SNET Asbestos Exposure & Compensation

Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET) was the leading telecommunications company in Connecticut for decades. Like many utility companies, asbestos was regularly used in its building projects and communications systems. Telephone company and maintenance workers who experienced repeated asbestos exposure at SNET face a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

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Individuals who suffered asbestos exposure at SNET may be eligible for financial compensation. Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) has decades of experience representing mesothelioma victims, including those exposed to asbestos while working at SNET facilities in Connecticut.

SNET at a Glance

• Construction and communications system materials used by SNET are known to have contained asbestos. Workers who handled cables, pipes, and building materials may be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
• Several SNET locations in Connecticut have been identified as asbestos jobsites, including Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Wethersfield.
• At least 4 asbestos trust funds, established to compensate mesothelioma victims, recognize Southern New England Telephone Company as a known asbestos exposure jobsite.
• Top mesothelioma law firms like ELSM can help link your diagnosis to known asbestos products, file claims, and support your loved ones throughout the process.

Asbestos Exposure at Southern New England Telephone

The Southern New England Telephone Company supported telecommunications operations throughout Connecticut for more than 120 years. It was headquartered in New Haven and operated numerous exchanges, offices, and service facilities statewide.

Like many telecommunications companies of the time, SNET used asbestos-containing products in its construction projects and infrastructure. Asbestos was often used in the company’s cable coverings, electrical panels, ceiling tiles, and pipe insulation.

Telephone workers installing or repairing cables and equipment could have unknowingly inhaled asbestos dust. Maintenance staff may also have faced exposure when disturbing old materials during repairs or upgrades. Even today, older SNET equipment requires careful handling to protect workers and prevent long-term health risks.

Across the telecommunications industry, there is a long history of asbestos exposure for workers, including those employed by Southern New England Telephone Company:

• 1920s–1950s - Building and Equipment Installation:
  Asbestos was widely used in telephone exchanges, offices, and underground conduits. It was used to insulate wiring, switchboards, and boilers because it resists heat and fire.
• 1950s–1970s - Peak Use in Infrastructure:
  During this period, asbestos-containing materials were commonly found in telecom cables, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and wall panels. Technicians and building maintenance workers were often exposed to asbestos during installation and repair work.
• Late 1970s - Health Risks Publicized:
  Federal regulations began restricting asbestos after medical studies linked it to mesothelioma and lung cancer. Telecom companies started phasing out asbestos materials, but much of it remained in older facilities.
• 1980s–1990s - Renovation and Removal Efforts:
  Telecom companies launched Asbestos abatement projects. However, maintenance staff and contractors conducting renovations faced potential exposure when disturbing old insulation and tiles.
• 2000s–Present – Legacy and Claims:
  Workers exposed to asbestos decades earlier began filing legal claims for asbestos-related illnesses. Many former telecom employees and their families have since sought compensation for occupational exposure.

High-Risk Occupations at SNET

At SNET, asbestos exposure primarily impacted employees who worked in cable installation, building maintenance, and equipment repair. Asbestos was commonly used for insulation in cables, wiring ducts, boilers, and older telephone exchange buildings.

Workers who handled or disturbed these asbestos materials faced the greatest health risk. Over time, maintenance crews, linemen, and technicians were often unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers while performing everyday work tasks.

High-risk occupations for asbestos exposure in telecommunications work include the following:

• Building maintenance workers
• Cable splicers
• Construction and renovation crews
• Electricians
• Equipment installers and engineers
• HVAC technicians
• Manhole workers
• Supervisors in central offices or switch rooms
• Telephone linemen
• Utility maintenance worker

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

SNET workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job often carried asbestos fibers home on their clothes, hair, and shoes. As a result, loved ones could unknowingly inhale the fibers through direct contact, creating a risk known as “secondary exposure”. If you have developed mesothelioma from secondary asbestos exposure, ELSM Law can help determine whether you are eligible for compensation.

My staff was responsible for maintaining emergency power for all of the SNET facilities. I was in every one of our central offices’ boiler plants. Many of the buildings had sprayed-on fireproofing on the steel and it was all exposed because they didn’t cover it in the boiler rooms. It was all asbestos. Manager of Emergency Power and Facilities
SNET, 1980s-1990s

Asbestos Products Used at Southern New England Telephone

SNET and other telecommunications companies used numerous asbestos-containing products to insulate heat-producing equipment, wiring, and building systems. Asbestos was found in cable wraps, pipe insulation, and building materials throughout switching stations and offices. SNET workers who handled or repaired these materials were put at risk of repeated asbestos exposure, increasing the likelihood that they might develop an asbestos-related disease.

Asbestos-containing products commonly used by SNET and throughout the telecommunications industry include:

Compensation for SNET Workers With Mesothelioma

Individuals and their families who experienced asbestos exposure at SNET may be eligible for financial compensation. Holding companies like SNET accountable for employee exposure to asbestos is important, and financial awards can provide meaningful support to families facing rising medical costs and the uncertainty that comes with serious illness.

The asbestos lawyers at ELSM Law can help determine the course of action best suited to your case. Whether filing a lawsuit, submitting a workers’ compensation claim, or filing an asbestos trust fund claim, mesothelioma and lung cancer patients have multiple options for securing financial compensation.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Southern New England Telephone does not have an asbestos trust fund of its own. However, workers exposed to asbestos at SNET may be eligible to file claims with other Trusts. Asbestos trust funds offer financial compensation to mesothelioma victims and those who developed other asbestos diseases as a result of their work with asbestos-containing materials.

Several bankrupt companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products used at Southern New England Telephone have established asbestos trust funds to compensate workers. They include, but are not limited to:

Bankrupt Asbestos Company	Asbestos Exposure Start Date	Asbestos Exposure End Date
ACandS, Inc.	7/11/1961
Armstrong World Industries	7/11/1961	12/31/1982
Fibreboard		12/31/1982
GAF Corporation	8/23/1971	12/31/1982

Asbestos Lawsuits

A skilled mesothelioma lawyer can help former employees and their families file lawsuits to hold SNET accountable for asbestos exposure. The attorneys at ELSM Law have a long and successful history of settling asbestos lawsuits, often requiring little more than a deposition from a mesothelioma victim or a loved one detailing the victim’s work history at asbestos exposure sites.

Most states have statutes of limitation for mesothelioma lawsuits, so it is important to file suit in a timely manner. ELSM’s experience in asbestos litigation helps ensure that clients and their families receive both fair treatment and the maximum possible compensation.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers who developed mesothelioma or lung cancer from asbestos exposure at SNET may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is designed to cover lost wages, medical bills, and survivor benefits for injured victims and their families. Even if you are retired, and even if SNET was not your last employer, you may still be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim against SNET.

Common Questions About Asbestos Exposure at SNET

What jobs at SNET were most at risk of asbestos exposure?

Many workers at SNET faced significant asbestos exposure risks. Employees in roles such as cable splicers, linemen, and repair technicians often encountered asbestos in cable insulation, conduits, and manholes. Building maintenance and construction crews were also exposed while handling insulation, flooring, or fireproofing materials. Even office and equipment technicians were at risk in facilities where asbestos was used for heat and sound control.

Can family members of workers at SNET file claims for secondary exposure?

Yes. If you are a family member of someone who worked at SNET and you have developed mesothelioma from secondary exposure, you may file an asbestos claim against the company. ELSM Law has worked with many family members in this situation and strives to ensure that all clients receive the compensation they deserve.

I worked at SNET, am I eligible to file a claim with an asbestos trust fund?

If you have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease after being exposed to asbestos at Southern New England Telephone, you may be eligible to file an asbestos trust fund claim.