A-Best 
Asbestos Exposure

When asbestos breaks down over time or with use, the fibers of the material can become airborne, presenting a risk of inhaling or ingesting the toxin. Asbestos is a cancer-causing agent, and those heavily exposed can develop scarring in the lungs and later develop lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos was widely used in A-Best clothing, A-best materials, piping, insulation, electrical components, machine parts, packaging, flooring, ceiling tiles, roofing, and in many building materials.

A-best clothing and other A-best products may have been used in the following facilities:

BOHN ALUMINUM

HARVEY

AKRON STANDARD

AKRON STEEL TREATING

ATLANTIC FOUNDRY

FEROIT BROS.

GOODYEAR TIRE

INDUSTRIAL ARTCRAFT

J.C. HEINTZ CO.

J.W. GEOPFERT

JAMES C. HEINTZ

KOVATCH CASTINGS

RICHARDS FENCE

W.F. MURDOCK

CORNING

HAYES-ALBION

J & L STEEL

CRANE COMPANY

N&W

Conrail

PENN CENTRAL

EMD COMPONENTS

F.E. MEYERS CO.

U-BRAND CORP.

C.E.I.

REACTIVE METALS INC

RELIANCE ELECTRIC

RMI CO.

Union Carbide

REYNOLDS METALS

BOLLING OVEN

CLEVELAND AIRCRAFT

H.K. FERGUSON

VAN SICKLE IND.

ARROW ALUMINUM

B.F. Goodrich

PLASTONICS

WATTEREDGE

WESTERN ENTERPRISE

NATIONAL ROLL DIVISION

SUBURBAN POWER

AKRON STANDARD

BABCOCK & WILCOX

LECTROMELT

PPG

ROCKWELL

OWENS ILLINOIS

LEILA POST MONTGOMERY HOSPITAL

ACRA CAST

AEROSPACE

BAY CITY STEEL

MEISEL HARDWARE

WELLMAN DYNAMICS

BAYVIEW HOSPTIAL

WESTERN PENN

REPUBLIC ALUMINUM

REPUBLIC STEEL CORP.

ABEX CORPORATION

FABRICATED METAL SPEC.

HALEX DIVISION

1. SCHUMAN

KELLEY STEEL EREC.

LESTER ENGINEERING

LESTER INDUSTRIES

PIEZOEELECTRIC DIV

RUSSO ORN.

SCOTT & FETZER

ARBY’S

EXTRUDED METALS

G.E.

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)

CLARK EQUIPMENT

ALLOY ENGINEERING

ALLOY INDUSTRY

CLEVELAND ALLOY

GOODYEAR TIRE

INDUSTRIAL POWER PIPING

PORO INCORPORATED

HALLMOR CO.

Bethlehem Steel Corp

INTERLAKE

FERRO CORP

MADER MACHINE

MARDER MACHINE

WESTINGHOUSE

KAWEENER CO.

CHRYSLER

ALLEGHENY LUDLUM STEEL

US STEEL

CORNING

BRAEBURN ALLOY

CON. BRAEBURN

BROCKWAY GLASS

CASTALLOY

GOODYEAR TIRE

MARKS TRACTOR

CORHART

UNION ELETRIC

STANDARD STEEL

ARMCO

BLAW-KNOX

ROTOBLAST

SPANG & CO.

BROOKS & PERKINS

Babcock & Wilcox

CANTON DIE

ED HART CO.

EDW. HART

HELFRICH DIE CAST

SPRINGFIELD MFG.

Timken Co.

U.S. STEEL

UNION METAL

UNITED ENGINEERING

WEAN UNITED

PPG Industries

SGL ARBRASIVES

CHEM-CLAY CORPORATION

1. HOMMEL CO.

UNION ELETRIC

US SteelCITCO

DIA SHAMROCK

DIAMOND SHAMROCK

CORNING

HOOVER ALUMINUM

A.P.I. INSTRUMENT

ALCOA

RUST ENGINEERING

CONNECTOR IND. OF AM.

