Mesothelioma Lawyer Wisconsin: Asbestos Exposure at the Globe Union Plant Demolition

IMPORTANT FILING DEADLINE NOTICE: If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer after working at the Globe Union manufacturing complex in Milwaukee, you need to act now. Wisconsin has a 5-year statute of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims from the date of diagnosis under Wis. Stat. § 893.54. Once that window closes, it closes permanently. Contact an experienced Wisconsin mesothelioma attorney before that deadline passes.

If you worked at the Globe Union manufacturing complex in Milwaukee — during its operating years or during demolition — and you’ve since developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, you may have a legal right to substantial financial compensation. Federal demolition records confirm that regulated asbestos-containing materials were present in the facility’s structures. This page explains what happened at this facility, which workers may have faced the greatest exposure risks, what diseases can result decades later, and how to protect your legal rights through an experienced asbestos attorney wisconsin.

What Was the Globe Union Plant?

Globe Union’s Industrial Operations in Milwaukee

Globe Union, Inc. was one of America’s largest battery manufacturers, headquartered in Milwaukee. The company’s Wisconsin facilities operated for decades as a major industrial complex producing:

Lead-acid batteries and automotive battery components
Electrical components and assemblies
Industrial furnace and boiler systems
Chemical processing equipment
Mechanical systems requiring welding, pipe fitting, and industrial maintenance

Johnson Controls acquired Globe Union in 1978. The original Milwaukee buildings were later demolished under EPA asbestos abatement requirements — confirming that the facility reportedly contained regulated asbestos-containing materials.

Why Asbestos Was Standard in Industrial Facilities

Industrial facilities used asbestos-containing materials because asbestos offered properties no cheaper material could match:

Heat resistance — withstands temperatures that destroy other materials
Chemical stability — resists acids, caustics, and industrial chemicals
Fire protection — reduces flammability of structural components and equipment
Electrical non-conductivity — safe around electrical systems
Low cost — cheaper than alternatives
Ease of application — mixed, sprayed, molded, or woven into existing systems

For facilities running battery manufacturing, metalworking, chemical processing, and electrical component assembly, asbestos-containing materials were the industry standard from roughly 1930 through the early 1980s.

How Do We Know Asbestos Was Present at Globe Union?

EPA NESHAP Requirements Confirm Asbestos-Containing Materials

The Globe Union demolition was subject to EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) — specifically 40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subpart M. This federal regulation applies only to demolition and renovation projects involving structures that contain regulated asbestos-containing materials (RACM).

NESHAP required the following before any wrecking began:

Complete inspection and documentation of all asbestos-containing materials
Removal of all regulated asbestos-containing materials before demolition commenced
Advance written notification to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wet methods, enclosure systems, and air filtration controls to prevent fiber release
Proper disposal of all removed asbestos-containing waste

NESHAP’s applicability to the Globe Union demolition is documentary proof that regulated asbestos-containing materials were present in the facility’s buildings and systems. NESHAP notifications and abatement records are public documents your asbestos attorney wisconsin can obtain and use to support your claim.

What Asbestos-Containing Products Were Allegedly Present at Globe Union?

Based on the facility’s industrial operations and construction timeline, the following categories of asbestos-containing materials were reportedly incorporated throughout the plant.

Thermal System Insulation

Industrial piping carrying steam and hot process liquids required extensive insulation. Workers at this facility may have been exposed to asbestos-containing insulation products from:

Johns-Manville Corporation — the largest asbestos product manufacturer in U.S. history; workers may have encountered Johns-Manville asbestos-containing pipe insulation, block insulation, and boiler lagging
Owens-Illinois and Owens Corning — major asbestos insulation suppliers throughout the Midwest; workers may have encountered their asbestos-containing thermal insulation systems
Armstrong World Industries — workers may have been exposed to Armstrong asbestos-containing pipe wrap and insulation blankets
Celotex Corporation — workers may have been exposed to Celotex asbestos-containing insulation boards and pipe covering
W.R. Grace — workers may have been exposed to W.R. Grace asbestos-containing insulation materials

These products were particularly hazardous because workers routinely removed, repaired, and replaced them — generating high concentrations of airborne fibers. Many of these insulation products contained 50–80% asbestos by weight.

Gaskets, Packing, and Valve Sealing Materials

Asbestos-containing gaskets and compressed packing were standard in industrial piping systems, valve assemblies, pump systems, and chemical processing equipment. Workers at this facility may have been exposed to products from:

Garlock Sealing Technologies — workers may have been exposed to Garlock asbestos-containing sheet gaskets and compressed packing during maintenance
Crane Co. — workers may have been exposed to Crane Co. asbestos-containing mechanical packing and pump seals
John Crane, Inc. — workers may have encountered John Crane asbestos-containing packing materials

Gasket removal — typically done through manual scraping, wire brushing, or grinding — releases high concentrations of asbestos fibers. This work is among the most hazardous maintenance tasks in any industrial facility.

Boiler, Furnace, and High-Temperature Equipment Materials

The facility’s boiler plant operations may have involved:

Asbestos-containing refractory cements and mortars from manufacturers including Combustion Engineering
Asbestos-containing rope, cloth, and tape for boiler door seals and expansion joints
Asbestos-containing boiler block insulation and furnace linings
High-temperature gaskets allegedly containing asbestos

Equipment manufacturers such as Combustion Engineering frequently specified industrial boilers with integral asbestos-containing insulation systems. Workers at Globe Union may have been exposed to asbestos-containing refractory materials during boiler maintenance, repair, and demolition.

