Detroit refinery asbestos exposure has harmed generations of workers across Marathon, Sun Oil, Total Petroleum, and other refinery operations throughout Wayne County. For decades, refineries relied on asbestos insulation, refractory brick, piping systems, boilers, pumps, coker units, and high-heat process equipment—putting workers at extreme risk. If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos disease after refinery employment in Detroit, you may qualify for substantial compensation.
Mesothelioma/Asbestos Legal Help – WV, MI & PA
Speak directly with attorney Lee W. Davis. No call centers. Free, confidential review.
As someone who handled 3,200 GM Saginaw Foundry cases and has represented Michigan industrial workers for decades, I understand how refinery exposures occurred, how companies concealed the dangers, and how to build strong compensation claims under Michigan law.
How Detroit Refinery Asbestos Exposure Happened
Throughout the 20th century, refineries routinely used asbestos in:
- Boilers, furnaces, and heat exchangers
- Piping networks and steam lines
- Refractory brick in coker and cracking units
- Gaskets, packing, valves, and pumps
- Insulated vessels and reactor units
Industrial contractors—including boilermakers, pipefitters, millwrights, electricians, insulators, and maintenance personnel—were exposed daily. Cutting insulation, removing gaskets, repairing boilers, or working during shutdowns released asbestos dust into enclosed mechanical areas.
Even short-term refinery exposure can later cause mesothelioma.
Workers Most Affected in Detroit Refineries
You may have been exposed if you worked as a:
- Boilermaker
- Pipefitter
- Millwright
- Electrician
- Maintenance mechanic
- Refinery operator
- Insulator
- Refractory bricklayer
- Shutdown/outage contractor
Marathon’s Detroit refinery—one of the largest industrial facilities in Michigan—was a major source of occupational exposure for thousands of workers and contractors between the 1950s and early 1990s.
👉 Search Asbestos Job Sites in Michigan
Michigan Refinery Asbestos Claims Are Strong
Michigan refinery asbestos cases remain well-documented due to:
- Long-term asbestos use across all process units
- Historical maintenance records and product identification
- Contractors dispatched from Detroit, Dearborn, Trenton, and Downriver shops
- Witness testimony from former refinery trades
- Bankruptcy trust evidence linking products to specific refinery departments
Workers diagnosed today may still be eligible, even if the refinery job was decades ago.
Compensation Available for Detroit Refinery Workers
Depending on your work history and diagnosis, you may qualify for:
- Mesothelioma and lung cancer settlements
- Asbestos bankruptcy trust payouts
- Wrongful death compensation for families
- Significant financial recovery without filing against a current employer
Most cases resolve without ever going to court.
If You Worked in a Detroit Refinery, You Need Legal Help Now
Mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer cases move quickly. Early investigation is critical—especially for older refinery workers whose exposure occurred decades ago.
I have handled Michigan industrial asbestos cases since the 1980s, including complex jobsite investigations, workplace identification, and product tracing. If you or a loved one worked in a Detroit refinery and received a cancer diagnosis, you are not alone.
📞 Free Consultation for Detroit Refinery Workers
Call (412) 781-0525 or use the form below for immediate help.
You only pay if compensation is recovered.
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FAQs – Detroit Refinery Asbestos Exposure
1. Which Detroit refineries used asbestos?
Marathon Petroleum, Sun Oil, Total Petroleum, and various Downriver processing facilities used asbestos-containing insulation, refractory brick, piping materials, and high-heat components until the early 1990s.
2. Can contractors file asbestos claims even if they didn’t work directly for the refinery?
Yes. Union trades such as boilermakers, insulators, pipefitters, and millwrights frequently worked outages and shutdowns. Contractors have strong claims.
3. How long after refinery work can asbestos diseases appear?
Mesothelioma often develops 20–50 years after exposure. Even brief refinery work in your 20s or 30s can lead to a diagnosis later in life.
Mesothelioma/Asbestos Legal Help – WV, MI & PA
Speak directly with attorney Lee W. Davis. No call centers. Free, confidential review.