J.B. SCHAAF

LUNKENHEIMER

NATIONAL LEAD

SCHULTE BRASS

SNOW FILTRATION

THE WITT CO

WELCO INDUSTRIES

WITT CO

RCA

REYNOLDS NEAR

ALLEGHANY LUDLUM STEEL

AMERICAN BRIDGE

ENERCON SYSTEMS

U.S. STEEL – CLAIRTON WORKS

OWENS ILLINOIS

3-M

A.M. HIGLEY CORP

ABEX CORPORATION

ACACIA HEAT

ACE METAL

ADVANCE SALES

ADVANCE TEC.

AETNA WELDING

ALBRECHT TOOL

ALCOA

ALDON PRODUCTS

ALLIED BOILER

ALLIED RUBBER & MICE

ALLIS – CHALMERS

ALUMINUM SMELTING

AMAC ENTERPRISES

AMAX SPECIALTY

AMERICAN HANDLING EQUIP.

AMERICAN HOIST

AMERICAN MONARCH

AMERICAN SPRING WIRE

AMERICAN TANK

APEX INTERNATIONAL

APEX SMELTING

Apex Welding

ARBY’S

ARMATURE COIL

ARROW ALUMINUM

ART GALVANIZING

ARWOOD CORP.

ASSOCIATED SHEET METAL

ATLAS CAR

ATLAS FOUNDRY

BAMBURGER REINTHOL

BARDONS AND OLIVER

BARDSONS – OLIVER

BARTH – CLEVITE

BARTH – MCNEIL

1. OF COUNTY COMM.

BETTCHER

BINGHAM

BLACK DRILL

BOBBY BROOKS

BOISE CASCADE

BRAEBURN

BRODESS CONSTRUCTION

BROST FOUNDRY

BRUSH BERYLLIUM

BURDETT

BURDOX

C.A. LITZLER

CASH SALE

CECIL PECK

CEI

CENTRA SALES CO.

CENTRAL BRASS

CERTIFIED ALLOYS

CHASE BRASS & COPPER CO.

CHEVY

City of Cleveland

CLARK ASBESTOS CO.

CLEVE BEARING PROD

CLEVELAND ARM H

CLEVELAND ARMATURE

CLEVELAND ELECTRO ALLOYS

CLEVELAND ELECTROMETALS

CLEVELAND OAK BELT

CLEVELAND PNEUMATIC TOOL

CLEVELAND PRECISION

CLEVELAND STATE UNIV.

CLEVITE ENGINE

CLUB MONARCH

CLUB PRODUCTS

CONSOL. IRON

CONT. BAKERIES

COPPER CORNER

CROWN RUBBER STAMP

Crucible Steel

DAVIS BAKERY

DELUXE CHECK PRINTERS

DIAMOND FABRICATOR

DROP FORGE AND DIE

DUNBAR – SULLIVAN

DUPONT

DUST CONTROL

EAGLE CERAMICS

EASCO

EATON CORP.

ELECTRIC WELD

EUCLID DIV.

EX-CELL-O CORP

F.W. PAULIN

FEDERAL STEEL

FERRO CORP.

FERRODYNE

FOMOCO

FOOD SERVICES

FORD – ENGINE PLANT

Ford Motor

FOREST CITY

FORGE PRODUCTS

FORM-A-TOOL

FOSECO

G&W INDUSTRIES

G.S. EQUIPMENT

GENERAL BATTERY CORP.

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)

GENERAL WELDING SUPPLY

GOULD, INC.

GREAT LAKES FLOUR

GROUND ROUND

GROVER MUSICAL

HAL LYNN

HALEX CORP.

HALORA CORP.

Harshaw Chemical

HEDALLOY DIE

HERRON TESTING LAB

HINES FLASK

HOFFMAN BRONZE

HOLSMAN

HORSBURGH – SCOTT

HUDGEONS PRODUCTS

IMPERIAL CLEVITE

INTERCON SYSTEMS

J & D WELDING

J & L

1. KIRSCHENBAUM

J.C. HEINTZ

J.M. WALL CO.

