Asbestos Exposure at Unilever Home & Personal Care in Jefferson City

Current and former employees of the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, and their families face a critical concern: documented asbestos-containing materials at the site. If you or a loved one worked at this industrial facility and received a diagnosis of a serious asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma or asbestosis, understanding your potential exposure and legal rights is crucial, particularly given the specific legal landscape in Missouri and Illinois. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer Missouri can help you navigate these complex claims.

This article provides information regarding the reported presence of asbestos at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility, potential exposure among specific trades, severe health risks, and legal avenues available to those affected in the Missouri and Illinois region. If you need an asbestos attorney Missouri, our firm is prepared to assist.

Asbestos Use at Unilever Home & Personal Care and Potential Asbestos Exposure Missouri

The Unilever Home & Personal Care facility, like many industrial sites constructed or renovated before the late 20th century in the Missouri and Illinois industrial corridor, reportedly used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Asbestos offered exceptional heat resistance, insulation properties, and durability. It became a common component in various building materials and industrial products for decades before its severe health risks became widely known and regulated. Products such as Kaylo from Owens Corning / Owens-Illinois, Thermobestos from Johns-Manville, and Aircell from Celotex were widely used in facilities throughout the Midwest.

Public regulatory records from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) program document multiple instances of asbestos-containing materials at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility (documented in NESHAP abatement records). These records indicate asbestos abatement projects were undertaken at the site over many years. This highlights the persistent presence of these hazardous materials, a common issue across many older industrial sites in Missouri and Illinois, and a key factor for any asbestos cancer lawyer St. Louis investigating potential claims.

Documented Asbestos-Containing Materials and Locations at Unilever Jefferson City

Official government records indicate several types of asbestos-containing materials were reportedly present at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility. These materials may have contributed to worker exposure.

Common Asbestos-Containing Materials Allegedly Present:

• Duct insulation: Often used in HVAC systems, potentially including products like Thermobestos or Aircell.
• Fireproofing: Applied to structural components for fire resistance, with products like W.R. Grace’s Monokote or Celotex’s Unibestos reportedly used in similar industrial settings in Missouri and Illinois (per asbestos trust fund claim data).
• Floor tile mastic: The adhesive used to secure floor tiles. The tiles themselves might have been Gold Bond or Sheetrock brand products from National Gypsum or Georgia-Pacific (per published trial records often seen in St. Louis City Circuit Court cases).
• Friable ACM (Asbestos-Containing Material): Materials easily crumbled by hand, potentially releasing fibers. This could include aged pipe insulation or fireproofing.
• General insulation: Various forms of insulation throughout the facility, potentially including materials from Johns-Manville or Owens Corning.
• Pipe insulation: Used to insulate pipes carrying hot liquids or steam, such as Kaylo from Owens-Illinois or Thermobestos from Johns-Manville.
• Roofing felt/shingles: Added for durability and fire resistance, potentially including products from Celotex or Pabco.
• Window caulk: Older caulk products, which may have contained asbestos.

Specific Asbestos Abatement Projects (Per MDNR NESHAP Records)

MDNR NESHAP records provide specific details about numerous asbestos abatement projects at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility. These records indicate the scope and nature of asbestos-containing materials present. These records are public regulatory data, not litigation claims.

NESHAP Abatement Notifications (9 records):

