Asbestos Exposure at Carrier Corporation
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry used asbestos for decades in many capacities. Use of asbestos at Carrier Corporation is shown in documentation until 1988, before the company switched to safer materials. Some of the company’s brands, like its Carlyle compressors and Bryant boilers, used asbestos. The company also used asbestos materials in its facilities.
Over the years, Carrier exposed employees, as well as those who installed, repaired, or maintained its equipment, to dangerous asbestos fibers. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry used asbestos for decades in many capacities, and Carrier was no exception. Some of the company’s brands, such as its Carlyle compressors and Bryant boilers, used asbestos components, and the company also used asbestos materials within its facilities.
Carrier Corporation Quick Facts
- Documentation shows asbestos use at Carrier Corporation through the late 1980s, before the company switched to safer materials.
- The company is not known to have used raw asbestos. However, it did use asbestos-containing parts purchased from other companies. These products included asbestos gaskets and insulation. Some of these gaskets contained 75% – 80% chrysotile asbestos.
- More than 10 Carrier locations have been identified as exposure sites by asbestos bankruptcy trust funds.
- In a 2001 newsletter, Carrier issued a warning to anyone who was concerned about potentially handling a gasket containing asbestos. The company advised, “It should be treated as if it does, and all necessary precautions should be taken.”
Carrier’s history includes several key milestones related to its manufacturing growth and asbestos use. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, the company was founded by Willis Carrier, who designed the first modern air conditioning system and established Carrier Engineering Corporation in 1915. Later acquired by United Technologies Corporation in 1979, Carrier used asbestos-containing gaskets and other components for decades, completing its phase-out in 1988 when it transitioned to fiber-based materials.
Carrier Corporation Jobsite Locations With Known Asbestos Exposure
Many Carrier manufacturing sites have documented asbestos use. One of the most well-known locations was the large Carrier powerhouse on the Syracuse campus. This location consisted of several buildings with one factory occupying 660,000 square feet.
The former Carrier-Bryant facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, also had asbestos contamination. Inspectors “reported friable asbestos in multiple locations” of the abandoned factory.
High-Risk Occupations at Carrier Corporation
Workers in many roles at Carrier facilities may have been exposed to asbestos, with related disease symptoms often appearing decades later. Those who built Carrier products or maintained facility machinery were at the highest risk.
Some at-risk occupations at Carrier facilities include:
- Assemblers
- Boiler workers
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Fabricators
- General repair workers
- Heat and frost insulators
- HVAC contractors
- Installation technicians
- Machinists
- Operations specialists
- Pipefitters
- Refrigeration mechanics
- Service technicians
Carrier employees could also bring asbestos home on their clothes and their bodies. Family members could become exposed to this asbestos, known as secondary exposure.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
Asbestos Products Manufactured at Carrier Corporation
Carrier used several asbestos materials when producing HVAC components. Asbestos gaskets were common until 1988, when they were replaced with alternatives. The company also used asbestos insulation on pipes and boilers.
Some common asbestos products that Carrier employees may have used include:
- Air duct systems
- Boilers
- Ceiling tiles
- Cooling towers
- Ductwork connectors
- Filters
- Fire blankets
- Floor tiles
- Furnace ducts
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Popcorn ceilings
- Steam pipes
- Tape
- Vibration dampeners
Anyone who develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure from a Carrier product may have compensation available. An asbestos attorney can identify asbestos products and explain your legal options.
Compensation for Carrier Corporation Employees With Mesothelioma
Compensation from lawsuits for asbestos exposure that led to mesothelioma can help patients and their families. They can use this compensation to cover medical bills and related costs, like travel to mesothelioma treatment centers. It can also be used to replace lost income.
Mesothelioma victims can pursue compensation in different ways. They may file a lawsuit with the help of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. Lawsuits can end with settlements or jury verdicts. Asbestos trust funds, set up by bankrupt asbestos companies, may also be an option.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many Carrier Corporation locations have been identified as known asbestos exposure sites by bankrupt asbestos companies that established trust funds. Its top location was Syracuse, New York.
| Asbestos Company Name | Eligibility Start Date | Eligibility End Date |
| Eagle-Picher | ||
| Fibreboard | 12/31/1982 | |
| Owens Corning | 11/9/1953 | 12/31/1982 |
| Owens-Illinois | 11/9/1953 | 12/31/1958 |
Other Carrier Corporation facilities identified by asbestos bankruptcy trust funds include the following locations:
- Akron, OH
- Atlanta, GA
- Collierville, TN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Los Angeles, CA
Asbestos Lawsuits
Mesothelioma patients and their families may choose to file lawsuits against Carrier and the asbestos companies it worked with. Successful lawsuits can lead to settlements. Some examples of settlements that included Carrier are:
- $2.0 million for a 53-year-old nurse
- $1.7 million for a 70-year-old HVAC worker
- $1.5 million for a 76-year-old painter
- $1.1 million for a 72-year-old steamfitter
Carrier continues to be named in asbestos lawsuits filed by people who claim exposure from its products. While these cases are ongoing, they show the reality that people can still be harmed by old asbestos equipment. Anyone who has developed an asbestos-related disease can speak with an attorney to learn about their options. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys have the resources and knowledge to pursue the best path to compensation.
