Asbestos News Roundup: 2.3.11

February 3rd, 2011. By LucyC

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

Asbestos Lawsuits

Galveston, TX: A couple in Texas have named 50 companies as defendants in their asbestos complaint. Michael Ray Cook and his wife allege that his health deteriorated as a result of asbestos exposure while working for the defendants. Among the named defendants in the case are Union Carbide Co., BP Amoco Chemical Co., Marathon Oil Co., Ingersoll-Rand Co. and A.W. Chesterton.

In a lawsuit, Cook claims he came into contact with asbestos and asbestos-containing products and machinery while working as a laborer in various shipyards, steel mills, refineries, paper mills and even military installations across the country.

He alleges he inhaled “great quantities of asbestos fibers” during his assignments, notably those at the Union Carbide facility in Beaumont, the suit says.

Further, the suit states that Cook’s asbestos exposure aboard the U.S. Navy vessels has nothing to do with the theory of negative design, but rather on the theory of failure to warn. (SE Texas Record)

Asbestos Settlements

San Diego, CA: The U.S. Department of Labor has settled with a Navy contractor for $45,000 after finding that NWS Communications wrongfully terminated a whistleblower who worked at naval installments in Coronado and Imperial Beach. NWS was hired by the Navy to perform installation, construction and maintenance of cable and Internet systems.

According to a report in the Coronado Patch, the employee had complained previously to NWS for being made to climb microwave towers, work in manholes and enter asbestos-filled buildings without safety training or equipment while working at several local military installations, including the Naval Amphibious Base, Naval Air Station North Island and Naval Auxiliary Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach.

Following their investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), found that the employee had been fired for filing a safety complaint with the state OSHA program, Cal/OSHA.

NWS was hit with a lawsuit in June 2010, filed by the Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor, because the company reportedly declined to reinstate the worker to the same or an equivalent position and pay back wages and other employment benefits. (Coronado Patch.com)

Asbestos Hot Spots

Virginia Beach, VA: A family who rents a condo in the Cape Henry Tower, along the bay in Virginia Beach, have evacuated their home claiming that it is covered in asbestos dust. The Brand family claim that the owner had some work done in the condo while they were out, and as a result tests now show that the place is covered with asbestos dust.

The condo is on the third floor of the Cape Henry Tower. The renter, Carlie Brand, is now so concerned not only about his family but also the neighbors, that he has hired an attorney. “I put myself in the line of danger to protect other people. That’s a risk I accept. When somebody else puts me in danger without me knowing, I can’t accept that,” Brand told WAVY.com.

According to WAVY.com, the condo association president said they’ve notified the residents, and they’re working with a lab and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Brand’s lawyers say they’ll try to settle, but if they are unable to reach an agreement they will file suit. (WAVY.com)

Asbestos Warning – Jin Ling Cigarettes

London, UK: An article in the English paper the Daily Mail is warning smokers who buy bootleg cigarettes to stay away from a brand made in Russia, because tests have revealed that they contain asbestos. Further, the Daily Mail reports that “Many of those [cigarettes] tested have been revealed to contain toxins such as industrial chemicals and asbestos-lined Chinese drywall.” 

The brand, Jin Ling cigarettes, were reportedly making the rounds in pubs and clubs in Britain. They come in yellow packs with the words Jin Ling and USA on the front of the package. It is believed the cigarettes are created specifically for the black market, as the brand on offer is not available over the counter.

According the Daily Mail, in 2010 the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a warning following the appearance of Jin Ling cigarettes in other European countries. A WHO spokesman said, ‘Jin Ling is the most disturbing new development anywhere  in the world in the illegal tobacco trade.’ (dailymail.co.uk)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma

This was posted on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 at 4:13 pm and is filed under Asbestos Mesothelioma . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.