Asbestos News Roundup: 7.5.12 – Oil Rig Workers, 2nd-Hand Asbestos Exposure

July 5th, 2012. 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.

Oil Industry Workers at High Risk for Asbestos Disease

Drilling mud is widely used in the oil industry, both onshore and offshore, to help cool the drill bit and flush debris from the well hole during drilling. Many oilfield workers may have been exposed to toxic asbestos products without knowing its harmful, and often lethal, effects.

Drilling mud composition contained asbestos, which led to mud engineers being

exposed to asbestos drilling mud, and the potential to develop asbestos-related disease such as asbestos mesothelioma.

The two drilling mud brands that were mainly used were Flosal and Visbestos: both products were packaged in 50 lb. bags and were used for sweeping the hole as a viscosifier.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Hyde, TX: Chevron USA is facing a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the widow of Louis Esbry, who recently died from asbestos-related disease.

Camelia Esbry and her children filed the suit June 29, blaming Chevron USA for her husband’s death, alleging the company exposed him to asbestos.

While employed with Chevron, Louis Esbry was exposed to asbestos dust and fibers, the lawsuit states, which resulted in his developing asbestosis. He died on December 18, 2011, the lawsuit states.

According to the lawsuit, Chevron knew for decades that asbestos could cause cancer, yet the company allowed employees and contractors to work around the mineral, exposing them to potentially lethal health effects, without warning them of the dangers.

The plaintiffs are suing to recover exemplary damages. (SETexasrecord.com)

Jefferson County, TX: A second-hand asbestos exposure lawsuit has been filed by Ginger Hall naming suit 11 companies as defendants. In her lawsuit, Mrs. Hall claims she was exposed to asbestos through her husband’s work clothes.

Chevron USA, Citgo, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Huntsman Petrochemical, Mobil Chemical, Mobil Oil, Oxy USA, Texaco, Union Oil and Unocal Corp, are the named defendants in the lawsuit.

Mrs. Hall alleges she was exposed to asbestos through her husband’s employment at several of the defendants’ refineries.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the asbestos dust on Mr. Hall’s work clothes has caused Mrs. Hall to suffer breathing difficulties and develop cancer. The defendants are accused of failing to protect workers and their family members from inhalation of asbestos fibers.

In addition to exemplary damages, Mrs. Hall is suing for her alleged past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, pain, impairment and lost wages, plus all court costs. (SETexasrecord.com)

New Orleans, LA: Jacqueline Carron Lowe and the children of George Lowe have filed an asbestos lawsuit against Marathon Oil Co. and others, claiming the defendants exposed the late Mr. Hall to asbestos and are therefore responsible for his death. Mr. Lowe was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2011 and died in December 2011 from complications from the disease.

Mrs. Lowe claims her husband was exposed to dangerously high levels of asbestos during his employment for Marathon Oil from 1957 until 1995 in various positions and at various sites including Detroit, MI, Robinson, IL, and Garyville, LA.

The defendants are accused of exposing George Lowe to asbestos which caused him to develop asbestos mesothelioma.

Lowe’s family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for physical pain and suffering, loss of income, mental anguish, fear of death, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, loss of personal assistance, loss of support to wife and children, loss of consortium, loss of services and loss of companionship.(louisianarecord.com)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Exposure, asbestos lawsuit, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Asbestos Settlement, asbestos_mesothelioma

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