J-D WELDING

JIM CURSEY

JOHN C. BOEHM

JOHN KLERI

JONES & LAUGHLIN (J&L) STEEL

JORDAN WELDING

KIFER TOOL

KINDT – COLLINS

KIRKWOOD CARBON

KOLLER BROS.

L & M STAGECRAFT

LAKE ERIE ELECTRIC

LAKE ERIE SCREW

LANLY CO.

LEAR SIEGLER

LEES-BRADNER

LINCOLN ELECTRIC

LINDERME TUBE

L-K HEATING

MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM

MARTINDALE ELECTRIC CO.

MASTER FABRICATORS

MCDOWELL – WELLMAN ENG.

MERIAM WELD

METALS APPLIED

METROPOLITAN ALLOYS

Midland Ross

MODERN TOOL

MONARCH ELECTRIC

MONDIE FORGE

MOTOR REPAIR MFG.

NASA

NATIONAL BRASS

NATIONAL METAL

NELSON FINISHING

NORTHERN BOILER

NUCKLEY COVERS

NUCLEAR PLATING

OATEY CO.

OGLEYBAY

OHIO CARBON

OHIO CRANKSHAFT

ORANGE SCHOOL

ORLANDO BAKERY

OSBORN MFG.

OSTER ELECTRIC

PARK – OHIO

Park Drop Forge

PAULIN CO.

PENN CENTRAL

PENTZ DESIGN

PETTIBONE OHIO

PHIL – MAR CORP.

PHILLIP MANGO CO.

PLECHATY CO

PLM

PORTER STEEL TREATING

POTTER INDUSTRIES

PRECISION CASTING

PREMIER INDUSTRIES

PRIME INDUSTRIES

PROFILE GRINDING

PULL AUTO BODY

1. KOONS

RED SEAL ELEC. – ARMO DIV.

RED SEAL ELECTRIC

REGAL DIAMOND PROD.

REPUBLIC STEEL CORP.

REX – BUDKEYE

RICHARDS WHOLESALE

RICHMOND BROS.

RIVER SMELTING

RON DEWEY

ROSSBOROUGH SUPPLY

SAFETY CLOTHING

SAFETY ENGINEERING

SAM W. EMERSON CO.

SAMSEL ROPE

SCHMELLER ALUMINUM

SCHMELLER FOUNDRY

SCHWEIZER – DIPPLE

SCM CHEMICAL GLIDDEN CORP.

SCM CORPORATION

SENECA TAPE

SERVICE SYSTEMS

SHERMER-SCHNEIDER

SHIELDS-MIDWESTERN

SMITH-ODY

SOCIETY NAT’L BANK

SOMMERS RUBBER

S-P MFG.

SPACE COMFORT

STANDARD PIPING

STOLLE CO.

SUNCRAFT PRODUCTS

SUPERIOR BRASS

SUPERIOR CAST

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES

SUPERIOR METAL TREATING

SYLVESTER & CO

TEC LAB

TEREX

THE CLEVE. TRENCHER CO.

THE LANLY CO.

THE ODY CO.

THEATRICAL EQUIPMENT

THERMOPLASTICS

TODD WELDING CO.

TOMCO METAL

TOWMOTOR

TRW Valve

U.S. STEEL CORPORATION

Union Carbide

UPSON WALTON

Variety Stamping

VARIETY STEEL

VARI-SYSTEMS

VICTOREEN INSTRUMENT

VICTORY METAL

VOCATION GUIDANCE

1. BINGHAM CO.

W.E. PLECHATY

WABASH SMELTHING

WAGNER AWNING

WALKER HEAT

WEBB FABRICATORS

WEBCO

WELDED RING

WELDINGHOUSE

Westinghouse

White Motor

WINTON HEAT

WOOD-SPENCER CO.

XCLEVE. MUSEUM, NAT

ESSEX WIRE

B & T METALS

B&T METALS

BROWN STEEL

Buckeye Steel

CENTRAL ALUMINUM

COLUMBUS AIRCRAFT DIV.

