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Manufacturing

Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant

Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant

Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant The Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant manufactured asbestos insulation and building products on the shore of Lake Michigan for six decades. The facility's operations left widespread asbestos contamination affecting workers, their families, and the surrounding community.

Last verified: 2026-03-09
Legal & editorial
Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
Waukegan, IL
Industry
Asbestos Product Manufacturing
Exposure Era
1920s–1980s
Primary Asbestos Products
Pipe insulation, Building insulation, Asbestos textiles, Packing materials, Roofing products
Job Categories at Risk
Factory workers, Machine operators, Maintenance crews, Material handlers, Quality inspectors

History & Asbestos Use

Johns-Manville opened its Waukegan, Illinois facility in 1923 along the Lake Michigan shoreline, producing asbestos insulation, pipe covering, and building materials. The plant was a major employer in Lake County and operated continuously until the early 1980s. After closure, the site was designated an EPA Superfund site due to extensive soil and groundwater contamination from asbestos waste. Cleanup efforts have spanned decades, with asbestos-contaminated debris found across the plant property and adjacent areas.

Exposure Details

Workers handled raw asbestos fibers in mixing, weaving, and forming operations with minimal protective equipment for most of the plant's history. Asbestos dust accumulated throughout the facility and was carried home on workers' clothing, exposing family members to secondary contamination. The lakefront location meant asbestos waste was also dumped along the shoreline, creating environmental exposure pathways for the broader community.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Factory workers
  • Machine operators
  • Maintenance crews
  • Material handlers
  • Quality inspectors

Health Effects

Former Waukegan plant workers have experienced elevated rates of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer. Community health studies documented increased asbestos-related disease among residents living near the plant. Family members of workers have also been diagnosed with mesothelioma from take-home asbestos exposure on contaminated work clothing.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

1 asbestos trust fund have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant?

Workers who were employed at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant between 1920s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

Manufacturing

Johns-Manville Manville Plant

Manville, NJ

Treatment Centers in Illinois

If you were exposed to asbestos at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Illinois may be able to help.

University of Chicago Medicine

University of Chicago Medicine

Chicago, IL

Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Northwestern Medicine (Lurie Cancer Center)

Northwestern Medicine (Lurie Cancer Center)

Chicago, IL

Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Loyola Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center

Loyola Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center

Maywood, IL

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Rush University Medical Center

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, IL

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Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Johns-Manville Waukegan site a Superfund location?

Yes, the former plant property is listed on the EPA's National Priorities List as a Superfund site due to widespread asbestos contamination in soil and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

What products were made at the Waukegan plant?

The plant manufactured asbestos insulation, pipe covering, asbestos textiles, packing materials, and roofing products using chrysotile and other forms of asbestos.

Can former Waukegan plant workers file asbestos claims?

Yes, former workers and their families may be eligible to file claims with the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust and may also have grounds for additional legal action depending on their circumstances.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

  • The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
  • Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
  • Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
  • Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
  • Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Johns-Manville Waukegan Plant? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Sources:

  • EPA Superfund records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • Illinois EPA site investigation reports — accessed 2026-03-09
← All Exposure Sites in Illinois ← All Exposure Sites
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