Brewery & Heavy Manufacturing Workers
Union locals: Various locals at Miller, Pabst, Schlitz (historical), Harley-Davidson, Allen-Bradley, A.O. Smith, Allis-Chalmers (historical)
How Brewery & Heavy Manufacturing Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, Brewery & Heavy Manufacturing Workers were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Wisconsin industrial, commercial, and public construction work from the 1930s through the 1980s. Documented exposure pathways drawn from public litigation records and industrial hygiene literature include:
- Working in breweries with asbestos-insulated ammonia refrigeration and steam piping
- Handling asbestos gaskets and packing on heavy industrial machinery at Allis-Chalmers and A.O. Smith
- Maintaining boilers and process equipment with asbestos lagging
- Bystander exposure to insulators in industrial shops
- Demolition of legacy refrigeration and steam systems
Why This Matters for Wisconsin Workers
If you worked as a brewery & heavy manufacturing workers in Wisconsin during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural disease, you may have a legal claim — even if your employer is no longer in business. Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds that continue to pay qualified claimants based on documented exposure history.
Wisconsin Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks
Wisconsin keeps the personal-injury clock (Wis. Stat. § 893.54 — 3 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (Wis. Stat. § 895.04 — 3 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Wisconsin asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.
Talk to an Experienced Wisconsin Asbestos Attorney
A free, confidential consultation with O’Brien Law Firm can evaluate your specific exposure history and filing-deadline situation. No fee unless they recover compensation.
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