Standard Oil Whiting Refinery The Standard Oil Whiting Refinery, established in 1889, was one of the original Standard Oil Trust refineries and among the first major oil refineries in the United States. Workers at this historic facility were exposed to asbestos from the earliest days of industrial asbestos use through the mid-twentieth century.
Last verified: 2026-03-09John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Company built the Whiting Refinery in 1889 on the shores of Lake Michigan to process crude oil from the Lima, Ohio oil fields. It was the largest and most advanced refinery of its era. After the 1911 breakup of Standard Oil, the refinery became part of Standard Oil of Indiana, which later became Amoco and then BP. Asbestos was used from the earliest expansions of the facility, predating modern safety regulations by decades.
As one of the oldest refineries in the country, the Whiting facility accumulated layers of asbestos-containing materials over many decades of construction and expansion. Workers in the oldest sections of the refinery encountered the most deteriorated and friable asbestos insulation. Early refinery workers had no knowledge of asbestos hazards and handled insulation materials with bare hands and no respiratory protection.
The following job categories at Standard Oil Whiting Refinery had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
The long operational history of the Standard Oil Whiting Refinery means that asbestos-related disease has affected workers from multiple generations. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer have been documented among former employees dating back to the earliest decades of the twentieth century. The historical use of asbestos at this facility predates modern occupational health monitoring, meaning the full extent of disease may never be known.
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.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Standard Oil Whiting Refinery 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.
2 asbestos trust funds 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 QualifyWorkers who were employed at Standard Oil Whiting Refinery between 1890s–1960s 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.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Standard Oil Whiting Refinery may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:
They are the same physical facility. Standard Oil of Indiana built the refinery in 1889. Through corporate mergers, it became Amoco in 1985, and then BP in 1998. Asbestos exposure claims can involve any period of the refinery history regardless of the corporate name at the time.
Asbestos was used at the Whiting Refinery from the early 1900s, making it one of the earliest industrial sites with documented asbestos use. The oldest sections of the refinery contained some of the most deteriorated asbestos materials in any American industrial facility.
Yes. Families of workers who died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may file wrongful death claims. Statutes of limitations for asbestos cases often run from the date of diagnosis or death, and an experienced attorney can advise on applicable deadlines.
If you or a loved one worked at Standard Oil Whiting Refinery and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
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