Steel Mill Asbestos Exposure
Steel mill workers are already exposed to a wide variety of dangers from the everyday hazards of molten metal and heavy machinery. These hardworking men and women convert natural resources like iron into steel that is used in a wide variety of industries.
The steel industry is responsible for employing thousands of workers. These individuals contribute the raw materials required to construct bridges, sky scrapers, and a variety of other necessary items. Unfortunately, these thousands of employees are unknowingly exposed to asbestos on a frequent basis.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has exceptional fire and heat resistant properties. In steel production, steel equipment is constantly in motion and can reach extreme temperatures on a consistent basis. Until the 1970s, workers and companies lined a variety of pieces of machinery in their factories with asbestos. In addition, asbestos blankets were commonly used to regulate the metal casing’s cooling processes.
A wide variety of equipment all contained asbestos. Some common steel mill components that frequently include asbestos are:
- Steam pipes
- Boilers
- Blast furnaces
- Steel ovens
- Smelters
In addition to the factory pieces that contain asbestos, the steel workers’ protective clothing also has been known to contain asbestos. Prior to the 1980s, the large number of pieces that contained asbestos exposed workers to asbestos on a daily basis.
The large number of products that all contained asbestos frequently was damaged. When the asbestos containing materials become damaged, the asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. Once inhaled, they can be lodged in the lungs and the body’s immune system is unable to remove or destroy them.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other disease linked to asbestos exposure from working in the steel mills, contact the mesothelioma attorneys of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-781-3955 to discuss your situation and to determine your legal options.
