General Electric

General Electric (GE) is a large conglomerate and consumer product, energy, finance, and healthcare company. Many of GE’s past operations included asbestos. The company has faced numerous lawsuits after workers developed illnesses related to asbestos exposure.

If you or a loved one have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that you may qualify for substantial compensation. Right now, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Did GE Use Asbestos?

General Electric used asbestos in several products but primarily in turbines. GE installed thousands of turbines that contained asbestos from the 1960s to 1990s. GE’s turbines and other products utilized asbestos insulation to reduce heat loss.

GE History

GE started in 1892 with a merger of two companies: Edison General Electric and Thomas-Houston Electric Company.

• Thomas Edison once sat on the company’s board of directors until the end of the company’s first year.

• When the company merged, it had strong financial backing from J.P. Morgan Bank, leading to early success early on for GE.

• In 1896, GE became one of the first companies to be listed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It is not on the Dow today.

• GE quickly grew into one of the largest companies in the world, where it still stands today. By 1980, it already had a total revenue of  $25 billion.

• As the company grew, its products expanded and varied, including electronics, nuclear products, jet engines, and more.

• Part of GE’s success came from acquiring companies, some of which it later sold. These included NBC, RCA, Employers Reinsurance, and CGR Medical Supplies. Acquisitions led to various industries for GE, including media, power generation, aerospace, and computers.

As with many prominent manufacturers before the late 1970s, GE used asbestos in some of its products and equipment. GE has faced many lawsuits and resulting costs but has not filed for bankruptcy or set up an asbestos trust fund.

GE Asbestos Products

GE has been involved in many industries that once used asbestos for its ability to insulate, reduce heat loss, and protect against fire. One of the primary uses of asbestos by GE and other companies was for insulation.

General Electric sold asbestos-containing wires, cables, and cords under the brand name Deltabeston. They also produced infrared ovens with the brand name Wil-Son Patent-Flex.

Many of the other products GE once made or used that contained asbestos include:

• Consumer electronics
• Housewares
• Steam turbines and other power-generating equipment
• Appliances
• Molding compounds
• Cables
• Furnaces
• Wires

Occupations Affected by GE Asbestos Products

GE used asbestos across several industries, which put workers in many different occupations at risk of exposure. When these workers handled asbestos, they risked releasing harmful fibers. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Examples of occupations at risk of asbestos-related diseases due to GE asbestos products include:

• Appliance assemblers
• Engine assemblers
• Electricians
• Repair workers
• Distribution workers
• Installers
• Demolition workers
• Sailors
• Shipyard workers

Men and women who served in the U.S. Navy were also at risk of exposure to GE asbestos products. The Navy used hundreds of asbestos components to build ships. Navy veterans now have high rates of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure during their time in the service.

Residential and Secondhand Exposure to GE Asbestos

Most asbestos illnesses result from workplace asbestos exposure. In some cases, a person was exposed at home rather than at work.

Before they understood the risks, many workers brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing. This led to secondhand asbestos exposure in family members. Some people got sick from secondhand exposure.

The construction industry used hundreds of asbestos products, leading to home exposure. GE mainly supplied industrial workplaces, but there is some evidence that it was responsible for asbestos in homes in Ontario.

GE once sold scrap materials to their workers. An investigative report found that workers at a GE plant in Peterborough, Ontario, took scrap asbestos materials to use in their homes without knowing the risks. GE has denied liability but has also contributed to abatement in affected homes.

Closed GE plants have also caused asbestos exposure concerns in some communities. In 2022, GE agreed to demolish an abandoned lightbulb factory in Cleveland. Break-ins at the complex have released asbestos fibers, sparking worries about exposure. Demolition will require careful abatement of asbestos and other toxic materials.

GE Lawsuits

Due to the sheer size of the corporation and its huge diversification, GE decided to fight over 400,000 asbestos-related claims against it, whereas most companies facing a large number of claims typically claimed bankruptcy and set up asbestos trust funds.

By 2006, the pending claims had risen to 509,000. Most cases against GE were from government employees and military workers exposed to equipment that the company supplied to build government-specified products and equipment. Turbines, in particular, contained an excessive amount of asbestos.

Samuel Scarbrough

On April 13, 2007, a United States District Judge for the Central District of California ruled that GE stand trial against Samuel Scarbrough. He was exposed to asbestos in the Navy and aboard the USS West Virginia.

According to court documents, GE failed to warn sailors of the hazards of working around asbestos-containing machinery and products that the company installed onto vessels.

Although GE tried to argue the lawsuit and denied responsibility, a judge required the company to stand trial after determining that asbestos was included in condensers, turbines, generators, and more.

Scarbrough eventually developed malignant mesothelioma from GE’s products and subsequently died. Although GE argued that asbestos was used under government orders and because the military required it, the court stated that,

“Defendant (General Electric) has submitted numerous exhibits, declarations, and specifications from the United States Navy demonstrating that the Navy exercised control over the design and manufacturing of Defendant’s machines…Defendant has not shown that the Navy required it to refrain from issuing warnings nor has it shown that the Navy provided reasonably precise specifications affecting Defendant’s provision of Warnings.”

Ed Lauter

GE was among the many defendants in former actor Ed Lauter’s asbestos-related lawsuit. A professional actor who starred in hundreds of films and television shows, Lauter passed away in October 2013 from mesothelioma.

Lauter’s wife, Mia Lauter, filed a mesothelioma lawsuit on his behalf and named numerous companies, movie studios, and network television stations as defendants.

GE was named in the lawsuit for the asbestos exposure that Ed Lauter experienced during the two decades he worked in television.

It’s been speculated that GE’s part in the lawsuit comes from when it previously owned NBC (the network television station where Lautner worked as an actor).

Seeking Compensation if You Were Exposed to GE Asbestos Products

If GE products led to or contributed to your asbestos illness, contact a mesothelioma law firm to help you seek compensation. Mesothelioma lawyers can determine if you have a solid case to make against GE.

They can also review your complete work history to find all available options for seeking compensation. Most people with an asbestos illness were exposed by several companies. You could be eligible for an asbestos trust fund claim or a lawsuit against multiple defendants.

Additional Information and Legal Resources for Asbestos Victims

If you’ve been injured by asbestos, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.