Connecticut Asbestos Exposure Sites: What Workers at Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney, and Sikorsky Need to Know

Connecticut has a long industrial history — and with it, a legacy of asbestos exposure that continues to affect workers and their families decades after the fact. Mesothelioma, the cancer most closely associated with asbestos exposure, has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Workers who were exposed in the 1960s, 70s, and even 80s are only now receiving diagnoses.

If you worked at any of the facilities listed below, or in a trade with known asbestos exposure, and you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness, you may have significant legal rights — including access to asbestos trust funds, civil litigation, and VA benefits.

A Note on Our Firm's Expertise

Edward A. Jazlowiecki holds both a law degree and a degree in chemical engineering — a rare combination that gives our firm a distinct advantage in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation. Unlike most personal injury attorneys, Ed has a deep scientific understanding of asbestos and the other fibrous mineral compounds that cause mesothelioma. This technical knowledge informs every aspect of our case investigation, from identifying exposure sources to working with expert witnesses.

Electric Boat — Groton, Connecticut

Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics, has been building submarines for the US Navy in Groton since the early 20th century. Submarine construction involved extensive use of asbestos in insulation, pipe fitting, gaskets, and boiler rooms throughout the mid-20th century.

Workers in the shipyard, pipe fitters, boilermakers, insulators, and Navy personnel who served on submarines built at Electric Boat all faced significant asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma diagnoses among Electric Boat workers and veterans who served on these vessels are well documented.

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft — East Hartford, Connecticut

Pratt & Whitney's East Hartford facility has been one of Connecticut's largest employers for generations. Jet engine manufacturing in the mid-20th century relied heavily on asbestos in gaskets, heat-resistant insulation, and fireproofing materials throughout the production process.

Machinists, assembly workers, maintenance staff, and engineers who worked at Pratt & Whitney facilities during the peak asbestos era are among those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Sikorsky Aircraft — Stratford, Connecticut

Sikorsky Aircraft, now a division of Lockheed Martin, manufactures military and commercial helicopters in Stratford. Helicopter manufacturing in earlier decades involved asbestos-containing brake linings, insulation materials, and fireproofing compounds.

Workers in manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance roles at the Stratford facility were regularly exposed to asbestos dust during the cutting, grinding, and installation of these materials.

General Electric — Multiple Connecticut Locations

General Electric operated manufacturing facilities across Connecticut — including in Bridgeport, Plainville, and other cities — where asbestos was widely used in electrical insulation, industrial equipment, and turbine components. GE workers in a range of roles, from electricians to factory floor workers, faced asbestos exposure over many years.

Connecticut Shipyards and Naval Facilities

Beyond Electric Boat, workers at naval and commercial shipyards in Groton and New London faced significant asbestos exposure in confined spaces where asbestos dust could not easily disperse. Painters, pipefitters, welders, and electricians working in these environments were among the most heavily exposed.

🟡 Asbestos Brake Pad and Automotive Parts Manufacturers

Asbestos was used extensively in automotive brake linings, disc pads, and gaskets until as late as the 1990s. Many brake shoe linings contained up to 70% asbestos. Mechanics who inspected, replaced, or ground brake components were exposed to significant asbestos dust. Major manufacturers of asbestos-containing brake and automotive products included:

• Bendix — one of the largest manufacturers of asbestos brake linings and automotive friction materials
• Raybestos (Raybestos Manhattan) — a major brake lining manufacturer and member of industry groups that suppressed asbestos hazard warnings from the 1940s onward
• American Brakeblok (Abex) — brake shoe lining manufacturer
• Wagner Electric — brake and friction material manufacturer
• Johns Manville — one of the largest asbestos product manufacturers in the US, now subject to a major asbestos trust fund
• Gatke Corporation — asbestos friction materials
• Maremont (Grizzly Brakes) — automotive brake components
• EIS (Electrical Insulation Suppliers) — friction and brake materials
• Fomoco (Ford Motor Company OEM parts)
• Delco (GM OEM brake parts)
• Mopar (Chrysler OEM brake parts)

Mechanics who worked on vehicles from the 1930s through the early 1990s — including auto mechanics, fleet maintenance workers, and military vehicle mechanics — may have been exposed to asbestos dust from these products.

Major National Asbestos Product Manufacturers

In addition to the Connecticut-specific facilities above, workers across many industries were exposed to asbestos through products manufactured by major national companies. These include:

• W.R. Grace & Company — asbestos insulation and fireproofing products
• Armstrong World Industries — asbestos floor tiles and ceiling materials
• Owens Corning — asbestos insulation products
• GAF Corporation — asbestos roofing and floor materials
• Celotex Corporation — asbestos insulation and building materials
• Pittsburgh Corning — asbestos pipe insulation (Unibestos)
• Eagle-Picher Industries — asbestos insulation and industrial products
• H.K. Porter Company — asbestos textiles and industrial materials
• Fibreboard Corporation — asbestos insulation
• National Gypsum — asbestos wallboard and building materials

Most of these companies have established asbestos trust funds following bankruptcy proceedings. If you were exposed to products from any of these manufacturers, you may be entitled to compensation from their trust funds regardless of whether the company still exists.

Construction and Insulation Trades Throughout Connecticut

Pipe fitters, boilermakers, electricians, and insulation workers throughout Connecticut regularly handled asbestos-containing materials on construction sites, in commercial buildings, and in industrial facilities. These trades are among the most heavily represented in mesothelioma diagnosis statistics.

Other Compounds That Can Cause Mesothelioma

While asbestos is the most well-known cause of mesothelioma, it is not the only fibrous mineral compound capable of causing this disease. Edward Jazlowiecki's background in chemical engineering gives our firm a unique understanding of these less-publicised but equally dangerous substances.

The six commercially used forms of asbestos — chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite — are all classified as known human carcinogens and are all capable of causing mesothelioma. However, other naturally occurring mineral fibres with similar physical characteristics have also been linked to the disease:

• Erionite — a fibrous zeolite mineral found in volcanic rock formations. Erionite has been shown in studies to be even more carcinogenic than some forms of asbestos per fibre. It is found in parts of Turkey and in North Dakota and other western US states where it has been used in road paving and construction materials.
• Talc contaminated with asbestos — talc is a magnesium silicate mineral that naturally occurs near asbestos deposits. Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder products have been the subject of over 90,000 lawsuits alleging that asbestos contamination in the talc caused mesothelioma.

Your Legal Options

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and have a history of working at any of these facilities or in any trade with known asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation through:

• Civil litigation against the manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing products
• Asbestos trust fund claims — over $30 billion is currently held in trust funds established by bankrupt asbestos companies
• VA disability benefits — if your exposure occurred during military service

These claims can run concurrently. You do not have to choose between them.

Connecticut's statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims is three years from the date of diagnosis. Do not wait.

Why Choose Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC for Your Mesothelioma Case?

Our attorneys have over 22 years of Connecticut mesothelioma and asbestos litigation experience. When you contact our firm, you speak to an attorney.

Edward A. Jazlowiecki holds a degree in chemical engineering in addition to his law degree — giving our firm a scientific understanding of asbestos, erionite, talc contamination, and other mesothelioma-causing compounds that most law firms simply do not have.

Injured and need legal representation? Contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC for a free case evaluation. Call (860) 589-8000 — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No fee unless we win.