CONNEAUT DIE CASTING

HOMESTEAD INDUSTRIES

PITTSBURGH FORGING

CLOW CORPORATION

ALCOA

CRESSONA ALUMINUM

PPG Industries

Chrysler

DAYTON FORGING

DELCO MORAINE

EUTECTIC ENGINEERING

GREAT LAKES STEEL CORP

HUBER

J & L Steel

KELSEY-HAYES COMPANY

McLouth Steel

METROPOLITAN ALLOYS

MICHIGAN BOILER

OGLEBAY

Wall Colmonoy

WINFIELD

POWER PIPING

SHENANGO INC.

SUPERIOR BRASS

MILLIGAN HARDWARE

FERRO CORP

UNION METAL MANUFACTURING

MYOTT INDUSTRIES

PENN – VIRGINIA MATERIAL

SKRL DIE CASTING INC.

BETHLEHEM STEEL CORP

Great Lakes Steel Corp

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)

HITACHI MAGNETICS

COLT INDUSTRIES

ELWOOD CITY FORGE

BRUSH – WELLMAN

Abex

CONCRETE MASON

Elyria Foundry

EMPIRE SPRING

EMTEC

FERRO CORP

FISHER BODY

INDUSTRIAL ALUMINUM

KASPER FOUNDRY

MUFCO INDUSTRIES

PFAUDLER COMPANY

TIMMS SPRING

WEST RIVER AUTO

PENN CENTRAL

ERIE MARINE

FERRO CORP

GENERAL ELECTRIC

PENN ALUMINUM

CLEVELAND PRECISION

LUBRIZOL

TOROIDAL WINDING

UNIV. WELDING

HILL HARDWARE

SHARON STEEL CORP.

AJAX FORGING

Buick

CHRYSLER

Fostoria Foundry

Union Carbide

JOY MANUFACTURING

FREEPORT BRICK CO

BLEILLE SUPPLY

CENTURY DIE

DALE PRODUCTS

GLIDHILL MACHINERY

BENADA ALUMINUM

EASCO ALUMINUM

BUCYRUS – ERIE

Copperweld

PITTRON

HARCAST CORPORATION

LARSON CASTINGS

Larson Foundry

DIESEL EQUIPMENT

FERRO CORP

M&T Manufacturing

GENERAL CARBIDE

CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON CO.

CAPITAL PRODUCTS

DUNHAM-BUSH

HARRISBURG STEEL

KAWEENER CO.

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE

ELY IND.

FERRO CORP

KAISER

DOW-CORNING

G.E.

TADD SPRING

PENN CENTRAL

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

BOHN ALUMINUM

CLEVELAND METAL

GENERAL ELECTRIC

MESTA MACHINE

EARTHMOVING DIV.

TEREX

1. PITSCHMANN

REPUBLIC ALUMINUM

REPUBLIC STEEL

SILICONE RUBBER PRODUCTS

US STEEL

JACKSON PROP. FORGE

KELSEY-HAYES

LINCOLN DROP FORGE

MAC STEEL

MICHIGAN EXTRUDED ALUMINUM

GLASTIC CORP.

BETHLEHEM STEEL

GLIDDEN-DURKEE

NATIONAL VALVE

PENN ELECTRIC

ST JOE MINERALS

MIDWEST ALUMINUM

NORTH AMERICAN ALUMINUM

HIGHWAY PROD.

H.E. BROSIUS

GLASS CONTAINERS

BABCOCK & WILCOX

J & L STEEL

COPPER CORNER

JOHN DISCH

LANCASTER GLASS

BABCOCK & WILCOX CONSTRUCTION

JOHN BEAN

Motor Wheel

OLDSMOBILE

SUPERIOR BRASS

VULCAN MOLD

IMAGINING SYSTEMS

VASCO

VULCAN MOLD

ALLEGHANY LUDLUM STEEL

BETHLEHEM STEEL CORP

SITKIN METAL

STANDARD STEEL

ESSEX GROUP CONTROL

ESSEX INTERNATIONAL

ESSEX WIRE

MID-OHIO SPORTS

LIMA SUPPLY

BROOKS & PERKINS

LOGANSPORT

American Bridge

AMERICAN SHIP

HATFIELD ELECTRIC

HENKES AUTO ELECTRIC

KOHLMEYER

LAKE ERIE ELECTRIC

LORAIN REFRACTORIES

NELSON DIVISION TRW

OHIO SERVICE

SPUN STEEL DIV

U.S. STEEL – LORAIN WORKS

Alcoa

ELECTRIC MELTING SERVICE

G.E.

