Individuals who work in textile mills often encounter asbestos exposure. Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford is committed to seeking justice for textile mill workers exposed to asbestos.
In the late 1970s, a landmark case known as Barnett v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp et al. found that asbestos companies hid the hazards of exposure from workers and consumers. That case sparked worry and fear among Americans who worked in industries where asbestos was prominent. One of those industries was textiles.
Before the 1980s, textile mill workers consistently used asbestos to produce products such as pot holders and fireproof safety clothing. Since asbestos is known to have properties that make it resistant to heat and fire, it was essential for creating goods that required protection from high temperatures.
However, studies found continuous exposure to asbestos was harmful to the human body. One study in Italy found that textile workers exposed to asbestos were 37 times more likely to contract mesothelioma than the general population.
Government agencies, including the CDC and the EPA, have found results correlating asbestos exposure with an increased potential for mesothelioma and lung cancers.
Many textile mills that regularly use asbestos to produce specific fabrics are no longer open. However, employees who worked for them have a significant risk of contracting mesothelioma or lung cancer due to their past exposure.
Textile mill workers and asbestos exposure go hand in hand. Anyone working in these mills can potentially contract mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other cancers due to the prevalence of asbestos in the factories.
Not only was asbestos the main ingredient of many textile products at one time, but it was also part of the machinery used in the mills. Many of the same factories contained asbestos in the form of insulation as well.
Textile workers who regularly incorporate asbestos into fire-resistant products, like welding blankets, oven mitts, and roofing felts, are at increased risk of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer. Regular interaction with machinery used to create the products, such as drying machines, boilers, and weavers, only heightens the risk.
While the EPA has required companies to stop using asbestos in many goods, it hasn’t been banned entirely. Asbestos is still imported into the U.S. regularly and used to manufacture certain products, such as auto brake pads and car gaskets.
Anyone who has worked at a textile mill in the last century has likely been exposed to asbestos. However, the employees with the greatest likelihood of significant asbestos exposure were those in direct contact with the substance.
Before the 1980s, little was known about the dangers of asbestos. Thus, textile mills did not require workers to wear protective gear such as gloves or respirators. Many people brought asbestos fibers home with them on their clothing.
Workers with the highest risk of asbestos exposure included those responsible for cleaning, carding, or spinning asbestos into the fabric. These individuals worked daily with asbestos, regularly touching the substance and inhaling it with no protection.
Maintenance workers at textile mills were also consistently exposed to asbestos. Workers responsible for maintaining machinery and the cleanliness of the factory regularly came into contact with asbestos through touch and by inhaling the fibers.
Close relatives and housemates of workers who regularly handled asbestos are also at increased risk of health problems. Since these workers left their jobs daily with asbestos fibers on their clothing and bodies, these fibers frequently made their way into the air and onto furniture and other objects when they arrived home.
There’s a strong, demonstrable connection between textile mill workers and asbestos exposure in certain companies. While many of these mills are no longer operational, prior employees may develop mesothelioma or lung cancer due to their exposure.
Some of the main offenders include:
If you or a loved one has worked for any of these textile mills during the past century, you were likely exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, textile mill workers and asbestos exposure are concurrent with multiple diseases and illnesses, including various types of cancer.
If you have health problems related to asbestos exposure during your time working at a textile mill, you don’t have to fight the battle alone. Thousands of people have been awarded compensation for the illnesses they’ve sustained due to working for companies that produce goods containing asbestos.
People who worked for a textile mill prior to the 1980s may qualify to receive monetary damages if they now suffer from any of the following conditions:
If you’re suffering from an illness related to asbestos exposure, it’s essential to seek legal assistance to obtain the damages you’re due. Even if you have a family member that’s passed on due to one of these illnesses, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
An experienced attorney at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC can help you start a claim relating to textile mill workers and asbestos exposure. Our firm is renowned for its dedication to helping individuals suffering from illnesses sustained as a result of asbestos exposure in all industries.
We realize that many of these people understandably focus on recovery and treatment — some aren’t healthy enough to take on a big court case, which could be emotionally and physically taxing.
However, we will do most of the work as we pursue your claim for asbestos exposure. Once we have your information, we can pursue litigation on your behalf, with little effort required from you.
At Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC, we’re known for our winning record in personal injury law, especially for individuals exposed to asbestos.
In 1989, our firm became the first in New York State to win a personal injury verdict for a worker exposed to asbestos. Since then, we’ve secured over $1 billion in damages for clients who contracted mesothelioma and other diseases due to asbestos exposure.
Our foremost concern is helping our clients get the compensation they deserve. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and companies cannot be allowed to evade their responsibility to ensure a healthy environment for their workers.
Contact Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC to schedule a free consultation for legal claims concerning textile mill workers and asbestos exposure. We’ll review your case thoroughly to understand how your previous employment at a textile mill and consequent exposure to asbestos resulted in the illness you have now.
Our personal injury lawyers are committed to ensuring that our clients are represented fairly and recover the compensation they need to seek treatment.
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There are surely many excellent, smart, and hard-working attorneys and John Comerford and Zach Woods rank as those. What sets John and Zach apart from those other excellent, smart, and hard-working attorneys are two factors. The first factor is passion. They truly care about what they do and they truly are in it to help people. The money they make (which is substantial) is a result of that passion and not the root of what drives them. The second factor is, for lack of a better phrase, simply “customer service.” If you call or email John or Zach, they will either pick up right away or, if they are busy, they respond quickly that “hey, we will get right back to you.” And then they get actually back to you. So if you have suffered a substantial, life-changing, catastrophic injury, the burden of that injury is enough. You shouldn’t also contend with passionless and aloof attorneys – and that is why you should choose John and Zach. – Justin C.
We hope that you will never be diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or suffer a catastrophic injury, but if you are, contact us at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford so we can begin the fight.
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