Insulator Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

Insulation containing asbestos was a cheap, durable, and fire-resistant product that was used for decades in refineries, commercial buildings, boiler rooms, ships, steel mills, trains, and other locations. Asbestos was not taken out of brand-new thermal pipe, block, or cement insulation until the mid-1970s.  Asbestos is still in all old insulation that was installed until the mid-1970s.

Insulators, who were at one time known as asbestos workers, unwittingly worked with asbestos insulation for years. The cutting of block and pipe covering and the mixing of insulating finish cements during installation as well as the removal of asbestos insulation exposed not only the insulators doing the work, but any other trade within their close proximity. Asbestos insulation has been linked to diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and various types of cancer.

If you handled insulation products containing asbestos as an insulator, construction worker, pipefitter, or in another capacity, and you have contracted a life-threatening disease, you may be able to obtain compensation through an insulator asbestos exposure lawsuit.

Today, removing asbestos insulation in remodeling or demolition projects can be risky. Workers must follow prescribed asbestos removal techniques including sealing and depressurizing the area that contains asbestos and removing it using special filtration cleaners and devices. They should wear protective suits, masks, and respirators. Work areas should be well ventilated.

Asbestos In Insulation Products

Bans on asbestos-containing insulation didn’t occur until the early to mid 1970s and many companies continued to install it until inventories were used up until the early 1980s. In 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifted the ban and made it possible for companies to produce asbestos insulation products as long as they contained less than 1 percent asbestos.

Because product manufacturers knowingly incorporated asbestos into insulation after learning it was hazardous, thousands have filed suits against the manufacturers as a result of developing an asbestos-related disease.

High-Risk Asbestos Exposure For Insulators

Insulation can be grouped into six main categories:

• Pipe — It was often used to control the temperature of steam pipes in industrial and maritime applications. Asbestos pipe insulation that is found today is usually old, crumbly, and therefore very hazardous. It remains one of the most hazardous asbestos products found in homes and buildings.
• Block — Block insulation was applied to equipment such as boilers or furnaces.
• Cement — Was often used to insulate odd-shaped equipment and pipe fittings or for application over blocks that were curved. Insulating cements were used to cover joints and as a finish coat over pipe insulation.
• Spray-applied for ships — This insulation was used on bulkheads, tanks, and odd-shaped vessels. In 1990, the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) prohibited the spray-on application of materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos unless it was encapsulated with a bituminous or resinous binder during spraying.
• Spray-applied for buildings — A simple, inexpensive way to provide thermal protection to steel beams, as well as in attics, walls, ceilings, and other spaces. In 1990, the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) prohibited the spray-on application of materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos unless it was encapsulated with a bituminous or resinous binder during spraying.
• Paper and millboard — Asbestos paper can be used for gasketing, insulation, and fireproofing. Asbestos millboard is essentially paper but differentiated by thicker cardboard construction. These materials are used in boilers, kilns, equipment in glass industry, thermal protection in circuit breakers in electrical industry, and linings for troughs and covers in the aluminum, marine, and aerospace industry.
• Cloth—Often referred to as A-cloth, this material was used for covering insulated pipes as well as for welding blankets in order to protect equipment from sparks.

Contact an Insulator Asbestos Exposure Attorney

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or any asbestos-related disease as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing insulation, it is important to retain the services of an experienced asbestos attorney as soon as possible. Call today to learn more about your potential insulator asbestos exposure lawsuit and your compensation options.