BRAEBURN ALLOY

LUFRAN COMPANY

ASBESTOS SPECIALTIES

CARMET COMPANY

MACKWORTH REES

BURDETT

CLARK

EMPIRE-DETROIT

J.M. COUSINS

MANSFIELD METAL TREATMENT

Ohio Brass

PR MACHINE WORKS

RICHLAND BRICK

US ALUM. CORP.

WEISS INDUSTRIES

SAMUEL MOORE & CO.

BASIC REFRACTORY

ALUMINUM SMELTING

CERTIFIED ALLOYS

LEAR SIEGLER

MAGNETICS INTERNING

AMERICAN MALLEABLE

AMERICAN STEEL

ARMCO STEEL

HINKLIN AWNING CO.

MARION POWER

MARION SHOVEL

KEYSTONE RESOURCES

REPUBLIC ALUMINUM

Republic Steel

CLEVITE

Firth Sterling

Fort Pitt Steel Casting

PPG

CAPITAL PRODUCTS

AERODYN CO.

AT & TEAGLE CERAMICS

ERIE CABLE

ERIE COPPER WORKS

PERMOLD CORP.

MANCO PRODUCTS

E.C. ZUKOWSKI

LINTERN CORP.

OSBORN BROTHERS

MESOPOTAMIA MENS CLUB

ARMCO

BABCOCK & WILCOX

HOME TELEPHONE CO.

Colt Industries

Crucible Steel

DOW-CORNING

E.W. BLISS

MACKINTOSH-HEMPHILL

REYNOLD MACHINE

MILTON MANUFACTURING CO.

BURNS COLD FORGE

PHOENIX GLASS

PITTSBURGH TUBE

ST JOE SMELTING

VASCO

ARCO POLYMERS

MONROE STEEL

ELENGER IND.

FOSTORIA GLASS COMPANY

COOPER BESSEMER

COOPER ENERGY SERV

KELSEY-HAYES

FOSECO INC.

NEWCOR

CAMPBELL WYANT

Continental Motors

CWC CASTINGS

HOWMET CORP

WESTRAN CORPORATION

DRAVO CORP

CHRYSLER

Alcoa

BURDETT

OWENS – CORNING

ROCKWELL

ALEXCO INC.

EASCO ALUMINUM

KAWEENER

OMEGO INDUCTION SERV.

REACTIVE METAL

HELFRICH DIE CAST

SERVICE TOOL

FRED’S STAIN GLASS

STEEL IMPROVEMENT

BLEILLE SUPPLY

FIRELANDS SUPPLY

EDGEWATER STEEL

ELECTRO ALLOY

QUALITY CASTING

SYLVANIA ELECTRIC CO.

COE MFG.

Diamond Shamrock

FASSON

OHIO CRANKSHAFT

FERRO CORP

MANSFIELD PLUMBING

GEO. SALL METALS

OHIO FERRO

A.W. CADMAN MANUFACTURING

BLAW-KNOX

CHEM-CLAY CORPORATION

COLT INDUSTRIES

E.W. BLISS

EDGEWATER CORP.

HARBISON WALKER

HARRY ROMAN

HEPPENSTALL

JONES & LAUGHLIN (J&L) STEEL

LECTROMELT

MACKINTOSH-HEMPHILL

MCCONWAY-TORLEY

PITT-FAB

PITTS. COMM. HEATING

PITTSBURGH COMMERCIAL

PITTSBURGH HEAT

PITTSBURGH METAL PROC.

POWER PIPING

ROZMAN

SHENANGO INC.

SPANG & CO.

United Engineering

UNIV. ATLAS CEMENT

V.C. GOLDEN

WESTERN PENN

HOFFMAN BROS

A.C. WILLIAMS

CENTRIFUGAL CASTINGS

CARTECH CORP

Conrail

KAWECKI BERYLCO IND.

