Chemical plants are industrial facilities that use multiple processes and reactions to convert raw materials into chemicals for either commercial or consumer use. They can be dangerous places, as the substances used to achieve their end goals may be combustible, toxic, corrosive, or all three. While chemical plant workers are trained to use extreme caution and follow safety roles, workers before the 1980s were not warned of the dangers of asbestos, which they were exposed to in its raw form and as components of the equipment they worked with and the environment they worked in. As a result, many were diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos Use in Chemical Plants
While asbestos exposure has been associated with many different occupations, working in chemical plants posed unique dangers, as many chemical plant employees used asbestos in their daily work. The material was frequently used as a filler or reinforcing agent as part of the plant’s operations. Asbestos-containing components were found in chemical plant industrial machinery and built into the plant environment because it was considered the most effective insulation to protect against fire and heat. It was included in floors, ceilings, walls, and safety gear. Ironically, the material that was relied upon as a safeguard was slowly poisoning workers who inhaled its invisible, microscopic fibers that were released into the air with wear and tear.[1]
Chemical plants used asbestos in boilers’ valves and pumps, in gaskets that secured the seals of pipes carrying chemicals, and in the machinery required to generate the heat needed to create a chemical reaction. Even the specialized laboratory equipment that was used within chemical plants frequently used asbestos to guard against corrosion and as a protective coating for countertops, equipment, and even protective laboratory clothing.[1]
Asbestos was found in the chemical plant environment in many forms, including:
- Raw asbestos and talc used as part of the plant’s process
- Insulated tanks, vats, and vessels
- Pipes and fittings
- Mixing machines
- Sealants and adhesives
- Boilers
- Gaskets and packing
- Furnaces and heat-generating equipment
- Laboratory ovens, countertops, and equipment
- Incinerators
- Steam-jacketed kettles
- Reactor vessels
- Fireproofing sprays
- Stoves and burners
- Pumps, valves, and compressors
- Insulation
- Electrical wiring
- Paint
- Molding compounds
- Floors and ceiling tiles
- HVAC duct connectors
- Millboards, insulated pads, furnace cement, and heat panels
- Safety gear, including face masks, gloves, coveralls, and aprons
How Were Chemical Plant Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
Though the type of chemical product a plant manufactured played a part in how much asbestos workers were exposed to, the need for high-heat equipment and an environment resistant to the effects of the work meant that all employees were at risk for exposure. Still, those who worked directly with raw asbestos and with asbestos-containing equipment were at the highest risk in these dangerous environments. From chemical engineers to maintenance workers, mixers, and workers in inventory control to pipefitters and plumbers, every worker who participated in the production of the plant’s chemicals faced the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.
The specific method of exposure to asbestos faced by chemical plant workers depended on their role within the facility. Supervisors and engineers tasked with overseeing operations were required to inspect asbestos-containing equipment and processes that used the raw material, and those responsible for keeping the machinery working breathed in asbestos fibers as they replaced and repaired asbestos-containing parts like valves, gaskets, and insulation.
Chemical plants relied on a wide range of equipment, from grinding machines and drill presses to kettles and vats. The individuals who worked directly with this equipment were exposed to asbestos, and so were maintenance workers responsible for sweeping up dust and warehouse workers who accepted delivery of and distributed bags of raw asbestos. Even administrative employees who walked through the plant risked exposure to the toxic material.
Are Chemical Plant Workers Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos use in the United States has largely been discontinued, but it was never fully banned, and the chlor-alkali industry continues using it today. Even when knowledge of the mineral’s dangers became widespread, companies like OxyChem worked in heavily contaminated environments, often without protective suits and masks, and some plants allowed asbestos from inside the plant to escape out of opened windows and doors despite rules against doing so. According to a report published in ProPublica in 2022, federal workplace safety standards were not followed as they should have been, and workers described the amount of asbestos in their environment by saying, “We were constantly swimming in the stuff.” Though the company used small monitors to measure the amount of asbestos in the air around workers, the fact that the levels of asbestos exceeded OSHA’s exposure limit did not lead to any improvements or additional protections being put in place.[2]
In addition to the excessive amount of asbestos exposure reported in the chlor-alkali industry, workers in other types of chemical plants where asbestos use has been discontinued still may face risk from legacy asbestos that remains hidden in construction materials or components of equipment.
