J.P. Stevens employees exposed to asbestos
Textile manufacturing required sustained, high-temperature operations across spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing processes. Steam-powered machinery, industrial dryers, boilers, and processing equipment ran continuously throughout J.P. Stevens mills, and for much of the twentieth century, asbestos was the material manufacturers relied on to insulate and fireproof those systems. It was woven into the fabric of mill operations in ways that made exposure nearly unavoidable for workers across every department.
Production workers, maintenance crews, and tradespeople all encountered asbestos through different pathways. Workers operating looms and textile machinery worked near equipment insulated with asbestos-containing materials that degraded over time and released fibers into the air. Maintenance crews who repaired boilers, replaced steam pipe insulation, or serviced mechanical systems had direct, repeated contact with asbestos products on a daily basis. Workers present during mill renovations and equipment installations were also at risk, as disturbing asbestos-containing building materials released fibers that could remain airborne for extended periods.
J.P. Stevens mills also produced and handled asbestos-containing industrial textiles, including heat-resistant fabrics, tapes, and protective materials used across manufacturing industries. This meant that for some workers, asbestos was not only present in the building around them but in the products they handled directly as part of their work.
The following occupational groups worked at J.P. Stevens facilities and may have been exposed to asbestos: