Asbestos News Roundup: 2.20.14 – High Risk Asbestos Disease Jobs

February 20th, 2014. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

High Risk Asbestos Disease Jobs

Many workplaces in the US are now considered to have put workers at high-risk for asbestos exposure—decades ago. These include: US Navy, oil refineries, shipyards, chemical manufacturing facilities, aerospace manufacturing facilities, mines, smelters, coal fired power plants, construction work sites, auto repair shops, plumbers, welders, electricians, and most manufacturing, or industrial plants that were operating in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s.

Sadly, many individuals who served in the US Navy, worked at a power plant, an oil refinery, or a shipyard decades ago are now being diagnosed with asbestos disease—the average age of diagnosis of asbestos mesothelioma is 72 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC).

Although strict regulations about the use of asbestos have been put in place, the potential for asbestos exposure remains. In 2009, the CDC reported:

“Although asbestos has been eliminated in the manufacture of many products, it is still being imported (approximately 1,730 metric tons in 2007) and used in the United States in various construction and transportation products. Ensuring a future decrease in mesothelioma mortality requires meticulous control of exposures to asbestos and other materials that might cause mesothelioma. Recent studies suggest that carbon nanotubes (fiber-shaped nanoparticles), which are increasingly being used in manufacturing, might share the carcinogenic mechanism postulated for asbestos and induce mesothelioma, underscoring the need for documentation of occupational history in future cases.” The full report can be accessed at the CDC’s webpage. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a3.htm

Asbestos Lawsuits

Madison County, IL: An asbestos lawsuit has been filed by Ruth Curl, individually and as special administrator of the estate of her late husband, John Curl. The lawsuit alleges the defendants, Ameron International Corp. and more than two dozen other companies, were negligent and either knew or should have known of the dangers of asbestos, specifically that it can cause injury and death.

John Curl served in the US Army from 1958 until 1962. He then worked as a laborer from 1962 until 1963 at Zeller Corp. and was employed by General Motors Central Foundry as an electrician from 1964 until 1999.

According to the lawsuit, during the course of his various employments, John Curl was exposed to asbestos containing products which eventually resulted in his developing terminal lung cancer.

In her complaint, Ruth Curl is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. (madisonrecord.com)

Houston, TX: Roy L. Jones, and his wife, Patricia, have filed an asbestos lawsuit against numerous defendants alleging the defendants’ negligence lead to Roy Jones diagnosis of asbestos lung cancer.

In their complaint, the Texas couple names the following defendants: Avocet Enterprises Inc., Bird Inc., Carrier Corp., Certainteed Corp., General Electric Co., Georgia-Pacific LLC, Ingersoll-Rand Co., Kelly-Moore Paint Co., Riley Power Inc., Sears Roebuck and Co., Trane U.S. Inc., Union Carbide Corp., Viacom Inc., The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Shell Chemical LP.

According to the complaint, the defendants failed in safety standards and failed to warn employees of the risks associated with asbestos exposure. Consequently, Roy Jones has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The couple is seeking an amount in damages in excess of the minimal jurisdictional amounts, plus court costs and any other relief. (setexasrecord.com)

Asbestos Accidents

Billings, MT: PPL Montana took preventative measures against asbestos exposure this week, shutting down its J.E. Corette power plant in Billings. Workers were sent home after a steam tube failed on the boiler, damaging asbestos-containing insulation. A subsequent windstorm sent the asbestos materials airborne.

Dave Hoffman, a PPL Montana spokesman told the media that the 154-megawatt coal plant will be off-line until environmental contractors on site complete remediation and the company can evaluate necessary repairs.

The incident occurred on February 3, when a steam tube on top of the boiler failed and a steam leak damaged some siding and insulation on the rear wall of the boiler, Hoffman said. Some of the insulation contained asbestos.

All the workers, approximately 26 to 30 employees, were either sent home or to PPL Montana’s office in Billings. Workers returned when the contractors declared areas clean, Hoffman said. However, on February 12, a strong wind blew around insulation and metal sheeting that had been on the side of building, Hoffman said. When the wind kicked up, the clean areas were not as easy to identify, so the company again sent workers home as a precaution for health and safety, he said. (missoulian.com)

Tags: Asbestos, asbestos lawsuit, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos risk, Asbestos Settlement

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