Former employees of Dayton, Ohio’s Howard Paper Company are at serious risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls mesothelioma “a fatal cancer primarily associated with exposure to asbestos.”
Howard Paper Company was not alone in endangering workers. Thousands of workers in Ohio’s paper industry could have been at risk for asbestos exposure. Like many factories built and until the 1970s, paper mills regularly used asbestos in building materials as well as in basic mill machinery.
Because many of Howard Paper’s milling operations such as pulping involved extreme temperatures, asbestos was used to insulate many areas in the workplace.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati asbestos lawyer and Ohio personal injury attorney representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of toxic tort and mesothelioma claims.
Paper mills were constructed with industrial materials such as adhesives, piping, ceiling and floor tiles and cement that contained asbestos. As a result, toxic asbestos dust collected in the air, which exposed almost any worker in the plant.
When workers inhale asbestos for long periods of time, the fibers may become lodged in the tissue surrounding the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring, and lead to asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma.
When symptoms of mesothelioma present themselves, the disease is usually in its later stages. Some signs present as the following:
• Pain in the side of the chest or back
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling of the face and arms
Paper mill workers may have been exposed to asbestos during different stages in the manufacturing process, including the following:
• Machine setters
• Machine tenders and operators
• Truck and tractor operators
• Printing machine operators
• Screen printers
• System operators
• Assemblers and fabricators
• Boiler workers
• Maintenance workers
Maintenance staff at paper mills faced some of the highest risk of toxic exposure. One study found that among paper industry employees, the majority of fatal asbestos exposure occurred in maintenance workers.
• Paper cutting, sawing and slicing
• Banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets
• Transporting raw materials (wood, pulp, etc.)
• Inspecting machines
• Repairing machines
• Handling talc and sanding paper
• Working on piping and boilers
The American Journal of Epidemiology published a serious study that found mill workers were “at increased risk of dying from lung cancer and mesothelioma, probably due to exposure to asbestos.”
A Swedish study in 2001 also showed an increased risk of mesothelioma among paper mill workers. Over 70 percent of the victims had been exposed to asbestos, the majority working as maintenance workers in the factories
Ohio asbestos attorneys have filed claims against several Ohio paper mills, stating they provided dangerous products, and endangered thousands of workers.
Any former employee of Howard Paper may have been exposed to toxins in an unsafe work environment. Attorneys in Ohio claim some paper companies have been negligent for the following:
• Failing to warn employees of the presence of asbestos fibers on their premises
• Failing to comply with state and federal safety regulations
• Failing to take measures to protect employees from airborne asbestos exposure
• Failing to implement precautions and provide necessary safety equipment
ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
NO COST UNLESS WE WIN
The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
Many experience asbestos exposure through the workplace. Workplaces may have been filled with toxic materials, and employers may have failed to warn of the serious health risks of the job. Filing a suit helps to raise the awareness of job safety.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was first utilized in the early 1900s for its insulating abilities, fireproof properties, and versatility. It has been estimated that over 30 million tons of asbestos was used in the American economy in industrial yards, homes, schools, shipyards, and other workplaces.
The natural breakdown of asbestos products and subsequent sawing or cutting of the asbestos creates dust and fibers that are inhaled and can lead to mesothelioma and other severe forms of lung cancer.
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 piping, insulation, electrical components, machine parts, packaging, flooring, ceiling tiles, roofing, and in many building materials.
If you were exposed to asbestos at your workplace, and have developed cancer or a related illness, you are likely to qualify for compensation.
Asbestos 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.
The success rates of settlements regarding asbestos exposure injury are quite high. It may be necessary to prove that occupational exposure is the primary cause of lung cancer or mesothelioma, though this is the job of The Lyon Firm, and we have experience in reaching large mesothelioma settlements.
Our Firm will help you find the answers. The Firm has the experience, resources and dedication to take on difficult and emotional cases and help our clients obtain the justice for the wrong they have suffered.
Experience: Joe Lyon is an experienced Cincinnati Asbestos Lawyer. The Lyon Firm has 17 years of experience and success representing individuals and plaintiffs in all fifty states, and in a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Asbestos lawsuits can be complex and require industry experts to determine the root cause of an accident or injury. Mr. Lyon has worked with experts nationwide to assist individuals understand why an injury occurred and what can be done to improve their lives in the future. Some cases may go to a jury trial, though many others can be settled out of court.
Resources/Dedication: Mr. Lyon has worked with experts in the fields of accident reconstruction, biomechanics, epidemiology, metallurgy, pharmacology, toxicology, human factors, workplace safety, life care planning, economics, and virtually every medical discipline in successfully representing Plaintiffs across numerous areas of law. The Lyon Firm is dedicated to building the strongest cases possible for clients and their critical interests.
Results: Mr. Lyon has obtained numerous seven and six figure results.
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. 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.
The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against companies due to asbestos exposure.
Asbestos (Mesothelioma)
Asbestos (Mesothelioma)
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