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Asbestos Exposure at Power Plants

Power Plant MesotheliomaSince power plants use combustion in order to generate electricity, whether the fuel is coal or natural gas, and this process generates intense heat. Power plants once used large quantities of heat-resistant asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Unfortunately, the companies that built and operated these power plants, and the companies that made the asbestos-containing products used in these power plants, failed to adequately warn workers about the dangers of asbestos exposure. While newer power plants use alternative fire- and heat-resistant materials, most older power plants still contain ACMs. Meanwhile, workers who may have been exposed to the dangerous substance decades ago are just now getting sick or may not even know they’re at risk for developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
 

Asbestos in Power Plants Prior to the 1980s

When the U.S. government began regulating asbestos in the 1970s, many power plant owners failed to take preventative measures and relay information about the dangers of exposure to workers. In addition to its use in a wide variety of components and building materials, asbestos was also often incorporated into the masks, mitts, aprons, and other protective gear worn by workers to protect them from heat and fire. But anyone working at a power plant, including white collar employees in addition to laborers, would have been exposed to potentially dangerous levels of the asbestos material.

The list of ACMs used in power plants includes boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, pipe covering, fireproofing sprays, panels, plaster, bricks, gaskets, packing, cement, and even raw asbestos fibers. In addition, many of these materials also were found in transformer stations and other facilities involved in the distribution of power.
 

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Power Plants

While anyone exposed to asbestos in a power plant could potentially become exposed, certain professions – those in close proximity to the disturbance of asbestos (meaning the fibers are exposed and airborne) – present the highest levels of risk. Roughly 55,000 people are employed by power plants in the United States; and while they are better protected than ever, asbestos exposure is still a risk (although at much lower levels than before).

Workers who install and maintain pipes and electrical appliances, in addition to anyone involved in refurbishing older power plants (typically by cutting into and removing ACMs), are among those at the highest risk. And while it’s no longer in practice, workers would often spray or apply asbestos on boilers, pipes, and other equipment in the course of their duties. This means any workers who either did these tasks or spent time in these typically tight quarters (with poor ventilation) would inhale the asbestos fibers commonly floating in the air. Those working in power plants now still may be exposed to asbestos through contact with in-place asbestos insulation that may be deteriorating or in poor condition.
 

Have You Worked at a Power Plant? You May be at Risk

Studies have shown that power plant workers — the most directly involved in the generation of power — were at much greater risk of developing an asbestos-related illness than many other occupations. And despite regulations, the use of asbestos alternatives, and better protective measures, longtime power plant workers (and those who have retired) still may be at risk for mesothelioma but have not yet shown symptoms. Most mesothelioma cases are of the less-aggressive epithelial cell type, while the more aggressive form of the disease (and also the least common) is sarcomatoid mesothelioma. If you believe you or a loved one may have been exposed to asbestos, early detection may improve your chances of recovery.

The attorneys from MesoLawyersCare have recovered more than $10 billion dollars for people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Our firm has successfully represented current and former power plant workers, and their family members, who developed mesothelioma as the result of exposure. For more information or a free consultation, fill out the form on this page, have a live chat now with one of our representatives, or call our offices.
 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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Contact MesoLawyersCare Now

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve from the billions of dollars in asbestos trust funds available now for qualified asbestos victims. With just one call, you can put all our experience and success to work for you.

We have represented thousands of victims of mesothelioma and their families in virtually every State in the country and in decades of work have recovered billions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients.

Call us now at 1-888-568-1177, fill out the form on this page or chat with a live person. The consultation is free and it costs nothing upfront to hire the lawyers behind MesoLawyersCare. We only get paid if you collect a settlement or verdict and you will never receive a bill from us.

 

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