Under the direction of AT&T in the 1950s, Western Electric, an American electrical engineering and manufacturing company, opened a large production facility in Columbus, Ohio.
The Columbus Works site, located on the east side of the city, officially began operating in 1957, and employed thousands of workers for decades until it closed. The production site became the primary manufacturing site for the company’s crossbar switches.
Western Electric manufactured switching systems and a variety of other electrical products including telephones, typewriters, alarms, and lighting. Many of the products were made with asbestos-containing machines, endangering many workers on the production floor.
The facilities themselves were also insulated with asbestos, putting many Columbus workers at risk of later developing asbestosis, and deadly cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Former Western Electric Plant workers at the Columbus, Ohio location 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 personal injury attorney representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of toxic tort and mesothelioma claims.
Located at 6200 East Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio, the Western Electric Columbus Works plant specialized in producing switching boards and cell sites with wireless electrical components. At its peak, the plant employed over 12,000 workers, each of whom may have been put at risk of asbestos exposure and later developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos was used in dozens of materials used in the manufacturing process and machine maintenance at Western Electric. Any worker who directly handled asbestos-containing material is at risk for developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Asbestos insulation was regularly used to line certain enameling machines—machines used at Western Electric to melt enamel onto copper wires, used in the components of telephone equipment. When staff maintained or repaired the machines, loose asbestos fibers were known to be released, which workers easily inhaled.
In addition to the machines, Western Electric buildings at the Columbus Works plant were heated by steam boilers. Much of the heating equipment, including pipes, pumps and boilers, were covered with asbestos insulation.
Boiler workers, pipefitters and maintenance crew performing maintenance or repairs were in direct contact with asbestos, and may develop mesothelioma or asbestosis as a result of heavy occupational exposure.
Because mesothelioma and asbestosis can lay dormant for decades, symptoms may not present until many years after first exposure. When symptoms appear, however, they may include the following:
• Chest Pains
• Pain in the lower back
• Lumps on chest and abdomen
• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
According to research published by the National Cancer Institute, asbestos exposure affects individuals by the following determining factors:
• Amount of asbestos involved
• Duration of exposure
• Specific chemical makeup of the asbestos fibers
• Source of exposure
• Personal risk factors, such as smoking and existing lung conditions
Former employees at the Columbus Works production site are at risk for developing an asbestos-related illness many years after initial exposure. Should victims fall ill and trace their medical conditions back to toxic materials at their former workplace, they may have a claim against Western Electric.
Lawyers argue that Western Electric and other American manufacturers knew about the dangers of asbestos, and failed to properly protect their employees. Most workers were not aware of the dangers of asbestos dust and performed their duties without protective gear. Many former workers have contacted experienced Ohio attorneys, and filed lawsuits that may recover medical expenses and rightful compensation.
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 though 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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