is best left to an asbestos lawyer, as the average worker will not be in a position to perform this type of documentation without an attorney.
Documentation that is used to prove exposure at an asbestos site may include:
- Work site blueprints
- Engineering, electrical or plumbing diagrams
- Asbestos product invoices
- Company memos demonstrating its knowledge of asbestos conditions
- Statements from leading industry experts
- Case stories from other asbestos-related victims
- Medical and scientific literature regarding asbestos and asbestos-containing products
At D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, our attorneys already have a solid base and decades of experience when it comes to gathering, reviewing and leveraging documents for use in trials.
Pittsburgh And Pennsylvania Benzene Exposure
Benzene is a highly toxic, carcinogenic chemical often used in the manufacturing industry. When industrial processing releases benzene, it can cause leukemia and other fatal blood disorders to anyone exposed. Workers in western Pennsylvania face severe health risks due to historic coke works benzene exposure and chemical manufacturing operations.
Key facilities associated with dangerous levels of toxins include:
- Shenango Coke Works – Neville Island
- Clairton Coke Works
- J&L Steel Aliquippa Works
If you or a loved one developed a benzene-related illness after working at a local refinery, a benzene exposure lawyer in Pennsylvania can help you fight for financial recovery.
Should You Contact A Lawyer For Help With Your Asbestos Lawsuit?
Filing a job-related asbestos lawsuit can involve huge amounts of paperwork as well as hours and hours of research and preparation. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos at work and were injured as a result, it’s in your best interests to hire an attorney who can prepare your case for you.
At D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, our team has decades of combined experience in bringing justice against companies who have harmed their employees due to negligent management of asbestos risks. Our lawyers are well equipped to bring on the fight and work hard to ensure that our clients are properly compensated for their losses. Contact us at 412-906-8180 for a free consultation so that we can go over your case in detail.
Job Site Asbestos Location FAQs
What if you were exposed to asbestos a long time ago?
If you are no longer employed with the company in question, or if it’s been a while since you last worked there, it may still be possible for you to pursue legal action. At D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, our attorneys understand how to document a person’s work and medical history to determine whether an injury is connected to asbestos exposure. Get in touch with us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Should you provide a lawyer with your full work history?
Absolutely. Listing all the places you’ve worked is crucial to determining potential places and products that may have exposed you to asbestos. A skilled lawyer can review your work history to identify which parties might be responsible for exposing you to asbestos through their negligence. The more information you can provide, the better.
Why does Pennsylvania have such a high rate of asbestos exposure cases?
Pennsylvania has the third highest rate of deaths for malignant mesothelioma out of all the U.S. states. This number is possibly so high because of the large concentration of industrial production plants that were set up throughout the history of the state. Older production facilities may be linked with less strict safety and hazard policies, thus exposing workers to more mesothelioma causes.
How can a mesothelioma lawyer help you?
Asbestosis lawsuits can be difficult as they may involve intense amounts of documentation. This is especially true of asbestos exposure cases that are linked to contaminated job sites. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help by:
- Examining the facts of your case
- Compiling the various documents and statements for trial
- Crafting a strong legal strategy
- Calculating a comprehensive damages award
Due to the amount of records and paperwork involved, it is recommended that you hire a lawyer if you have been exposed to asbestos. Contact D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, at 412-906-8180 to schedule a free consultation to determine your legal options.