Where were the most asbestos exposures in Alabama?

Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) in Mobile employed up to 75,000 workers during World War II — the largest workforce in Alabama history — and is the single largest asbestos exposure site in the state. US Steel's Fairfield Works near Birmingham, with 25,000 steelworkers at its peak, and Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham are the major inland exposure sites.

Alabama Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

Q: What is Alabama's statute of limitations for mesothelioma?

Alabama has a 2-year statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims under Ala. Code § 6-2-38. The discovery rule applies — the 2-year window starts from the date of confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.

Alabama’s two industrial powerhouses — Mobile’s shipyards and Birmingham’s steel corridor — created massive asbestos exposure across the state. Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding employed more workers at its WWII peak than any employer in state history, while US Steel’s Fairfield Works exposed tens of thousands of steelworkers for over a century.

150+Documented AL exposure sites

2 YearsStatute of limitations from diagnosis

2Major exposure regions

$0Upfront legal costs

Alabama Cities

Critical

Mobile

Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) — 75,000 WWII workers, largest AL employer ever

View sites › Critical

Birmingham

US Steel Fairfield Works (TCI), Sloss Furnaces, ACIPCO — the “Pittsburgh of the South”

View sites ›

Alabama Asbestos Exposure Regions

Region	Key Sites	Industries	Notes
Mobile	Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO), Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Waterman Steamship, International Paper	Shipbuilding, Paper, Port	75,000-worker WWII peak; largest single employer in Alabama history
Birmingham / Fairfield	US Steel Fairfield Works (TCI), American Cast Iron Pipe (ACIPCO), Sloss Furnaces, Hayes International	Steel, Iron, Manufacturing	Birmingham “Pittsburgh of the South” — steel production from 1880s through 1980s
Gadsden / Anniston	Goodyear Tire (Gadsden), Republic Steel (Gadsden), Monsanto (Anniston)	Rubber, Steel, Chemical	Goodyear Gadsden plant one of the largest tire factories in the South
Tuscaloosa / Central Alabama	Alabama Power Gorgas Plant, Gulf States Steel, Alabama Gas Corp.	Utilities, Steel, Gas	Power plant boiler rooms and coal handling heavily insulated with asbestos

Alabama Asbestos Industry Overview

Industry	Active Period	Primary Locations	Risk Level
Shipbuilding	1917–1980	Mobile	Critical
Steel / Iron Manufacturing	1880–1990	Birmingham, Fairfield, Gadsden	Critical
Chemical Manufacturing	1920–1980	Anniston, Mobile	High
Paper / Pulp Mills	1920–present	Mobile, Brewton, Demopolis	High
Power Generation	1930–1985	Statewide (Alabama Power)	Moderate
Construction	1945–1980	Statewide	Moderate

Alabama Legal Information

Claim Type	Deadline	Governing Law
Personal Injury	2 years from diagnosis	Ala. Code § 6-2-38 — discovery rule applies
Wrongful Death	2 years from date of death	Ala. Code § 6-5-410
Trust Fund Claims	Varies by trust	Can be filed simultaneously with lawsuit
VA Benefits	No deadline	Federal; can pursue while lawsuit is pending

Alabama asbestos cases are filed in the Circuit Court of the county where exposure occurred. Jefferson County (Birmingham) and Mobile County Circuit Courts handle the majority of Alabama asbestos litigation.

Alabama Mesothelioma FAQs

What is Alabama’s statute of limitations for mesothelioma?

Alabama Code § 6-2-38 provides 2 years from the date of diagnosis for asbestos personal injury claims. Alabama applies the discovery rule, so the 2-year period begins when you receive a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis. Given the 2-year window is shorter than many other states, it is critical to contact an attorney immediately after diagnosis. Wrongful death claims have a 2-year window under § 6-5-410.

Did ADDSCO workers in Mobile get exposed to asbestos?

Yes — ADDSCO (Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company) was one of the most heavily asbestos-exposed workplaces in the American South. Workers built Liberty ships and military vessels from 1940–1945 using asbestos pipe insulation, boiler lagging, and fireproofing throughout each ship. At its WWII peak, ADDSCO employed 75,000 workers in conditions where asbestos dust was a constant presence.

Can Birmingham steelworkers file mesothelioma claims?

Yes. Workers at US Steel’s Fairfield Works, ACIPCO, Sloss Furnaces, and other Birmingham-area steel plants were routinely exposed to asbestos insulation on furnaces, boilers, and piping. Pipe fitters, boilermakers, and maintenance workers had the highest exposures. Multiple asbestos trust funds cover defendants common in Birmingham steel industry cases.