Asbestos News Roundup: 6.20.14 – School’s out but maybe not Asbestos…

June 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. 

Asbestos Risk at School and at Home

This month, a school building in Tennessee was found to have asbestos. The finding came after several employees became ill. Several months ago a junior high school in Rhode Island was closed for several days so that workers could safely remove asbestos from the building. The asbestos was discovered when a ceiling that was being taken down revealed a second concealed ceiling. The hidden ceiling was found to contain asbestos.

Because of its strength and heat resistance, asbestos was used in a wide variety of building construction materials. As the Rhode Island case demonstrates, many times asbestos containing materials may be out of sight.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos can be found in many products and materials. Some of the many suspect materials include:

• Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite

• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives

• Roofing and siding shingles

• Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceilings

• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets

• Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape

• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation

• Heat-resistant fabrics

• Automobile clutches and brakes

You can find out more about asbestos dangers in the home by watching this video: 

Asbestos Hot Spots

Springfield, TN: Engineers have found asbestos in the Robertson County School central office, after several school employees have come down with respiratory illness.

The finding is a surprise, as the school was built about 90 years ago. “This came as somewhat of a surprise because a building of that age doesn’t usually have asbestos,” Robertson County Mayor Howard Bradley told WSMV Nashville. The building reportedly failed an air quality test in March.

The director of schools has informed county officials that  five of his employees are ill, all of whom work in the central office. They have been diagnosed with environmentally-caused illnesses.

“I think there are five people who have been treated for respiratory issues over the past few months, not to say they are directly connected to the environment of that building,” said Bradley. “I’m not privy to say that. Hopefully we’ll find that out in time, but we need to take care of our people and put them in a safe environment.”  (WSMV, Nashville) 

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston WV: 74 companies have been named as defendants in an asbestos lawsuit alleging they are responsible for William A. Williams diagnosis of lung cancer.

Williams was diagnosed with lung cancer on December 4, 2012, according to the complaint. He alleges that he was exposed to asbestos dust at various work sites during the course of his lifetime. Specifically, he claims the defendants knew or should have known that exposure to the asbestos-containing products would cause disease and injury. However, the defendants failed to warm him of those dangers.

Williams claims the defendants’ actions were  malicious, willful and wanton misconduct and were done with a complete disregard for the safety and rights of others.

The 74 defendants named in the suit include Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, American Optical Corporation, Atlas Industries Inc., Aurora Pump Company, Bayer Cropscience Inc., Beazer East Inc., Brand Insulations Inc., CBS Corporation, Catalytic Construction Company, and Certainteed Corporation. (wvrecord.com)

Jefferson County, TX: Port Arthur residents are suing Texaco after their family member died from asbestos-related disease.

Wanda Wallace, surviving spouse of Herman Wallace, and Dana Bodden and Damon Wallace, surviving children of Herman Wallace, filed a lawsuit May 28 in the Jefferson County District Court against Texaco Inc. and Chevron USA Inc., citing asbestos exposure.

The plaintiffs claim Herman Wallace used and was exposed to asbestos while he worked for the defendants.

According to the suit, Herman was diagnosed as having asbestosis, an asbestos-related disease, which resulted in Herman dying a painful and terrible death Oct. 9, 2012.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages and court costs. (setexasrecord.com)

New Orleans, LA:  An asbestos lawsuit has been filed by the widow of a former shipyard employee who died of mesothelioma. Janet Wusthoff, who filed the complaint on behalf of Charles W. Wusthoff, naming Huntington Ingalls Inc., Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Inc., Avondale Industries Inc., Reilly Benton Co Inc., Taylor-Seidenbach Inc., Mccarty Corporation, Eagle Inc., Eagle Asbestos And Packing Co Inc., Onebeacon America Insurance Company, Onebeacon Insurance Company and Commercial Union Insurance Company as defendants.

According to the complaint, following the death of Charles Wusthoff on July 24, 2013, it was determined that his cause of death resulted from asbestos exposure. The plaintiff asserts that her husband was employed as a boiler-room painter by the shipyard at Avondale Industries Inc. located at 5100 River Road in Avondale in the early 1970s where he was allegedly exposed to asbestos and asbestos containing products in poorly ventilated quarters without being provided respiratory or other safety equipment.

Wusthoff further alleges that the asbestos exposure during her husband’s employment resulted in his contraction of lung cancer and subsequent death.

The defendants are accused of wrongful death, general negligence and strict liability.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, loss of quality of life, disfigurement, financial loss, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of love, loss of affection and loss of society. (louisianrecord.com)

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

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