Building Materials

Facilities constructed and maintained during peak asbestos-use decades reportedly incorporated asbestos-containing building materials including:

Vinyl asbestos floor tiles (VAT) — workers may have been exposed to asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles from GAF Corporation, Armstrong World Industries, and other manufacturers
Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles and acoustic materials — workers may have been exposed during installation, maintenance, or demolition
Asbestos-containing roofing felts, cements, and membranes — Georgia-Pacific and other manufacturers supplied roofing materials that allegedly contained asbestos
Asbestos-containing joint compounds and plasters — Gold Bond and other manufacturers produced these products for industrial construction
Spray-applied asbestos-containing fireproofing — workers may have been exposed to products such as W.R. Grace’s “Monokote” and similar spray-applied fireproofing systems on structural steel components

Electrical Equipment and Insulation

The facility’s electrical component manufacturing operations may have involved:

Asbestos-containing electrical wire insulation — workers may have been exposed when stripping, cutting, or handling insulated wire
Asbestos-containing arc chutes in electrical switches
Asbestos-containing liners in electrical panels and switchgear
Asbestos-containing components in motor control centers

Which Workers and Trades May Have Been Exposed?

Exposure risk was not uniform across the facility. The following occupational groups may have encountered asbestos-containing materials on a regular or intermittent basis.

Heat and Frost Insulators

Heat and Frost Insulators rank among the highest asbestos-exposure groups in American industry. Workers in this trade at Globe Union may have:

Applied asbestos-containing pipe insulation and block insulation to industrial piping systems
Installed asbestos-containing boiler lagging and furnace insulation from Johns-Manville, Armstrong World Industries, and other manufacturers
Removed and replaced insulation for equipment repairs, generating significant fiber release
Cut, fitted, and cemented asbestos-containing insulation using hand tools and power equipment
Worked in high-heat environments surrounded by friable asbestos-containing materials

Pipefitters and Steamfitters

Pipefitters and steamfitters at the Milwaukee facility may have been exposed through:

Work adjacent to insulated piping systems requiring insulators to remove and reinstall asbestos-containing materials
Installation, maintenance, and removal of asbestos-containing gaskets and packing from Garlock Sealing Technologies, Crane Co., and other manufacturers
Abrasive removal of old asbestos-containing gasket material through scraping, wire brushing, and grinding — operations that generate extremely high fiber concentrations
Maintenance of boiler feed lines and steam distribution systems with asbestos-containing insulation
Repair of chemical process piping with asbestos-containing gaskets and seals

Boilermakers

Boilermakers performing maintenance and repairs on Globe Union’s industrial boilers may have been exposed through:

Removal and reinstallation of asbestos-containing boiler lagging from Johns-Manville and other manufacturers
Work with asbestos-containing refractory materials and high-temperature gaskets in boiler systems allegedly supplied by Combustion Engineering
Installation and removal of asbestos-containing rope, cloth, and tape used in boiler door seals and expansion joints
Confined-space work inside boilers reportedly lined with asbestos-containing insulation materials

Electricians

Electricians who installed, maintained, and repaired the facility’s electrical systems may have been exposed to:

Asbestos-containing wire insulation when stripping or handling insulated wire
Asbestos-containing components in switchgear, motor controls, and electrical panels
Asbestos-containing arc chutes in electrical switches and contactors

Millwrights and Maintenance Mechanics

General maintenance workers and millwrights at the facility may have been exposed through:

Routine maintenance and repair of equipment with asbestos-containing insulation or gaskets — particularly during gasket removal and replacement
Equipment disassembly involving asbestos-containing components
Facility maintenance and system modifications involving asbestos-containing materials

Battery Manufacturing and Assembly Workers

Workers directly engaged in battery manufacturing and electrical component assembly at Globe Union may have been secondarily exposed through:

Proximity to thermal insulation maintenance that generated airborne fibers
Daily presence in areas allegedly containing asbestos-containing floor tiles, ceiling materials, or fireproofing
Work near heat and frost insulators and pipefitters maintaining facility systems

Demolition and Construction Workers

Workers who participated in the facility’s demolition faced some of the most severe potential exposures, including possible contact with:

Disturbed asbestos-containing pipe insulation and block insulation allegedly supplied by Johns-Manville, Armstrong World Industries, and other manufacturers
Demolished building materials including vinyl asbestos floor tiles, asbestos-containing ceiling tiles, and spray-applied fireproofing
Asbestos-containing roofing materials and structural fireproofing disturbed during wrecking operations
Released fibers from asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and sealing materials in demolished equipment and piping systems

Your Legal Rights: Wisconsin Mesothelioma Claims and Compensation

Wisconsin’s 3-year Filing Deadline — Don’t Miss It

Wisconsin gives asbestos personal injury victims **3 years from the date of diagnosis, as established under Wis. Stat. § 893.54. That deadline is not flexible. Courts have dismissed mesothelioma cases filed even days late. If you’ve been diagnosed and you’re reading this page, the clock is already running.

Wrongful death claims — brought by a spouse or family member after a worker dies from an asbestos-related disease — carry their own deadline. An experienced Wisconsin mesothelioma attorney can tell you exactly where you stand.

What Compensation May Be Available

Workers who can demonstrate exposure to asbestos-containing materials at the Globe Union facility may be eligible to pursue:

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Congress created the asbestos bankruptcy trust system specifically because so many major asbestos manufacturers — Johns-Manville, Owens Cor