Many asbestos exposure victims in Pennsylvania have started and won lawsuits. They have gotten compensation for their medical bills. These people experienced negligent exposure and later were diagnosed with mesothelioma or other illnesses. Most of these victims handled or worked around asbestos while at work.
Several different industries in the state used asbestos because of its availability, low cost, and resistance to heat and fire. Hundreds of workplaces exposed workers to his harmful mineral. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you get the compensation to which you’re rightfully entitled for being negligently exposed to asbestos anywhere in the state.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top mesothelioma lawyers in Pennsylvania, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a mesothelioma or asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
We offer assistance to asbestos victims and their families in all areas of Pennsylvania, including:
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Upper Darby, Scranton, Bensalem, Lancaster,Lower Merion, Bethlehem, Abington, Bristol Township, Millcreek Township, Harrisburg, Haverford, Lower Paxton, Altoona, Middletown Township, York City, Hempfield Township, Penn Hills, State College, Wilkes, Barre, Northampton Township, Manheim Township, Cheltenham, Norristown, Falls Township, Chester,Mount Lebanon, Warminster, Lower Makefield, Bethel Park, Radnor, Lower Macungie, Ross Township, Ridley, North Huntingdon, Tredyffrin, Williamsport, Cranberry Township, McCandless, Shaler, Upper Merion, Monroeville, Hampden, York Township, Plum Borough, Spring Township, Whitehall Township, Easton, Springettsbury, Horsham, Upper Dublin, Exeter Township, Lower Providence, Lebanon, Montgomery Township, Hazleton, Moon, Derry Township, Susquehanna Township, Springfield Township, Upper Moreland, Swatara Township, Bethlehem Township, East Hempfield, Warrington Township, Marple, New Castle,West Goshen, Unity, Pottstown, Upper Providence Township, Peters Township, Upper Macungie, Dover Township, East Pennsboro, Palmer, Johnstown, Coolbaugh, Chambersburg, West Mifflin, Buckingham Township, Murrysville, Manor Township, Penn Township, Baldwin Borough, Muhlenberg, McKeesport, Springfield Township, Bethlehem, Newtown Township, South Whitehall, Upper St. Clair, Stroud, Whitpain, Lower Southampton, West Manchester.
Asbestos History in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s industrial history stretches back more than a hundred years. The state’s iron industry began with a single forge in 1716. For decades after that, the state’s economy depended heavily on iron mining and processing.
By the mid-1800s, the economy had diversified but stayed largely industrial, a major setting for asbestos use. Factories, railroads, and textile mills contributed to the industrialization of Pennsylvania, making the state one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the pre-Civil War U.S. From 1861 until the mid-20th century.
The industrialized economy and strong growth in Pennsylvania over the years has had a serious impact on worker exposure to asbestos. Most of the important industries in the state used asbestos in many materials.
Mining
Pennsylvania is better known for coal mining, but several companies also mined asbestos in the state. Asbestos mines were mostly located in the southeast region. Before the end of asbestos mining in the U.S., workers extracted large amounts of from these mines, putting workers and nearby residents at risk of exposure.
Crocidolite, one of the most dangerous types of asbestos, was a major product of Pennsylvania mines. The mines are currently inactive, but the past activities spread this harmful asbestos dust into the nearby environment. It contaminated air, water, and soil. Any activity in the area now risks disturbing the fibers and causing exposure.
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding and shipping have long been important industries in Pennsylvania. Several major shipyards still operate in the state on the Delaware estuary and Lake Erie. These include Penn Shipbuilding, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Key Highway Shipyard, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and Sun Shipbuilding.
From the 1930s through the 1970s, shipbuilders used asbestos in almost every component and material. It could be found in insulation, fireproofing and firefighting materials, hulls, engineering spaces, pipes, gaskets, boilers, insulation, and electrical wiring. Shipyard workers who cleaned or repaired older ships may have stirred the asbestos fibers into the air and inhaled them.
Military Bases
Military bases of all types also used asbestos in many applications. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, for instance, likely caused exposure in a number of seamen and other workers because of the heavy use of asbestos on navy ships. Three other bases may have also caused exposure: the Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, the Tobyhanna Army Depot, and the Carlisle Barracks.
The Joint Reserve Base (JRB) at Willow Grove was a Naval Air Station when it opened in 1926. It was re-designated as a multi-service joint base in 1994 and closed in 2005.
All of these military facilities operated during the tie of peak use of asbestos materials. Many of the men and women stationed there faced the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers.
Plants and Factories
Industrial factories like steel plants, power stations, and manufacturing facilities used asbestos for decades. The mineral provided unparalleled heat and fire insulation. Asbestos contamination has been found and documented at Alcoa Aluminum, Bethlehem Steel, Electralloy, Ling-Temco Vought (LTV), and U.S. Steel (USX).
Asbestos Statistics in the State
Industrial companies, military installations, mines, and construction and shipbuilding companies all contributed to asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania:
- Exposure caused 1,675 mesothelioma-related deaths from 1999 to 2008.
- Another 322 people died from other asbestos illnesses.
- Statistics published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that Pennsylvania’s mesothelioma death rate is 20.8 per 1 million residents.
Asbestos Laws in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania state legislature responded to the dangers of asbestos fibers by passing the Pennsylvania Asbestos Occupations Accreditation Act of 1990. It gives the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) responsibility for regulating the removal, collection, and disposal of ACMs from public and commercial buildings.
The state’s Department of Labor and Industry enforces the Pennsylvania Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act. It says that any person planning an asbestos reduction or abatement project must notify the department at least five days before beginning.
Pennsylvania’s asbestos abatement rules also follow the federal guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These regulations require any person planning to remove and dispose of asbestos in a public or commercial building to notify the agency at least ten days in advance.
The EPA guidelines also require that only certified, trained asbestos workers handle asbestos materials. Pennsylvania bans non-certified individuals from jobs involving asbestos, including workers, supervisors, project designers, inspectors, planners and contractors.
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits
The 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5501 et seq. is the personal injury statute of limitations for the state of Pennsylvania, which applies to mesothelioma cases. When filing a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit, you must do so within two years of the discovery of the asbestos-related illness. Asbestos-related wrongful death lawsuits follow the same statute. They must be be filed within two years of the victim’s death.
Pennsylvania Asbestos Legal Assistance
Keep in mind that if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the leading asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
