Manufacturing

Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant

Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant Eagle-Picher Industries operated its primary manufacturing and mining operations in Joplin, Missouri, producing insulation, industrial minerals, and asbestos-containing products. The company was a major employer in the Tri-State Mining District.

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: Joplin, MO
Industry: Industrial Minerals & Insulation Manufacturing
Exposure Era: 1930s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products: Insulation materials, Asbestos cement, Industrial coatings, Refractory products, Asbestos-containing sealants
Job Categories at Risk: Production workers, Miners, Machine operators, Material handlers, Maintenance workers

History & Asbestos Use

Eagle-Picher Industries was headquartered in Joplin, Missouri within the historic Tri-State Mining District. The company mined and processed lead, zinc, and other minerals while also manufacturing asbestos-containing insulation, cement, and industrial products. Eagle-Picher was a significant supplier of asbestos insulation to military, industrial, and construction applications throughout the mid-20th century. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2005 due to asbestos and lead paint liabilities, and a trust was established to compensate victims.

Exposure Details

Workers at the Joplin facility were exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing and processing of insulation materials, cement products, and industrial coatings. Mining operations in the area also contributed to mineral dust exposure. The combination of asbestos manufacturing and mineral processing created complex dust exposure conditions that affected workers across multiple departments.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

Production workers
Miners
Machine operators
Material handlers
Maintenance workers

Health Effects

Former Eagle-Picher workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. The combined exposure to asbestos and other mineral dusts in the Joplin operations created elevated health risks for workers. Many claims were filed by workers who handled Eagle-Picher insulation products at jobsites across the country, in addition to plant workers.

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 Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin 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 Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant?

Workers who were employed at Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant between 1930s–1970s 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 Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of asbestos products did Eagle-Picher manufacture?

Eagle-Picher manufactured asbestos-containing insulation, cement, industrial coatings, refractory products, and sealants used in construction, industrial, and military applications.

Is there an Eagle-Picher asbestos trust fund?

Yes, the Eagle-Picher Industries Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established following the company's 2005 bankruptcy to compensate workers and others affected by asbestos exposure from Eagle-Picher products.

Were only plant workers at risk from Eagle-Picher asbestos?

No, thousands of downstream workers who installed or worked around Eagle-Picher insulation products at construction sites, shipyards, and industrial facilities have also filed asbestos claims.

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 Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin 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 Eagle-Picher Industries Joplin 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 records — accessed 2026-03-09
Eagle-Picher bankruptcy filings — accessed 2026-03-09
OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
Missouri DNR records — accessed 2026-03-09

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