The Indiana Michigan Power Company, now owned and operated by American Electric Power (AEP), is a large regional power provider and employer to hundreds of residents in the Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Bridgman, Michigan areas.
Employees at Indiana Michigan Power at the Tanners Creek and Donald Cook plants are likely to have worked in areas heavily insulated with asbestos, and may have been exposed to dangerous, cancer-causing fibers at the workplace.
Because of dangerous fire hazards at power plants, asbestos insulation has been utilized for decades at many industrial facilities. Asbestos was once thought to be one of the most effective insulating materials, and the toxic material was installed around walls, pipes, boilers, electrical components and heavy machinery.
Many former Indiana Michigan Power Company workers were at risk of asbestos exposure, potentially leading to serious cancers like mesothelioma.
Nearly any Indiana Michigan Power Workers 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.
Former employees in power plants, especially those on the floor (welders, electricians, pipefitters and maintenance workers) were in regular contact with asbestos-insulated areas.
Indiana Michigan workers exposed to asbestos fibers, and who have inhaled the substance, may develop deep scarring in the tissue surrounding the lungs, leading to diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Former Indiana Michigan employees at Tanners Creek and Donald Cook plants have filed claims against the company for failing to provide a safe workplace and for failing to warn employees of the serious risks.
Aside from facilities being insulated with asbestos materials, power plant workers added to their exposure risks by wearing asbestos-containing protective garb, including asbestos aprons, gloves and masks. The following asbestos-containing products were once commonly used in Indiana and Michigan power plants:
• Fire-resistant clothing (gloves, aprons, masks)
• Insulation in boiler rooms (piping)
• Electric cable insulation
• Fire blankets/mesh blankets
• Welder’s blankets
High-risk positions at power plants may include:
• Insulators
• Welders
• Maintenance Crews
• Boiler operators
• Pipefitters
• Machinists
• Mechanics
• Electricians
A relevant study published by the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology concluded that a vast number of employees in the power generation industry have an increased risk of exposure to asbestos, and may lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
A separate study, published by the British Journal of Industrial Medicine, reported that even minimal asbestos exposure experienced by power plant workers “may induce malignant mesothelioma.”
Asbestos-related illnesses may take decades to develop, so former workers of Indiana Michigan Power plants should vigilant of changes in their health. Mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs, causes symptoms that can include:
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Painful coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Unusual lumps of tissue in the chest
• Weight loss
The Midwestern states, including Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, rank among the highest with people likely to develop deadly cancers such as mesothelioma, following asbestos exposure. The large number of power plants operating in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan is a serious health concern. Those impacted in Lawrenceburg and Bridgman may have cancer claims.
Mesothelioma attorneys claim management at many power plants around the country knew about the terrible risks of asbestos, and failed to warn workers about the dangers, or provide proper safety training.
American courts have found several power companies negligent for injury and illness, and more lawsuits are filed each year. Any person who may have been exposed to asbestos at an Indiana Michigan Power Company plant can seek compensation through legal action.
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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 Asbestos Lawyer. The Lyon Firm has 19 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: 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 asbestos settlements.
Asbestos can be found in factories, power plants, homes built before 1980, construction sites, and in many military bases. 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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