Asbestos can be found in factories, warehouses, hospitals, schools, homes built before 1980, construction sites, and in many military installations. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are 75 different jobs that can expose workers to asbestos, with those jobs primarily involving construction and manufacturing, including those at Eagle Picher. Thousands of American workers are still exposed to asbestos each year.
Mesothelioma is a serious illness that has been linked to asbestos exposure in medical literature. It is estimated that there will be thousands of new cases due to the latency period of 20-50 years after being first exposed to asbestos.
Eagle Picher Employees Risk Developing Cancer and Mesothelioma
Asbestos was a primary additive in several Eagle-Picher products, most notably their insulation. At one point, asbestos was used in approximately 3,000 types of products in the U.S. One of the most widespread commercial applications was with insulation products, used in both commercial and residential buildings. Eagle Picher also manufactured asbestos-containing cement, marketed under the following brand names:
For many years, American companies manufactured and sold asbestos-containing products for various uses and industries. Eagle Picher did not stop using asbestos in its products until the 1970s. But evidence has revealed that numerous companies involved in manufacturing and selling asbestos-containing products knew about potential risks of exposure.
Attorneys representing victims and families claim employers like Eagle-Picher concealed available health information from workers and consumers.
Nearly any former worker at Eagle-Picher could be at risk of developing serious health issues, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Joe Lyon is a highly rated personal injury lawyer representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of toxic tort and mesothelioma claims.
Workers at High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
A wide variety of workers may have come in contact with Eagle-Picher asbestos insulation throughout the course of their careers. Occupations that experienced the highest exposure risks from Eagle-Picher products included insulators, roofers, and drywall installers. Any employee who worked in the vicinity of a job using Eagle-Picher insulation may have inhaled harmful asbestos fibers as well. Eagle-Picher also supplied asbestos products to the U.S. military, so servicemen faced exposure risks from its products.
While many studies stress that regular exposure to asbestos can pose the greatest threat to employees, medical evidence indicates that brief exposure to asbestos can cause fatal illnesses like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that research shows a “clear” and “strong link” between asbestos exposure and serious health issues like respiratory cancers.
Asbestos Litigation
Even though Eagle-Picher was forced into bankruptcy, victims can still make claims against the company and seek compensation. Many mesothelioma lawsuits have resulted in large verdicts or settlements.
Lawyers say many asbestos manufacturers focused on sales and profits, and failed to improve workplace safety standards. Some companies ignored emerging damaging medical evidence, and even hid information that might damage their business.
As a result, workers have filed asbestos-related claims against over 8,000 corporations. The number of victims is still growing, and lawyers in Ohio are currently involved in litigation.
The items made by Eagle-Picher became responsible for thousands of people becoming seriously ill. By 1982, personal injury lawsuits were being filed against Eagle Picher Industries. Eagle Picher has been named a defendant in more than 150,000 asbestos-related legal claims, forcing them to create an Asbestos Trust with more than $700 million available for victims.
If you or a loved one have suffered an asbestos-related illness after working at Eagle-Picher, and have questions about the legal remedies available to improve quality of life and medical care, contact The Lyon Firm. You will speak directly with Mr. Lyon, and he will help you answer these critical questions.
