Given the length of time that Ken, age 62, was exposed to asbestos (from about 1970s to the early 80s), it is surprising that he hasn’t been diagnosed with asbestosis lung cancer.“I was a crane operator and worked around asbestos on every job I was on, from chemical plants and power plants to oil refineries and shipyards,” Ken says. "In the early 1970s they were starting to get rid of asbestos because of a lot of guys who had sued—I guess employers and company owners were worried that more people would sue. The guys diagnosed with asbestosis were kept on the government’s payroll but didn’t work, they just walked around all day on the government job.
"I remember that these guys with asbestosis used to go on ships in the navy yards and buy stuff, everything on the ships were tariff-free. They used to buy booze—they had carte blanche, they were like kings, and they made this settlement with the government. They didn’t even have to show up but they were older guys and didn’t have anything else to do.
"I knew back then that asbestos was dangerous. I knew about the asbestos lawsuits. When I started out, most of the cranes had all the asbestos taken out, thank God for me. But I had already been exposed in the refineries.
"I remember vividly the first day I went to work at BP refinery in the town of Marcus Hook: I was sitting in the crane and they had put in pipe coverings to replace the asbestos; the whole refinery was covered in asbestos because every pipe was insulated with the stuff. I was sitting in the crane surrounded by these pipe covers and all these young guys were fooling around throwing this white stuff at each other—they were taking the asbestos off the pipes.
"This is what struck me: it was a sunny day and as they were pulling it off and throwing it, the asbestos chunks were flaking apart and you could actually see the fibers floating in the air, sparkling in the sun. It was really weird, knowing it was bad. I am sure they knew too, but at that age you’re just fooling around and not thinking about the future. When you are young, you are indestructible.
"The last job I was on, I was running elevators for a union. On the elevator you needed a guy, union rules. So I was pushing the buttons and these guys carried insulation out of a section of a power plant, all asbestos—all busted up pieces. This was in the late 80s. They had environmental suits and masks on and got on the elevator with all this stuff. I remember thinking it was really dumb: I used to ask for masks and safety equipment from other tradesmen doing the work but I never got a mask, the whole time I worked that elevator—for several months.
"That was the last job I was on before I had to retire at the age of 45. I got real sick and couldn’t breathe. I saw my doctor and he told me I had five different types of bacteria in my lungs; it was the only job in my life that I had to quit. I didn’t get any benefits—luckily my wife was working.
READ MORE ASBESTOSIS LEGAL NEWS
"I sued the contractor at the power plant. I settled for $10,000 and they made me sign a document relieving them of any liability. They didn’t admit to anything. At the time, around 1993, we were in desperate shape so we had to take it.
"Recently I thought I was getting better and I tried walking up a flight of stairs but couldn’t make it. I knew something was wrong. I never even thought about getting tested for asbestosis until recently. We have been poor so any amount of compensation would be nice. But my wife and I have each other so we will always be rich.”
READER COMMENTS
Grace Gonzales
on