LORAIN STEEL 
Asbestos Exposure

Workers at Republic Steel, US Steel and Lorain Steel Works & Lorain Tubular were likely exposed to asbestos, and may later develop lung diseases, including mesothelioma.

Workers at steel mills across the country generally knew about the health and safety risks involved with employment at large industrial work areas. Physical injury and occupational illness were not uncommon. But workers were not always warned and protected by their employers.

The steel industry has improved in terms of OSHA safety standards, but at one point, thousands of workers at Lorain Steel Mills like Republic Steel and US Steel and countless other steel mills were exposed to asbestos and other toxins that increased the risk of developing cancer.

Management at Lorain Steel, Republic Steel, and US Steel may have failed to openly outline the dangerous workplace conditions for workers, and as a result, many former workers have fallen ill with lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Other cancers are linked to asbestos as well, and instances of pulmonary fibrosis are related to a variety of industrial tasks.

Was management to blame? Some companies knew about the health risks for years before work safety changes were made. We believe employers have a duty to protect workers to the best of their ability, and if they fail to do so, victims may have a personal injury claim. Asbestos trust funds have been established for many companies to handle these claims, and our lawyers are well-versed in getting the maximum payouts for plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with cancer.

When employers at steel processing plants assigned tasks that put workers into direct contact with asbestos, they should have given them protective garb and properly ventilated areas. But this was not always done, and shortcuts and cost-savings led to the premature death of many former steel mill staff.

Boilers, piping, packing materials, machinery and heat-resistant clothing contained asbestos in steel mills, and certain staff were regularly handling toxic products. Not until the 1970s did steel mills in Lorain and throughout the nation stop introducing asbestos into the workplace. But by the time the EPA warned the public and new insulating materials were used, the mills were already filled to the brim with toxins in equipment and buildings. Thus, exposure to asbestos lasted long after authorities knew the risks.

Attorneys have concluded in many cases that companies failed to inform employees of the presence of asbestos, failed to train workers on the risks, failed to measure the levels of asbestos in the air, and failed to properly remove the material from work areas.

Many former workers at Lorain steel plants have been diagnosed with occupational cancers and other serious lung diseases. The great majority of these cases are caused by toxic work sites.

Nearly any worker in a US Steel or Lorain, Ohio steel works could be at risk of developing asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Where Was Asbestos in Lorain Steel Plants?

Asbestos was used in the steel plant buildings themselves and in machinery insulation, boilers, and piping. 

Asbestos was commonly found in equipment that included the following:

•    Ovens
•    Hot blast stoves
•    Furnaces
•    Rolling mills
•    Tanks
•    Boilers
•    Cranes
•    Steam pipes

Workers at Lorain Steel were also likely exposed to toxins if they donned protective, heat-resistant garments. The asbestos clothing was meant to protect workers, though history  shows it had the opposite effect. Toxic fibers within the clothing were released and possibly inhaled by workers or even family members at Lorain Steel and National Tube.

Cancer cases can be diagnosed 40 years or more after a person was first exposed to asbestos. Lawyers claim that Steel mills in Ohio knew about potential health dangers of asbestos products but chose not to alert their workforce and put profits before safety.