Lawsuits Filed by Chemical Plant Workers
Exposure to asbestos has been directly linked to malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other deadly illnesses. Studies have shown that workers in chemical plants are at high risk of asbestos disease,[3] and over the years, individuals who worked in chemical plants began being diagnosed with these illnesses — and so did their family members who suffered secondary asbestos exposure carried into their homes on their spouse or parent’s work clothes. Facing a fatal prognosis, many of these individuals have sought financial security for their family members by filing personal injury lawsuits against those responsible for having exposed them to the toxic material.
Some notable lawsuits filed by chemical plant workers include:
- Dr. James L. Gaddy was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while working at Ethyl Corporation, a chemical plant. Though he did not work directly with the material, he worked in two areas of the plant where asbestos was used: one contained hundreds of feet of asbestos insulation, and the other was close to where sodium cells insulated with asbestos were maintained. A jury hearing the claim filed by his family awarded them $7.5 million.
- A man who worked at a Durez chemical plant during the summers of 1974 and 1976 filed a claim against several companies, including Hedman Resources Limited. They blamed an asbestos fiber the company provided to his employer for his malignant mesothelioma. The victim and his wife were awarded $2 million in past pain and suffering and future pain and suffering.
- The family of a man who died of malignant mesothelioma was awarded $14 million by a jury that heard of his 9-year exposure to asbestos at the Celanese Corporation. Dennis Seay worked for the company from 1971 to 1980, maintaining and repairing machinery that was contaminated with asbestos. Though the company appealed the verdict on multiple grounds, courts upheld the jury’s verdict.
- Dow Chemical and Alcoa Aluminum were ordered to pay $9 million to the family of a chemical plant worker who had worked for both companies.
Chemical Plants Associated with Asbestos Exposure
America has had a bustling chemical industry for almost two centuries, and many of the country’s best-known industry leaders used asbestos in their chemical processes, in their plant’s construction, and in the equipment used to run their operations. These companies include:
Chemical companies that exposed workers to asbestos include:
- American Cyanamid Company
- Barry Steam Plant
- Borden Chemical
- Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
- Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
- Chickasaw Steam Plant
- Colbert Steam Plant
- Dow Chemical Co.
- DuPont
- Durez Corporation
- General Electric
- Georgia Pacific Corporation
- Hill Brothers Chemical
- Hooker Chemical
- Industrial Liquid Chemical
- LyondellBasell Plants
- Monsanto Company
- Pennwalt Sodium Chlorate
- Rogers Corporation
- Stauffer Chemical Company
- Thompson Hayward
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Westinghouse Electric
What To Do If You Were Exposed to Asbestos from a Chemical Plant
The history of asbestos exposure coming from a chemical plant dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and continues today as the chlor-alkali industry continues to use the toxic material. If you or someone you love worked at a chemical plant, lived near a chemical plant, or lived with someone who worked at a chemical plant, you may be at risk for an asbestos-related disease. Because these illnesses have latency periods that commonly exceed fifty or sixty years after exposure, it’s important to educate yourself about their symptoms so that you can seek medical attention as soon as possible. It’s also essential that you inform your healthcare practitioner of your history of exposure so that they can record it in your medical records and include asbestos-related diseases in their differential diagnosis protocol going forward.
Have You Been Diagnosed with an Asbestos-Related Disease?
A diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases is commonly associated with occupational exposure, and this is especially true for those who have a history of having worked in chemical plants. If you have been diagnosed with one of these illnesses, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the companies responsible for your exposure. An experienced asbestos attorney can tell you what to expect from the process and provide you with the information and resources you need to identify all of the asbestos manufacturers who may have provided the chemical plant you worked for with the carcinogenic material. You may also be able to file a claim with some of the asbestos trust funds.
If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these illnesses, provide you with all of the information and resources you need to ensure that you know all of the options available to you. If any of those companies have been forced into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities, you may still be eligible for compensation through the asbestos trust fund they were required to establish before their bankruptcy filing was approved. Though a mesothelioma diagnosis is a shock, it’s important to decide on legal action quickly, as there are limits on how much time can go by between being diagnosed and taking legal action.
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