Thousands of Ohio Crankshaft and Park Drop Forge workers in Cleveland, Ohio are at risk of serious health issues as a result of asbestos exposure. Regardless of their position, most factory workers at Ohio Crankshaft plants with asbestos faced an occupational exposure. Production sites were packed with asbestos bricks, drywall, and insulation on heating and water pipes.
When inhaled, asbestos fibers become lodged in tissues surrounding the lungs, causing permanent scarring. The embedded fibers can later develop into asbestosis and increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. A study published nearly 40 years ago by the Journal of Occupational Medicine concluded automobile makers have an increased risk of cancer.
Yet, with the knowledge that workers were facing health hazards, corporations continued manufacturing dangerous products, and failed to warn employees of the risks. Nearly any worker in an Ohio Crankshaft or Park Drop Forge plant could be at risk of developing serious health issues, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati asbestos lawyer and Ohio toxic tort attorney representing Park Drop Forge workers in mesothelioma claims.
Ohio Crankshaft Asbestos
Auto parts are manufactured with asbestos because of its heat-resistant qualities. However, when these parts begin to break down over time, asbestos dust can fill the workspaces of auto plants. Reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advise mechanics and plant workers to “assume that all brakes have asbestos-type shoes.”
Asbestos dust and fibers can travel up to 75 feet from the work being performed. When the fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled, ingested or stuck to workers’ hands and clothes. In this manner, asbestos can easily be carried home, exposing entire families to the hazards of the workplace. The following plant positions are considered particularly high-risk:
- Appliance repairers and installers
- Auto mechanics
- Brake and Clutch assemblers
- Boiler workers
- Insulators
- Machinists
- Warehouse part pickers
- Lathe operators
- Drill press operators
- Grinding operators—workers polishing product surfaces
- Assembly line workers
- Maintenance Crews
Auto Parts Contain Asbestos
Some auto parts contain more asbestos material than others. At one point, the concentration of asbestos in auto components like brakes was estimated at around 30 to 80 percent. Other auto parts that can pose a threat include the following:
- Adhesives
- Automatic Transmission
- Brake Linings
- Clutch Linings
- Disc Brakes
- Drum Brakes
- Engine housing
- Manual Transmission
- Hoodliners
- Clutches
- Gaskets
- Heat Seals
- Valve Rings
- Brake shoes
Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Illness
Asbestos-related cancers have a long latency period, and many workers may not be diagnosed for up to 50 years after exposure. Signs and symptoms of lung diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma may include:
• Chest Pain
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling of the abdomen
Ohio Crankshaft Asbestos Lawsuits
Several auto companies have been targeted in recent asbestos cancer lawsuits, many as a result of their asbestos-containing brake linings and clutch facings. The company also knowingly purchased parts containing asbestos from third-party companies, further exposing consumers and employees to the dangerous products.
• An auto mechanic who worked at GM for 36 years alleged that asbestos from brake linings and clutch facings caused him to develop mesothelioma. A jury awarded the victim $2 million.
• In another case, a warehouse worker died of mesothelioma after he was exposed to General Motors asbestos products when working at a GM distribution warehouse. A New Jersey jury awarded his family more than $30 million in damages.
