United States Steel Corporation

Highest-Risk Occupations

According to one 2024 study, U.S. Steel used asbestos in at least 16 of its facilities. Asbestos sheds particles and dust when it’s disturbed, which can remain airborne for hours in poorly ventilated environments.

Anyone working at a U.S. Steel facility may have been exposed to airborne asbestos. Even today, some older buildings may still contain asbestos, potentially exposing current workers. 

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

People who had direct, consistent contact with asbestos face the highest risks of later developing an asbestos-related illness.  

Boiler Technician

Boiler and steam systems were commonly built and insulated with asbestos. When technicians needed to repair or service these systems, they often had to remove old insulation or worn-out gaskets, which could release hazardous fibers.

Many people worked without protective gear, because the company didn’t tell them that asbestos was dangerous.  

Welder

Common forms of protective gear used by welders, like welding blankets and gloves, often contained asbestos.

Welders at U.S. Steel frequently worked around hot equipment, piping, and other structures insulated with asbestos products, increasing the risk of asbestos inhalation. 

Machine Operator

Machine operators at U.S. Steel facilities encountered asbestos in protective clothing, machinery brakes, and when the asbestos-containing equipment they used was repaired or cleaned.

Activities like replacing gaskets, servicing brakes, or removing old insulation could endanger anyone nearby.

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

Secondhand or “take-home” asbestos exposure can have serious consequences. Family members and loved ones harmed during routine chores like laundering work clothes may be eligible to file personal injury claims.

Surviving dependents may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim in pursuit of compensation.

United States Steel Corporation Asbestos Products

All forms of asbestos share some common properties. They’re nonconductive, durable, lightweight, and resistant to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion.

These properties made asbestos a popular additive throughout the manufacturing and industrial sectors for most of the 20th century. 

Although U.S. Steel did not manufacture or sell asbestos products, it still exposed thousands of employees at its steel mills and other facilities to serious risks by negligently using asbestos materials in its buildings, machinery, and protective clothing.

Other companies manufactured these asbestos components, but U.S. Steel is still partially responsible for the harm they caused.  

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Brakes
• Gaskets
• Hot top products/Exothermic materials
• Insulation
• Insulated wire
• Insulated cable
• Pipe covering
• Protective cloth 
• Refractory materials

Securing Compensation From United States Steel Corporation

The United States Steel Corporation may not have manufactured and sold asbestos products, but its negligent use of asbestos materials throughout its facilities has harmed thousands of people.

If you or a loved one worked for U.S. Steel and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to pursue compensation. 

Many claimants with a history of occupational exposure can also pursue compensation from other asbestos companies. Some individuals also qualify for other forms of compensation, such as asbestos trust funds, VA Benefits, and workers’ compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility and identify all your compensation options for free.

Claimants with viable cases against U.S. Steel frequently qualify for compensation from its suppliers. For example, records show multi-ton deliveries of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from W.R. Grace to multiple U.S. Steel facilities. Depending on the details of their claims, people who worked at those locations might also be able to file against W.R. Grace.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Although it has faced significant financial instability in recent years, U.S. Steel remains solvent. Because it’s never filed for bankruptcy, it doesn’t have an asbestos trust fund to compensate victims of its asbestos negligence. 

Victims and their loved ones must pursue compensation from U.S. Steel through the courts.

There are two primary types of lawsuit claimants can file:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Very few asbestos claims ever reach the trial stage. Most claims end in an out-of-court settlement negotiated by the two sides. Settlements are usually monetary, offering victims a relatively quick route to compensation without the stress and delays of a trial.

Unlike a trial verdict, once a claimant accepts a settlement offer, it is legally binding and cannot be appealed. 

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: Documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from the United States Steel Corporation 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 2 to 3 years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against United States Steel Corporation

U.S. Steel has been named in thousands of asbestos lawsuits filed by former employees and their loved ones, seeking compensation for medical bills, living expenses, lost income, and more. Many of these claims involve multiple plaintiffs, with 59% filed in jurisdictions that allow large group filings.  

The company faces several hundred new claims each year. In 2025, the company resolved, settled, or dismissed 270 claims, was named in 385 new claims, and ended the year with 2,690 claims pending. 

Despite these numbers, the company notes in its 2025 annual report that “management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on U. S. Steel’s financial condition.” Part of this confidence likely stems from having an expert legal team on call.

Victims and their families deserve the same level of support. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease due to U.S. Steel’s facilities, we can help you get a free case assessment. Reach out to us today to learn more.

United States Steel Corporation’s Involvement With Asbestos

United States Steel Corporation was founded in 1901 through a J.P. Morgan-led merger of major steel companies, including Carnegie Steel Company and National Steel. U.S. Steel became the world’s first billion-dollar corporation, supplying its products for use in construction, the automotive industry, and the U.S. military. It remains a leader in the national steel industry today.

During this time, U.S. Steel did not manufacture asbestos products. However, from the 1940s until the 1970s, the company actively purchased and used asbestos materials in its facilities. The asbestos insulation, refractory materials, gaskets, brakes, and protective clothing used by U.S. Steel endangered thousands of employees, exposing them to dangerous airborne asbestos.

Many of these people have developed severe asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma as a result of U.S. Steel’s negligence. The company has been named in thousands of lawsuits, spending millions on settlements, verdicts, and defense costs.

Increasing financial difficulties in the latter part of the 20th century have posed challenges for the company, but it has never declared bankruptcy, preferring to handle its asbestos liabilities through lawsuits and insurance. In 2025, Japanese-owned Nippon Steel purchased the company and operates it as a wholly owned subsidiary.  

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

Companies like U.S. Steel knew that the asbestos in their facilities was dangerous and chose not to warn workers. As recently as 2016, the company continued its negligent practices regarding asbestos contamination, prompting OSHA investigations and fines for unsafe workplace practices.

If you or a member of your family is one of the thousands of people harmed by U.S. Steel’s asbestos negligence, remember that help is available. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney is the best way for clients to get the help and compensation they deserve.

Our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, has helped claimants secure over $500 million in compensation. Their team prides itself on providing the expertise and resources asbestos exposure victims and their families need, without any up-front costs.

If you’re ready to explore your compensation options, we can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your case for free. Contact us to arrange a complimentary case evaluation.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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