CONALCO

INDAL INC

TUBELITE

JOY MANUFACTURING

EXOTIC METALS

SANBORN WIRE PRODUCT

CARL MEYER CORP

KIELCO

MIKE THOMPSON

WINTON HEAT

KELSEY-HAYES

LOXCREEN

MET-TECH N.

CENTRAL FOUNDRY

CHEVROLET

EATON CORP

HITACHI MAGNETICS

METALLURGICAL PRODUCTS

ELJER PLUMBING

SPENCER MFG

ALUM. MAGNESIUM (WHW)

FARRELL-CHEEK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC)

SANDUSKY FOUNDRY

TELEDYNE ISOTOPES, NASA

VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY

RCA

WALLACE-MURRAY

MOLONEY ALUMINUM

MOLONEY PRODUCTS

SEVILLE CENTRIFUGAL

W.J. THOMAS

GRIMMS

SHARON STEEL

REYNOLDS

WESTERN PENN

STEVENS PAINTON CO.

BIRD ELECTRIC

HARSHAW CHEMICAL

IMMERMAN

OHIO NUCLEAR

PENN CENTRAL

ENAMELAC CO.

SPECIALTY PROD.

COOPER ENERGY SERV

SPIKE IND.

SUN CORP

AUSCO

CORNING GLASS CO.

Bethlehem Steel Corp

WHEELING – PITTS.

ANDERSON – IBEC

TADD SPRING

UNION METAL MANUFACTURING

GREAT LAKES STEEL

KAWECKI BERYLCO IND.

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)

HAYES ALBION

A.O. SMITH

AMERICAN MOTORS

CHEVROLET

DOEHLER – JARVIS

Jeep Corp.

MATHER CO.

NATIONAL CASTING

OGLEBEY NORTON

OWENS ILLINOIS

UNITCAST

HARVEY

MARTIN MARIETTA

McLouth Steel

VULCAN MOLD

FLEX CABLE

HOBART BROS.

RUBBER MATERIALS

VAL CAST

Chrysler

JACK HIGGINS

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC

MODERN TOOL

WEAN UNITED

UNION SPECIALTIES

NATIONAL METAL

ALLIANCE

AJAX MANAGEMENT

Anchor Packing

ANCHOR PACKING

Brainard Strapping

Copperweld Steel

G.E.

HOOVER STEEL

J & L

MULTI INDUSTUBE SERVICE

Packard Electric

PENN ELECTRIC

REPUBLIC ALUMINUM

REPUBLIC STEEL CORP.

TAYLOR

WELDON RUBBER

Jessop Steel

WASHINGTON TOOL

ALLEGHENY LUDLUM STEEL

ESCAST

INVESTMENT CASTING

JOHNS – MANVILLE

RIMER ENTERPRISES

GUNNING REFR. S.

Weirton Steel Company

PERREX ALUMINUM

WELLSVILLE FDRY

ALLIS CHALMERS

SANDUSKY FOUNDRY

GENERAL ELECTRIC

HARBISON WALKER

AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT

CONTINENTAL HOSPITAL

DONN PRODUCTS

FRANCE MFG.

BEST TRUCK EQUIPMT

EUCLID SPRING CO.

HENDERSHOT-SMITH

LUBRIZOL

SMP CASTINGS

SMP PRECISIONS

M.W. KELLOGG

AKRON OXYGEN

B & W

BESCAST INC

BOWDEN MFG

C.E.I.

CORRECT AIR CORP.

FUSION INC.

G.E.

KENNAMETAL CO.

WESTERN CONTROLS

WESTINGHOUSE AIR

GLOBE MATERIAL

HARBISON – WALKER

ALLIS CHALMERS

BURDETTE OYGEN

COMMERCIAL SHEARING

EASCO

F.A. PILGRIM ERTUSION

GENERAL EXTRUSIONS

J & L

REPUBLIC ALUMINUM

Republic Steel

SUPERIOR DIE

U.S. Steel

United Engineering

WEAN UNITED

YOUNGSTOWN SHEET

FORD MOTOR

UNIFLEX CABLE

FERRO CORPORATION

GREAT LAKES STEEL CORP

If you were exposed to asbestos at your workplace, and have developed cancer or a related illness, you are likely to qualify for compensation.

