General Electric (GE)

Highest-Risk Occupations

GE employees faced asbestos exposure through two primary routes. First, they could encounter asbestos fibers while manufacturing products. Second, because GE used asbestos extensively in building power plants and factories—such as in insulation and other materials—workers were likely exposed on a daily basis.

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

The highest risks associated with asbestos exposure, such as the development of an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma or lung cancer, fall on individuals subjected to frequent, close contact with asbestos products. People working in poorly ventilated areas where asbestos fibers could remain airborne for hours were particularly vulnerable.  

Insulators

Insulators are among the professions most at risk of asbestos exposure. Because asbestos is heat-resistant, many manufacturers added it to insulation throughout previous decades. 

Individuals who worked with it regularly are at a significant risk of developing diseases like mesothelioma. Even today, insulators may encounter asbestos when working on older structures.

Electricians

Asbestos was frequently used in wiring projects for insulation and protection. Electricians who worked on GE projects between the 1920s and 1980s were at risk of asbestos exposure. Electricians who rewire older buildings where asbestos-containing materials may still be present are also at risk.

U.S. Navy Veterans

Members of the U.S. Navy often worked in cramped engine rooms, boiler rooms, and other machinery spaces where GE’s asbestos-containing turbines, generators, and electrical equipment put them at high risk for inhaling asbestos dust. Almost a third of the mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year involve veterans. 

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

Family members who have lost a loved one may qualify for compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Others who have been injured through secondhand exposure during tasks, such as laundering work clothes, may be eligible to file a lawsuit on their own behalf.

General Electric (GE) Asbestos Products

GE manufactured a vast range of products over the decades. Many of these products may have contained asbestos and put workers at risk of conditions such as mesothelioma. It sold these products under different brand names. For example, wiring and cabling were sold under the brand name Deltabeston, while GE produced ovens under the name Wil-Son Patent-Flex.

GE also used asbestos in the construction of its facilities. It was common for 20th-century manufacturers to use large volumes of asbestos-containing construction materials in their facilities, particularly in industries such as power generation, where nonconductive and fire-resistant properties were valuable.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Insulation
• Furnaces
• Turbines
• Ovens
• Cables
• Consumer electronic products

Securing Compensation From General Electric (GE)

Despite rising federal regulations beginning in the 1970s, GE continued using asbestos in its products and facilities for another decade. If you or a loved one worked with GE products or in GE power plants or factories and have since been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to legal compensation.

In addition to lawsuits, some victims may be eligible for additional compensation, such as benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), workers’ compensation, or more. An experienced asbestos attorney can help you understand all of your potential compensation options. We can help you determine your eligibility for free. Contact us today.

Most claimants with viable cases against GE are also eligible to seek compensation from other companies responsible for their exposure. For example, a construction worker exposed during the building of a GE power plant may have a case against GE as well as the companies that manufactured the asbestos products used to build the facility. Some claimants qualify for compensation from over 20 defendants.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Although GE has not established an asbestos trust fund, compensation is still available for victims exposed to asbestos through GE’s products and activities. GE has settled more than 400,000 asbestos claims through the legal system.  

There are two primary types of lawsuits victims and their families can file to pursue compensation from GE:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Living victims of GE asbestos exposure can file a lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses due to the company’s negligence.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: If an asbestos exposure victim passes away before they can receive justice for their injuries, family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for the losses they have suffered due to the death of their family member.

Most claims never go to trial. Historically, GE has preferred settling claims out of court for undisclosed sums when possible. While trial verdicts are often larger, they can take a long time and be overturned on appeal.

Settlement can be a good option for many victims as it is a quick and binding way to receive compensation.

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Claimants must have documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from General Electric through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just two to three years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against General Electric

GE is facing significant costs related to asbestos remediation and compensation. Its aerospace division’s 2025 annual report states that its reserves related to environmental remediation and worker exposure claims totaled $2.1 billion. The company spent $190 million in 2025 alone and projects that future asbestos claims costs will run even higher, averaging $250 million for both 2026 and 2027. 

Companies like GE have a responsibility to the people they harmed through their negligent use of asbestos. If you or a loved one developed an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos exposure from GE’s products or facilities, we can give you a free case assessment.

General Electric’s (GE) Involvement With Asbestos

General Electric began as a manufacturer and installer of electrical and lighting systems. Over the next century, GE expanded into multiple industries, including transportation, healthcare, entertainment, aerospace, electronics, plastics, and energy. 

GE used asbestos in its products and facilities for roughly 60 years, from the 1920s until the 1980s, including almost a decade of continued use following the passage of early federal regulations in the 1970s. 

Although they are responsible for exposing hundreds of thousands of workers to asbestos, GE remains a profitable, global company.

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

General Electric used asbestos in its facilities and products to provide insulation and protect against heat and fire. Like many companies of its era, GE continued relying on asbestos well into the 1980s, despite widespread knowledge of its dangers to both workers and consumers.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by asbestos exposure from GE products, you may be eligible for compensation. The experienced asbestos attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg provide free initial consultations to help you understand your options and determine whether you have a valid claim against companies like GE.

Our dedicated team has the expertise and resources to guide you through every step of the claims process, helping you to get the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today to determine your eligibility for compensation and learn more about your options, free of charge.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

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