Asbestos Exposure in Insulation Workers
- Insulation workers were frequently exposed to asbestos during their careers and are at higher risk of developing mesothelioma.
- Despite the known risks and regulations reducing asbestos use, many insulators were historically unaware of the dangers, leading to increased illness rates.
- Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, with options for personal injury or wrongful death claims available for victims.
- Insulators have various compensation avenues, including lawsuits, trust fund claims, and VA claims, due to asbestos exposure on the job.
- The Gori Law Firm specializes in mesothelioma claims, with over $4 billion in settlements and verdicts for affected workers and their families.
Mesothelioma is all too common among insulation workers as they have been frequently exposed to asbestos products. If you or a loved one worked as an insulator and developed an illness from asbestos exposure, you may be eligible to file a legal claim against the party responsible. Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma claims can compensate victims and their families for the medical expenses, lost wages, lowered quality of life, and other impacts resulting from the disease.
Our asbestos lawyers at The Gori Law Firm help clients nationwide understand their legal options and pursue compensation. Our firm has over 20 years of experience litigating mesothelioma claims and has obtained over $4 billion in settlements and verdicts, including many successful results for insulators and their families.
Occupational Asbestos Exposure for Insulators
Asbestos was a popular material used in building, construction, and manufacturing throughout the 20th century. Asbestos-containing insulation products were especially popular because of the material’s heat-resistant and fireproofing qualities. Thus, workers who installed and handled insulation were at high risk for occupational exposure. This exposure has caused many insulation workers to develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the tissue surrounding the lungs, heart, or abdomen. It typically takes years to develop, but once it does, it is deadly. Its harmful impact on your life’s quality and length cannot be understated. If you or a loved one was an insulation worker exposed to asbestos on the job and diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may have a claim for compensation against those responsible.
Compensation Options for Insulators Exposed to Asbestos
Several compensation options are available to insulation workers and their families for damages related to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. The process used in a mesothelioma or asbestos case will depend on factors such as what caused the occupational exposure, who is responsible, whether the responsible party is solvent, whether the victim is living, and which state’s law applies.
The following are the options for pursuing a mesothelioma claim:
Personal injury mesothelioma claims: Insulation workers may file an asbestos lawsuit against the responsible parties and seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other impacts on their lives.
Wrongful death mesothelioma claims: If the victim has died from an asbestos-related illness, the victim’s estate may pursue an action against the party responsible for the asbestos exposure to compensate the surviving family members. The damages recoverable include funeral expenses, burial expenses, lost income, loss of support, and grief.
Mesothelioma trust fund claims: Many companies responsible for asbestos exposure have filed for bankruptcy protection. The courts required these companies to establish mesothelioma trust funds. Victims and their families may file claims to receive payment from these trust funds.
Mesothelioma VA claims: Veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service may pursue a claim for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mesothelioma claims often involve complicated rules and strict requirements for receiving payment. For over two decades, our firm’s attorneys have helped workers sickened by asbestos exposure and their families overcome the challenges to recover compensation. Our proven track record of successful results demonstrates our commitment to achieving justice for workers affected by asbestos exposure.
At the Gori Law Firm, we know our clients get the best outcome when our legal professionals work as a team. Thus, we work together to provide each client with personalized support and responsive service, ensuring someone is always available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
How Insulators Were Exposed to Asbestos
Asbestos was commonly used in insulation in many industries because it has heat-resistant and fireproofing qualities. This widespread use continued until the late 20th century, when the risks became publicly known, and government regulators began monitoring and restricting asbestos use.
Even though asbestos is no longer used in construction, older buildings and insulation products may still contain the material.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when its microscopic fibers are disturbed and released into the air, where they can be inhaled. The fibers can become embedded in the tissue surrounding the lungs and other internal organs, causing the development of asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other illnesses.
Insulators working in construction zones and manufacturing facilities have likely been exposed to asbestos while handling and working with insulation products. Insulation workers are especially at risk when installing or replacing insulation materials, which often involves cutting, sealing, and handling disturbed asbestos fibers.
Insulators and other workers were typically unaware of the presence of asbestos and were rarely warned of the dangers of asbestos exposure. They often lacked the necessary equipment or training for safe handling. For example, workers may not have worn respiratory masks or used ventilation systems to limit asbestos exposure risks.
Studies Show Increased Risks of Mesothelioma, Asbestos-Related Disease Among Insulators
Medical studies have shown the increased risk insulators have of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. A study published in 2013 concluded that asbestos increases lung cancer mortality after examining data from 2,377 male insulators in North America between 1981 and 2008.
Another study highlighted the risks for mesothelioma for insulation workers, with data showing that 356 of 2,221 insulators observed in the study died from the disease. The most common first symptoms experienced by the insulators studied were new or increased shortness of breath, chest pain, and abdominal pain.
Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure for Insulators
Insulators may have had asbestos exposure through handling the following insulation materials and products or the mechanical equipment they protected:
Insulation
- Thermal Pipe
- Thermal Block
- Insulating and Refractory Cement
- Spray-on
- Loose-fill
- Foam
- MillboardSpray-on
Mechanical Products and Equipment
- Boilers
- Compressors
- Furnaces
- Tanks
- Vessels
- Turbines
- Pumps
- Valves
- Gaskets
- Packing
- Firebrick
- Steam Pipes
- Chemical Pipes
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Insulation workers who handled asbestos-containing products during their careers are at heightened risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos exposure victims and their families may be eligible for compensation through civil lawsuits and other claims.
The Gori Law Firm is committed to helping victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses pursue justice and accountability through lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims.
Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined legal experience and have obtained hundreds of settlements and verdicts for asbestos victims.
If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma, schedule a free case evaluation to speak with one of our attorneys today. We will make a donation to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation if you allow us to review your case.
