Simpson Paper Mill Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Cancer Attorney

Representing Simpson Paper Mill Workers in Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Claims

Before the terrible health risks of asbestos were known, particularly before the 1980s, certain Simpson Paper workers could have been facing asbestos exposure on a daily basis. The more a worker handled toxic materials, the higher the cancer risk, but any amount of exposure to asbestos can raise the risk of developing cancers such as colon cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and EPA have labeled mesothelioma as a fatal cancer “primarily associated with exposure to asbestos.” That wasn’t always common knowledge which is why so many industrial giants and paper mills used the material as an insulator.

Paper milling and paper pulping usually involve very high heat, and asbestos was ideal because it was heat-resistant and cheap. Simpson Paper workers were likely exposed around machines, and many operators and machine repair servicemen were at high risk. The safety risks were seen well into the 1980s, and millions of paper industry workers were exposed to various toxic chemicals and products.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Asbestos Cancer Lawyer reviewing paper mill asbestos exposure for workers nationwide.

Simpson Paper Mill Asbestos Exposure

Paper plants were obviously wary of the fire risks that went hand in hand with the industry which is why many of the paper mills and warehouses were insulated with such a great deal of asbestos materials. For fire prevention, construction materials like the roofing, flooring, paneling, cement and equipment were all made with asbestos.

Lung Disease & Paper Mill Workers

Hundreds of former paper industry workers have been diagnosed with related cancers and conditions. Symptoms can present many years after toxic exposure, and some of the more common signs include:

• Pain in the side of the chest or lower back
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Trouble swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling of the face and arms

Simpson Paper mill employees were exposed to asbestos more often in different positions and tasks. Some of the occupations most at risk included:

• Machine setters
• Machine tenders and operators
• Truck and tractor operators
• Printing machine operators
• Screen printers
• Floor supervisors
• Inspectors and quality control officers
• System operators
• Assemblers and fabricators
• Boiler workers
• Maintenance workers

One study found that among paper industry staff, the worst asbestos exposure occurred in maintenance workers. Some materials like dryer felts were replaced often, and asbestos fibers were released  endangering maintenance employees. Other tasks that may have increased the risk of encountering toxic materials included:

• 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