What Do I Need To Know About The Asbestos Exposure Issues At Armco Steel Job Sites?
Former Armco Steel workers may be at strong risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. In the steel industry, asbestos insulators were used for decades because of their fire-resistant properties. Even now, asbestos exposure is a risk for equipment or buildings built before the 1980s.
Armco Steel did not produce asbestos-related products. However, the insulation, safety equipment and other construction materials that it used contained asbestos. Manufacturers of these products may also be accountable for any asbestos exposure diseases in steelworkers. The asbestos exposure lawyers of D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, have years of asbestos litigation experience. If you have suffered diseases related to asbestos exposure at Armco Steel, they can help.
What Happened To Armco?
The American Rolling Mill Company, or Armco Steel, was first incorporated in the late 1800s out of Ohio. Armco first manufactured iron and steel, then branched out into steel mill products, including:
- Iron mining
- Coal mining
- Gas extraction
- Oil extraction
- Manufacturing metal and plastic industrial equipment
- Engineering services
- Construction services
Throughout the 1900s, Armco Steel grew into a large company. By the early 1990s, Armco Steel became the largest steel producer in the nation.
Originally, Armco Steel was AK Steel’s parent company. However, AK Steel grew so successful that in 1999, Armco Steel and AK Steel merged. Afterward, the combined projected annual revenue topped $4.1 billion.
Despite projections and large annual sales, the company was not profitable. In 2020, Cleveland-Cliffs bought AK Steel for $1.1 billion.
Where Are AK Steel Plants Located?
AK Steel plants are located in various parts of the country and have operations in Western Europe, Mexico and Canada. The company’s steel plants can be found in:
- Zanesville, Ohio
- Rockport, Indiana
- Ashland, Kentucky
- Middletown, Ohio
- Butler, Pennsylvania
- Coshocton, Ohio
- Dearborn, Michigan
However, the steel plant in Dearborn is due to be torn down in the near future.
Was Asbestos Used In Steel Mills?
Steel mills have long used asbestos products because it helps prevent fires and burns. Asbestos insulation has been found in furnaces, tanks, boilers and more. Even the protective equipment steel mill workers wore contained asbestos. It can be found in the following products:
- Safety gear: Gloves, aprons, face masks, coats, leggings
- Machine parts: Clutches, valves, pumps, brake pads, gaskets
- Construction and building materials: Floor and ceiling tiles, refractory bricks, cement, liner boards
- Insulation: Ovens, hot blast stoves, boilers; rolling mills; furnaces; cranes; molding boards; steam pipes; packing and pipe wrap insulation
Armco Steel workers worked in asbestos-containing garments with asbestos-containing machinery for decades. Most of the products above were produced by other companies, including:
- Porter Hayden Co.
- Steel Grip
- Keystone Steel & Wire Co.
- Owens-Illinois Inc.
- Guard-Line Inc.
- Johns Manville
- GAF Corp.
- Foseco
When steel mill employees inhale asbestos fibers, they can sustain serious injuries.
If you believe that you have suffered injuries related to asbestos exposure at an Armco Steel job site, the dedicated attorneys of D’Amico Law Offices are here to stand up for your rights.
Are Serious Injuries Associated With Asbestos Exposure At Armco Steel/AK Steel Plants?
Asbestos fibers can cause serious and fatal injuries when inhaled. When asbestos fibers become lodged in workers’ lungs, it can cause scarring and lung damage. According to a study, asbestos exposure may develop into the following diseases:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Asbestosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
While asbestos exposure can result in more diseases than those listed above, these are the ones most commonly found in former steelworkers.
Asbestos exposure leads the world in work-related fatalities. While some countries do not have accurate statistics, most of the Western world can attribute asbestos exposure to 54% to 85% of lung cancer fatalities.
What Damages Are Associated With Asbestos Exposure At Work Sites?
If you believe you have suffered injuries related to asbestos exposure at an Armco Steel job site, our dedicated attorneys at D’Amico Law Offices are here to stand up for your rights. Our asbestos exposure lawyers will aggressively represent your case and recover your full compensation.
