Hayes-Albion Jackson Plant Asbestos Exposure

A Resource for Workers, Families, and Former Employees

⚠️ MICHIGAN FILING DEADLINE — ACT IMMEDIATELY

Michigan law gives you only THREE YEARS from your diagnosis date to file a lawsuit under MCL § 600.5805(2). If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease and that three-year window closes, your right to compensation is permanently and irrevocably lost — regardless of how strong your case is.

The clock starts on your diagnosis date — not your last day of work, not your first exposure
Asbestos trust fund claims may be filed simultaneously with your civil lawsuit in Michigan
Most asbestos bankruptcy trusts have no hard filing deadline, but trust assets are actively depleting — workers who delay consistently recover less
Call an experienced mesothelioma lawyer Michigan today. Not next week. Today.

If You Worked at Hayes-Albion’s Jackson Plant, Your Window Is Closing

If you worked at Hayes-Albion Industries’ Jackson, Michigan facility — particularly between the 1950s and 1980s — and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease, you may hold legal rights to substantial compensation through Michigan mesothelioma settlements and asbestos trust funds. Workers at this facility may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials from Johns-Manville, Owens-Illinois, Armstrong World Industries, Garlock Sealing Technologies, and other major manufacturers. Asbestos-related diseases take 20 to 50 years to develop after initial exposure, meaning a diagnosis today may trace directly to work performed decades ago.

Michigan’s three-year statute of limitations under MCL § 600.5805(2) begins running from the date of diagnosis — not the date of exposure. Once that window closes, your right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit is permanently extinguished. Contact an experienced asbestos attorney Michigan now.

The Hayes-Albion Jackson Plant: Operations and Asbestos History

Facility Operations and Automotive Manufacturing Background

Hayes-Albion Industries was a Michigan-based manufacturer embedded in the American automotive supply chain. The Jackson plant served as a key production facility, turning out:

Metal stampings and castings
Automotive trim components
Assembled parts for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
High-temperature production equipment requiring thermal protection

The Jackson facility reportedly operated for multiple decades as a major regional employer during the peak years of American automotive manufacturing. During that period, asbestos-containing materials from manufacturers including Johns-Manville, Owens-Illinois, and Armstrong World Industries were the standard protective and insulating products across industrial plants throughout Michigan’s manufacturing corridor — and the Hayes-Albion Jackson plant reportedly followed that same industry pattern.

Hayes-Albion’s Jackson plant operated alongside major assembly operations including the Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Chrysler’s Jefferson Assembly plant in Detroit, GM’s Hamtramck Assembly facility, Buick City in Flint, and Packard Electric in Warren. Asbestos-containing materials were reportedly pervasive across this entire regional manufacturing network during the same period. If you worked at Hayes-Albion and have questions about asbestos exposure Michigan claims, contact an asbestos cancer lawyer specializing in these cases.

Why Asbestos-Containing Materials Were Allegedly Present at Hayes-Albion

Asbestos use in automotive manufacturing peaked between the 1930s and late 1970s. Engineers and facility managers selected asbestos-containing materials for fire resistance, thermal insulation, chemical stability, and low cost — a calculation made uniformly across Michigan’s automotive supplier base.

At the Hayes-Albion Jackson plant, stamping presses, paint ovens, and steam-driven machinery ran continuously under high heat and pressure. That operating profile made asbestos-containing thermal protection materials the perceived industry standard. Products such as Johns-Manville pipe insulation, Owens-Illinois Kaylo block insulation, and Garlock gasket materials were reportedly among the materials specified for this facility. The EPA and OSHA began curtailing asbestos use in the 1970s, but meaningful abatement at many Michigan industrial facilities did not occur until the 1980s or later — leaving workers exposed throughout that gap.

Where Asbestos-Containing Materials Were Allegedly Located

Workers at the Hayes-Albion Jackson facility may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials in the following applications:

Thermal insulation on steam pipes, boilers, and heat-distribution systems (reportedly from Johns-Manville and Owens-Illinois products)
Gasket materials on press fittings, flanges, and high-temperature connections (reportedly from Garlock Sealing Technologies and Crane Co.)
Vinyl asbestos floor tiles throughout production floors, offices, and locker rooms (reportedly from Armstrong World Industries)
Insulation blankets and pads around paint ovens, body curing ovens, and drying equipment (reportedly from Johns-Manville and Celotex Corporation)
Brake and clutch linings on in-plant vehicles, cranes, and overhead hoists (allegedly from multiple manufacturers)
Pipe coverings and block insulation in boiler rooms and mechanical utility areas (reportedly from Johns-Manville, Owens-Illinois, and W.R. Grace)
Ceiling and wall panels where building codes and insurers required fireproofing (reportedly from Armstrong World Industries and Celotex Corporation)

Product Manufacturers: Liability and Compensation Recovery

Industrial hygiene investigators have identified multiple asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were commonly found at Michigan automotive facilities during the relevant exposure period. If you worked at Hayes-Albion and may have been exposed to products from any of these manufacturers, you may be entitled to compensation through a Michigan asbestos lawsuit or trust fund filing. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer Michigan can evaluate your specific exposure history and identify which manufacturers bear liability.

Johns-Manville Corporation

Johns-Manville was among the largest U.S. suppliers of asbestos-containing insulation, pipe covering, block insulation, and gasket materials, with distribution networks serving Michigan automotive facilities throughout the mid-twentieth century.