• ID: A6296-2013 (Date: 01/09/2014): Renovation for HVAC Improvements reportedly involved 200 square feet of friable HVAC ductwork insulation (documented in NESHAP abatement records). This duct insulation may have contained products similar to Aircell from Celotex.
• ID: A7974-2019 (Date: 01/13/2020): Renovation in the Frosty II area reportedly involved 960 square feet of friable duct insulation and 20 linear feet of friable thermal systems insulation (documented in NESHAP abatement records). The thermal systems insulation could have been Thermobestos from Johns-Manville or Kaylo from Owens-Illinois.
• ID: A7746-2018 (Date: 01/14/2019): Renovation activities reportedly involved 3,400 square feet of non-friable VCT (vinyl composite tile) over asbestos-containing mastic and 120 each of friable mudded fittings (documented in NESHAP abatement records). The VCT and mastic might have involved products from Armstrong World Industries or Celotex.
• ID: A6980-2016 (Date: 04/01/2016): Renovation reportedly included >160 square feet of friable fireproofing debris in a masonry wall and 100 linear feet of other friable material (documented in NESHAP abatement records). The fireproofing debris may have originated from products like W.R. Grace’s Monokote.
• ID: A8732-2024 (Date: 04/09/2024): Renovation in the Lacquer Bldg & Upper Plastics Bldg (P#2412-1) reportedly involved 463 linear feet of friable mudded fittings - TSI (Thermal System Insulation), 50 linear feet of non-friable flashing tar, and 7,339 square feet of other asbestos-containing material (documented in NESHAP abatement records). The TSI could have been from manufacturers like Eagle-Picher or Johns-Manville.
• ID: A6787-2015 (Date: 10/01/2015): Renovation reportedly involved 84 square feet of friable fireproofing debris in a masonry wall (documented in NESHAP abatement records).
• ID: A7455-2017 (Date: 11/16/2017): Renovation in the Lotto area reportedly involved 916 square feet of friable assumed fireproofing (documented in NESHAP abatement records).
• ID: A5518-2011 (Date: 11/21/2011): Renovation for O&M Cleaning in the 2nd Floor Electrical & Mech. Rooms reportedly involved 160 square feet of fireproofing debris (documented in NESHAP abatement records).
• ID: A6242-2013 (Date: 11/28/2013): Renovation reportedly involved 480 square feet of friable fireproofing debris in a masonry wall (documented in NESHAP abatement records).

Courtesy Notifications (1 record):

• ID: 453 (Date: 10/14/2008): A courtesy notification for the 828-1 Cotton Coil Room reportedly identified 16 linear feet of friable pipe insulation beneath a concrete floor slab (documented in NESHAP abatement records). This pipe insulation may have been a product like Superex from Johns-Manville or Kaylo from Owens-Illinois.

These records underscore that various types of asbestos-containing materials were present across different areas of the facility. Multiple abatement efforts occurred over more than a decade. Similar materials were also reportedly present at other Missouri/Illinois industrial sites such as the Labadie Energy Center (Franklin County, MO — Ameren UE), Portage des Sioux Power Plant (St. Charles County, MO — Ameren UE), and Granite City Steel / U.S. Steel (Granite City, IL).

Workers Potentially Exposed to Asbestos at Unilever Home & Personal Care

Workers in numerous trades at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. This occurred particularly during construction, renovation, maintenance, or demolition activities. When these materials were disturbed, asbestos fibers could have released into the air, potentially leading to inhalation or ingestion.

Trades at Potential Risk of Exposure in Missouri and Illinois:

• Insulators: Allegedly directly handled and installed asbestos-containing insulation, potentially including products from Johns-Manville or Owens Corning. Members of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 1 (St. Louis, MO) or Heat and Frost Insulators Local 27 (Kansas City, MO), or their Illinois counterparts, may have worked on projects involving such materials.
• Pipefitters: Allegedly cut, fitted, and repaired pipes with asbestos-containing insulation, such as Thermobestos or Kaylo. Members of Plumbers and Pipefitters UA Local 562 (St. Louis, MO), or other regional U.A. locals, may have encountered these materials.
• Boilermakers: Allegedly worked on boilers and related equipment that frequently used asbestos for insulation and gaskets. Gaskets from Garlock Sealing Technologies or packing from Crane Co. (e.g., Cranite) were reportedly common in such applications (per asbestos trust fund claim data frequently seen in Missouri and Illinois cases). Members of Boilermakers Local 27 (St. Louis, MO), among others, may have been involved.
• Electricians: May have encountered asbestos-containing conduit, electrical panels, or wiring insulation, potentially from manufacturers like Celotex or Johns-Manville.
• Maintenance Workers: Allegedly performed repairs and upkeep throughout the facility, potentially disturbing ACMs such as floor tiles from Armstrong World Industries or fireproofing from W.R. Grace.
• Construction Workers: Allegedly involved in initial construction and subsequent renovations, potentially working directly with or near asbestos products from companies like Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, or Celotex.
• Custodial Staff: May have been exposed to asbestos fibers if they cleaned areas where ACMs were damaged or disturbed, particularly if floor tiles or other surfaces containing asbestos were compromised.

Family members of these workers could also have faced secondary exposure if asbestos fibers were unknowingly carried home on clothing, tools, or hair. Similar exposure scenarios are alleged at other regional facilities like Monsanto Chemical (Sauget, IL / St. Louis, MO) and other industrial sites along the Mississippi River.

