Chemical plant workers and asbestos exposure

By Michael Bartlett, Oct 20, 2017

The chemical plant workers who were most likely to be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers were those in charge of maintaining and repairing equipment with asbestos insulation, as these operations would require cutting through thick layers of asbestos.
– By Michael Bartlett

Chemical plants contain a lot of machinery which requires solid protection from high temperatures or fire. Before the dangers of asbestos exposure were made public, equipment such as boilers, furnaces, extruders, pipes, ovens, driers, and pumps were often manufactured with asbestos. Asbestos was also used in the insulation which protected the walls and ceilings of factories against fire. Numerous people still work in old chemical plants which may contain asbestos and in many cases, they put their lives at risk every day.

The Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Chemical Plants Was Highest between the 1930s and the 1970s

At the moment, there are approximately 13,500 chemical manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Employees were frequently exposed to asbestos fibers on the job during the last century, as from the ’30s to the late ’70s, asbestos was believed to be the best insulator available. The toxic mineral used to line work benches and tables and it was even found in the clothing people wore to shield themselves against fire. Asbestos was also regularly used in the chemical industry because it is highly resistant to reactive chemicals and, last but not least, due to its low costs. Even when the warnings about cancer began emerging, chemical plant owners continued to use it, although there were safer insulation materials on the market at that time.

The chemical plant workers who were most likely to be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers were those in charge of maintaining and repairing equipment with asbestos insulation, as these operations would require cutting through thick layers of asbestos, which would eventually release harmful dust. The U.S. states whose chemical plants would abound in asbestos-containing materials several decades ago include:

As asbestos is very toxic when it is cut, grinded, or just worn out, anyone in close proximity is at risk of inhaling or ingesting its tiny fibers, which can easily get stuck in the lungs and result in dangerous pulmonary disease such as mesothelioma, pulmonary fibrosis, or lung cancer. These diseases were well-documented throughout the years by individuals who claimed financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against the liable companies or a claim with their asbestos trust funds. Some of the top chemical plants in the United States which have a rich history as defendants in asbestos exposure cases initiated by former employees who developed serious diseases are:

Former or Current Chemical Plant Workers Injured by Occupational Asbestos Exposure Are Eligible for Financial Compensation

Undoubtedly, asbestos consumption has decreased substantially over recent decades in the U.S. However, while new uses of asbestos are strictly forbidden, the manufacturing of products which have historically contained this carcinogenic mineral continues to be allowed in the country. Therefore, chemical plant employees may still encounter asbestos in the workplace.

If you or a family member developed a disease after being exposed to asbestos in a chemical plant, our team of attorneys and legal experts will help you recover the financial compensation you deserve from the responsible company. Since 1990, we have been dedicating our endeavors to providing quality legal assistance to victims of occupational asbestos exposure and as a result, over 230,000 asbestos claims were successfully filed by Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. on behalf of injured individuals hitherto.

Sources:

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=29&po=7
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet