If you have ever worked in an Air Products & Chemicals plant, you may still be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma. There were numerous health hazards associated with employment at a chemical production facility, and the presence of asbestos materials at the plant was a continual danger.
Asbestos was so commonly used in the chemical industry because it is very effective industrial insulator. The material is durable, cheap and highly resistant to heat and fire. As a result, many chemical plant employees may have been exposed to such toxic asbestos materials, leading to terminal illnesses like mesothelioma.
There are hundreds of chemical plants operating across the country. If your employer fails to protect workers from asbestos hazards, and you develop asbestos-related diseases and lung conditions, you may have a successful claim.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated asbestos and personal injury lawyer representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of toxic tort and mesothelioma claims.
High Risk of Exposure: Air Products Plants
Nearly any worker employed in an Air Products chemical plant could be at risk of developing occupational diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Anyone working in an older workplace where insulation may be deteriorating is at risk of inhaling toxic fibers, which can get lodged in tissue surrounding the lungs and cause permanent damage.
Chemical plants are known to contain large amounts of piping that connect manufacturing and storage areas. These pipes, as well as equipment like tanks, boilers and pumps, likely contain asbestos. Positions that may be at particular risk include engineers, maintenance workers, electricians, pump system operators, boilermakers, pipefitters, and insulators.
Symptoms of Occupational Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma and other lung diseases can sit dormant for many years, and symptoms may not surface until decades after exposure. When the first symptoms appear, they could include:
- Chest pain
- Pain in the lower back
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent cough
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
Chemical Plant Asbestos Exposure
America’s chemical companies have had a tumultuous past. They had a legal and ethical duty to provide former workers with safe working conditions in warehouses and factories. When they failed to protect these staff, they were bound to compensate families in the event of related illness, cancer or death.
Workers in Air Products & Chemicals plants who have developed occupational cancer or other related health issues should not hesitate to seek medical and expert legal assistance.