Asbestos-Related Diseases: The Health Consequences of Exposure

Exposure to asbestos fibers, even in small amounts, can lead to serious and often fatal diseases. These may not manifest for decades after initial exposure. These diseases include:

• Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
• Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease caused by the scarring of lung tissue from inhaled asbestos fibers, leading to shortness of breath and coughing.
• Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
• Other Cancers: Studies suggest a potential link between asbestos exposure and other cancers, including those of the larynx and ovaries.

If you or a loved one worked at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility and received an asbestos-related disease diagnosis, understand your legal options in Missouri or Illinois. Contact an asbestos attorney Missouri to discuss your case.

Legal Options for Victims: Missouri Mesothelioma Settlement & Asbestos Trust Fund Missouri

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases after working at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility in Jefferson City, Missouri, may be entitled to compensation. Experienced asbestos litigation attorneys help victims and their families navigate the complex legal process, often in venues like the St. Louis City Circuit Court, Madison County IL, or St. Clair County IL, to pursue a Missouri mesothelioma settlement.

Potential Legal Avenues Include:

• Wrongful Death Claims: For families who lost a loved one due to an asbestos-related disease, seeking compensation from responsible parties like Eagle-Picher or Armstrong World Industries.
• Asbestos Trust Fund Claims: Many asbestos manufacturers, including Johns-Manville, Celotex, and Owens Corning, established trust funds to compensate victims without traditional lawsuits (per asbestos trust fund claim data). Missouri asbestos trust fund residents have the right to file claims with these bankruptcy trusts simultaneously with pursuing a lawsuit, a significant advantage for victims seeking comprehensive compensation.

An attorney specializing in asbestos litigation identifies specific asbestos-containing products and manufacturers potentially responsible for the exposure. They gather necessary evidence and pursue maximum available compensation, often leveraging the favorable legal environment for plaintiffs in venues like Madison County, Illinois.

Seek Justice: Contact an Experienced Asbestos Attorney

If you or a family member worked at the Unilever Home & Personal Care facility in Jefferson City, Missouri, and received an asbestos-related diagnosis, seek legal guidance promptly. Our expert plaintiff-side asbestos litigation attorneys advocate for the rights of asbestos victims and their families across Missouri and Illinois.

Data Sources

Information about facility equipment, industrial materials, and occupational records referenced on this page is drawn from publicly available sources where applicable, including:

• EPA ECHO Facility Compliance Database — enforcement and compliance records for industrial facilities
• OSHA Establishment Search — federal workplace inspection history
• EIA Form 860 Plant Data — power plant equipment and ownership records (where applicable)
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources NESHAP asbestos notification records
• Published asbestos trial and trust fund records (publicly filed court documents)

If specific equipment or product claims in this article are sourced from a non-public database, the source is identified parenthetically within the text above.

Litigation Landscape

ABB, Inc. operated as a major electrical equipment and industrial manufacturing facility during decades when asbestos was widely incorporated into insulation, gaskets, brakes, and thermal protection systems. Workers at such facilities faced exposure to asbestos-containing products from multiple manufacturers whose materials were standard in industrial settings.

Historically documented defendants in litigation arising from industrial manufacturing facilities of this type and era include Johns-Manville, Combustion Engineering, Crane Co., Babcock & Wilcox, W.R. Grace, Garlock, Armstrong, and Eagle-Picher. Each supplied asbestos-containing insulation, pipe covering, gasket materials, or equipment components commonly found in electrical and manufacturing operations.

Workers exposed at ABB Jefferson City may pursue claims through multiple asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by these manufacturers. The Johns-Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, Combustion Engineering Asbestos Trust, Crane Co. Asbestos Trust, Babcock & Wilcox Settlement Trust, and Eagle-Picher Asbestos Producers’ Trust represent major funds with documented procedures for claims from workers in manufacturing environments. Trust claims can be filed in parallel with third-party litigation against non-bankrupt defendants.

Publicly filed litigation has documented asbestos exposure claims arising from industrial manufacturing facilities comparable to ABB’s operations, establishing patterns of occupational exposure and product-liability recovery through both individual lawsuits and trust claims.

Workers who performed maintenance, installation, repair, or manufacturing duties at the ABB Jefferson City facility and who were exposed to asbestos-containing materials should contact an experienced Missouri mesothelioma attorney to evaluate their eligibility for claims and trust compensation.

Missouri DNR Asbestos Notification Records

The following 10 project notification(s) are on file with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (NESHAP program). These are public regulatory records documenting asbestos abatement, demolition, and renovation work at this facility.

Source: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, NESHAP Asbestos Abatement Program — public regulatory records.

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