Where were the most asbestos exposures in Indiana?

The Lake Michigan steel corridor in Gary and East Chicago was by far the largest source of asbestos exposure in Indiana. US Steel Gary Works and Inland Steel's Indiana Harbor Works together employed tens of thousands of workers in blast furnaces, coke ovens, and rolling mills lined with asbestos insulation. Bethlehem Steel's Burns Harbor plant in Porter County is another major documented site.

Indiana Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

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

Indiana has a 2-year statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4. 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.

Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline is home to one of the largest concentrations of integrated steel mills in the world. US Steel Gary Works, Inland Steel’s Indiana Harbor Works, and Bethlehem Steel’s Burns Harbor plant exposed generations of steelworkers to asbestos insulation in blast furnaces, coke ovens, and power houses throughout the 20th century.

250+Documented IN exposure sites

2 YearsStatute of limitations from diagnosis

2Major exposure regions

$0Upfront legal costs

Indiana Cities

Critical

Gary

US Steel Gary Works — one of the largest integrated steel mills in the world, 30,000 workers at peak

View sites › Critical

East Chicago

Inland Steel Indiana Harbor Works — 18,000 workers at peak, dense Calumet region steel corridor

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Indiana Asbestos Exposure Regions

Region	Key Sites	Industries	Notes
Gary	US Steel Gary Works, Gary Works Coke Plant, Midwest Steel	Integrated Steel, Coke Production	30,000-worker peak; one of the largest steel mills ever built
East Chicago / Indiana Harbor	Inland Steel Indiana Harbor Works, Lever Brothers, Cyanamid	Integrated Steel, Chemical	18,000-worker peak; among the densest industrial corridors in the Midwest
Burns Harbor / Portage	Bethlehem Steel Burns Harbor (now Cleveland-Cliffs)	Integrated Steel	Newest of the Lake Michigan steel mills, opened 1964; still operating
Indianapolis / Central Indiana	Allison Transmission (GM), RCA Indianapolis, Indianapolis Power & Light	Manufacturing, Power Generation	Allison’s WWII-era aircraft engine plant used extensive asbestos insulation

Indiana Asbestos Industry Overview

Industry	Active Period	Primary Locations	Risk Level
Integrated Steel	1906–present	Gary, East Chicago, Burns Harbor	Critical
Chemical Manufacturing	1920–1985	East Chicago, Whiting	High
Auto / Defense Manufacturing	1940–present	Indianapolis, South Bend	High
Power Generation	1930–1985	Statewide	Moderate
Construction	1945–1980	Statewide	Moderate

Indiana Legal Information

Claim Type	Deadline	Governing Law
Personal Injury	2 years from diagnosis	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 — discovery rule applies
Wrongful Death	2 years from date of death	Ind. Code § 34-23-1-1
Trust Fund Claims	Varies by trust	Can be filed simultaneously with lawsuit
VA Benefits	No deadline	Federal; can pursue while lawsuit is pending

Indiana asbestos cases are filed in the Circuit or Superior Court of the county where exposure occurred. Lake County (Gary, East Chicago) handles the largest volume of Indiana asbestos litigation given the concentration of steel mills along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Indiana Mesothelioma FAQs

What is Indiana’s statute of limitations for mesothelioma?

Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4 provides 2 years from the date of diagnosis for asbestos personal injury claims using the discovery rule. The clock starts when you receive a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis — not when you worked at the mill decades earlier. Wrongful death claims have a 2-year window under § 34-23-1-1.

Were Gary Works steelworkers exposed to asbestos?

Yes — extensively. US Steel Gary Works used asbestos insulation throughout its blast furnaces, coke ovens, open hearths, and power houses for most of the 20th century. Pipefitters, boilermakers, and maintenance millwrights had the highest exposure, but the scale of the mill meant asbestos dust was present throughout the complex. Gary Works remains one of the most heavily litigated steel mill asbestos sites in the country.

Can Indiana steelworkers file claims against multiple companies?

Yes. Many Indiana steelworkers were exposed to asbestos-containing products made by multiple manufacturers — insulation, gaskets, refractory cement, and protective equipment were each supplied by different companies, many of which have since established bankruptcy trust funds. An attorney can identify every responsible manufacturer and pursue both civil claims and trust fund claims simultaneously.