A-Best used asbestos because it was cheap, durable, fire-resistant and light, and was thought to be the perfect insulating material before research showed it was extremely hazardous to the health.

A-Best did stop using the material, though the damage was already done in many cases. 

• Mesothelioma
• Lung Cancer
• Adenocarcinoma
• Asbestosis
• Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Steel workers
• Auto workers
• Military Veterans
• Rubber workers
• Welders
• Machinists
• Construction Workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers & Pipefitters

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

The following tasks are associated with possible high asbestos exposure:

• Installing framework in factory construction projects
• Inspecting factory equipment
• Masonry work
• Machining
• Assembling and repairing boilers and plate work
• Operating plant machines and cranes
• Welding
• Tending to stoves or furnaces
• Applying metal lath
• Laying heating and ventilating pipes
• Forging and heat-treating steel products and tools
• Insulating various types of pipe systems
• Installing acoustic tiles
• Smelting and pouring materials at high temperatures
• Plastering and sanding surface finishes
• Working in an enclosed space with asbestos products (shingles and tiles, etc.)

• In 2010, a painter in Texas who developed mesothelioma after spending much of his life working with texturized top coats and fillers sued a number of asbestos product manufacturers. A jury awarded him an $11 million verdict.
• In 2005, a San Francisco jury awarded a sheet metal worker nearly $2 million dollars after he developed mesothelioma from working with duct connectors and duct sealers, which contained asbestos.
• Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation was found negligent and a jury awarded one victim of mesothelioma a verdict of nearly $3.5 million. His attorney said the man worked for Owens Corning  in the 1960s and was exposed to their toxic insulation product.
• In the 1990s, two engineers filed lawsuits against North American Refractory Company (NARCO). According to their lawyers, the victims, who suffered from related lung diseases, were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust from a gunning mix. The jury found North American Refractory Company liable and awarded the men $7 million.

EPA Asbestos Approval

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will no longer evaluate asbestos in homes and businesses as a serious danger or health risk, as the EPA announced in recent reports.

The EPA asbestos decisions, under Scott Pruitt, decided it is unnecessary to evaluate the health risks of the toxic substance despite the continuing workplace and home hazards that still lead to mesothelioma deaths for up to 3,000 Americans each year.

The agency will still evaluate and require approval for any new use of asbestos, but let the already-present toxin remains in many public building, businesses, schools, houses and hospitals. Fifty-five countries have a total ban on the use of asbestos, including nations like the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Japan.

The new EPA asbestos stance has gone mostly undeterred because the current administration sees eye-to-eye on safety deregulation and pro-corporate interests. The health and safety of American workers and consumers, however, already in danger, could lose its footing as the EPA drifts toward toxic tolerance.

EPA Asbestos Standards

According to the EPA Website, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. That risk is made worse by certain factors, such as smoking and long-term exposure in workplaces known to be laden with the toxin.

There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure, and the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing severe health problems. Lung disease symptoms may lay dormant after exposure, and can take years to develop.

Asbestos-related health conditions can be difficult to identify and confused with other respiratory health issues. Healthcare professionals help identify the possibility of asbestos exposure by looking at the person’s medical, work, and environmental history. Known major health effects have been linked to asbestos exposure including lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma.

On one hand the EPA regards asbestos as a cancer-causing agent, which fills older buildings and presents health hazards to various Ohio workers and consumers, and yet the agency has not taken measures to eradicate the toxin as safety advocates say they could.

The EPA has not properly evaluated the dangerous legacy of existing and so levels of contamination are unknown in Ohio. We do know asbestos exists in many areas in homes, schools, hospitals, factories, auto products, and workplaces but there is little help in evaluating an individual’s Ohio asbestos exposure risks.

Despite a significant reduction in the use of asbestos in past decades, annual deaths continue because asbestos-related diseases lay dormant.