Workers at the Hayes-Albion Jackson plant may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials from Johns-Manville pipe insulation and thermal block products, reportedly installed on steam lines, boiler systems, and mechanical equipment
The same Johns-Manville products are alleged to have been present at Ford River Rouge, Chrysler Jefferson Assembly, and other Michigan automotive facilities during the same period, establishing a well-documented regional distribution and installation pattern
Internal Johns-Manville documents produced in asbestos litigation show the company allegedly knew of health hazards associated with asbestos exposure long before public disclosure (per published trial records)
Johns-Manville maintains a substantial asbestos bankruptcy trust fund from which former workers may recover compensation

Owens-Illinois / Owens Corning (Kaylo and Aircell Products)

Owens-Illinois manufactured asbestos-containing insulation under the Kaylo and Aircell brand names, distributed throughout Michigan’s industrial sector, including to automotive plants across the state.

Kaylo pipe insulation and block insulation products are alleged to have been present at Hayes-Albion during renovation, installation, and maintenance activities
Cutting, drilling, or disturbing Kaylo insulation during routine maintenance allegedly released respirable asbestos fibers into work areas
Pipefitters Local 636 members working at Michigan facilities during this period reportedly encountered Kaylo products routinely in pipe system maintenance
Owens-Illinois asbestos claims are resolved through bankruptcy trust procedures accessible through an asbestos attorney Michigan

Armstrong World Industries

Armstrong World Industries supplied vinyl asbestos tile floor coverings and related building products to industrial and commercial facilities throughout Michigan.

Armstrong Gold Bond floor tile products reportedly contained chrysotile asbestos as a binder and reinforcing agent
These tiles were commonly installed throughout production floors, offices, break rooms, and locker areas at Michigan automotive manufacturing plants during the 1950s through 1970s
Workers at Hayes-Albion may have been exposed when tiles were installed, repaired, replaced, or buffed using dry methods that disturbed tile surfaces and released asbestos fibers
Armstrong maintains trust fund compensation mechanisms for eligible claimants

Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock manufactured asbestos-containing gaskets, packing materials, and seals for industrial machinery throughout Michigan’s automotive supply chain.

Garlock gasket materials are alleged to have been present in stamping presses, hydraulic equipment, and related machinery at the Hayes-Albion facility
Maintenance workers removing, cutting, or installing replacement gaskets may have been exposed to asbestos fibers released during that work
UAW members performing maintenance at Michigan automotive facilities reportedly encountered Garlock gasket materials routinely

Crane Co. and Valve/Fitting Manufacturers

Industrial valves, fittings, and associated equipment incorporated asbestos-containing packing and gasket materials manufactured or distributed by Crane Co. and allied suppliers, with widespread presence across Michigan industrial facilities.

Maintenance workers at Hayes-Albion may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials during routine valve and fitting servicing on steam and process piping
Crane Co. valves with asbestos-containing packing are alleged to have been present in facility piping systems

W.R. Grace & Co.

W.R. Grace manufactured Zonolite loose-fill asbestos insulating products and other asbestos-containing industrial materials distributed to Michigan manufacturing facilities.

Zonolite or similar loose-fill products are alleged to have been used in insulation applications at industrial facilities during the relevant period
W.R. Grace maintains significant bankruptcy trust assets for eligible claimants

Celotex Corporation

Celotex manufactured asbestos-containing spray-applied insulation, pipe covering, and thermal protection products for industrial applications.

Celotex asbestos-containing insulation products may have been applied to equipment, piping, and structural elements at Hayes-Albion
Workers may have been exposed during installation, maintenance, or disturbance of Celotex materials

Additional Manufacturers Allegedly Involved

Other manufacturers whose products were commonly found at Michigan automotive facilities during the relevant period include:

Combustion Engineering — asbestos-containing thermal insulation and refractory materials
Georgia-Pacific — asbestos-containing building materials and insulation products
Eagle-Picher — asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and thermal insulation materials
Fibreboard Corporation — asbestos-containing insulation and pipe covering
National Gypsum Company — asbestos-containing drywall and wall panel products

High-Risk Trades and Job Classifications

Asbestos exposure risk at the Hayes-Albion Jackson facility was not uniform. Certain trades and maintenance workers faced elevated exposure because their jobs required direct contact with asbestos-containing materials during installation, maintenance, repair, and demolition work.

If you worked in any of the trades described below and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease, contact an experienced asbestos attorney today. Michigan’s three-year filing deadline under MCL § 600.5805(2) is already running.

Insulators and Asbestos Workers

Members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers — including members of Asbestos Workers Local 25 operating in Michigan — carried among the highest per-worker asbestos exposure burdens of any trade.

Insulators worked directly with asbestos-containing pipe insulation from Johns-Manville and Owens-Illinois (Kaylo brand), block insulation products, and lagging materials on a daily basis
Their work required cutting, fitting, and securing asbestos-containing insulation using hand tools, saws, and pneumatic tools that generated respirable asbestos dust
Removal of damaged or deteriorating insulation to access equipment for repair allegedly exposed workers to loose, friable asbestos fibers in concentrated form
Insulators frequently worked in confined spaces — boiler rooms, mechanical closets, under-floor utility tunnels — where airborne fiber concentrations had no means of dissipation
The mesothelioma incidence rate among career insulators is among the highest documented for any industrial trade (per published epidemiological literature)

Pipefitters and Steamfitters

Pipefitters Local 636 and allied union members at Michigan industrial facilities worked in direct and sustained contact with asbestos-containing pipe insulation, flanges, and valve packing throughout the mid-twentieth century.

Pipefitters at Hayes-Albion may have been exposed to asbestos-containing insulation on steam and process lines during installation, maintenance, and repair activities

Hayes-Albion Jackson Plant