Every asbestos exposure claim is different. However, the most common damages recovered include:
- Complete coverage of medical bills, both past and future
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of companionship
To determine the damages your claim may qualify for, speak to an experienced defective products attorney.
What Are The Signs Of Asbestos Exposure-Related Diseases And Ailments?
Recognizing the signs of asbestos exposure is crucial in catching a serious disease as soon as possible. The employees of Armco Steel are likely to have been exposed to asbestos fibers, though chest X-rays and lung functioning tests may be able to confirm.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may take decades to surface. If you have a history with Armco Steel and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention:
- Weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Loss of appetite
- A tight feeling or pain in your chest
- Coughing blood
- Shortness of breath, including hoarseness and wheezing
- Persistent coughing that lasts longer than two weeks and continues to worsen
- Swelling in the face or neck
With a proper examination and testing, a doctor can see if there are asbestos fibers in your lungs. However, the presence of fibers does not indicate if you will develop an asbestos-related illness later in life or the extent of exposure you have had.
It should be noted that smoking can exacerbate asbestos exposure issues. While smoking and exposure to asbestos will not increase your risk of mesothelioma, it can significantly increase the possibility of developing lung cancer.
According to a study, those who quit smoking after finding asbestos fibers in their lungs considerably reduce their chances of developing lung cancer. Even after a lung cancer diagnosis, smokers who quit can receive improved benefits from cancer treatment and a greater chance of successful remission.
Can I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit For Asbestos Exposure At An Armco Steel Job Site?
Asbestos exposure kills an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people each year. Unfortunately, many people who worked for years in a steel mill to support their families have lost their lives to asbestos-related diseases.
When you lose a loved one to a preventable disease, there are no words for your grief. Filing an asbestos wrongful death claim cannot ease your family’s pain, but it may serve to deter future negligent asbestos exposure.
The dangers of asbestos have been traced back to “Curious Bodies,” published in 1899, which published the first case of “lung scarring caused by asbestos” exposure. Still, companies continued to use the dangerous substance in numerous safety equipment and manufacturing equipment and as insulation.
It may be that the only way to make companies stop using a harmful substance is to make it too expensive for them not to. If you have lost a loved one due to this known cancer-causing substance, contact our asbestos exposure lawyers today.
How Can Our Experienced Defective Product Attorneys Help Your Asbestos Exposure Claim?
The committed attorneys of D’Amico Law Offices are invested in helping clients achieve the justice they deserve. After you have suffered an injury, disease or the loss of a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, our asbestos exposure lawyers will be there for you during this difficult time.
We are a family-run personal injury law firm with attorneys who value:
- Compassion
- Tenacity
- Knowledge and skill
- Discipline
With decades of experience and a consistent approach to each case, our lawyers have successfully recovered the damages families need to help them move on with their lives.
Choosing an attorney is a very personal decision. Call our offices at 412-906-8180 and schedule a free consultation to discuss if our firm is right for you.
Asbestos Exposure At Armco Steel FAQ
What if you worked at a different Armco Steel location?
If you worked at a different Armco Steel (now AK Steel Holding) location and are suffering from symptoms related to asbestos exposure, you deserve legal aid. No matter how large they are, steel companies have a duty to provide safe working environments that are free from reasonable hazards. The dangers of asbestos have been known since 1906, when the first worker died of pulmonary failure. Speak to an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable in asbestos exposure issues to find out more.
What if you were exposed to asbestos on account of your employer’s negligence?
If you were exposed to asbestos because of your employer’s negligence, you may have a long and difficult road ahead full of escalating health problems. When injuries are more complicated than a broken arm, workers’ compensation insurance companies have been known to take advantage and offer payouts far lower than the employee deserves.
However, under product liability law, a worker may be able to maximize their compensation with damages like pain and suffering.
How can an asbestos exposure lawyer help your claim?
An asbestos exposure lawyer can help tremendously with your claim. In cases of asbestos exposure, there may be more than one party responsible for your injuries. An experienced product liability lawyer can determine the best course of action for your claim to recover the compensation you deserve.
Reach Out To Us
Schedule a free evaluation at D’Amico Law Offices today to discuss your case and what damages you may be entitled to recover at 412-906-8180.