According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Wisconsin ranks 16th in the nation for the most asbestos-related diseases, with over 5,000 deaths. The high amount of deaths and illnesses in Wisconsin primarily stems from the heavy manufacturing, paper, and metal industries. Since the late 1890s, a multitude of businesses in Wisconsin used asbestos in their machinery, buildings, and parts, putting thousands upon thousands of workers at risk.
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top mesothelioma lawyers in Wisconsin, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
We are pleased to offer assistance to residents in all Wisconsin cities and towns, including
Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Janesville, West Allis, Appleton, La Crosse, Sheboygan, Wauwatosa, Fond Du Lac, New Berlin, Wausau, Brookfield, Greenfield, Beloit, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Manitowoc, West Bend, Sun Prairie, Superior, Stevens Point, Mount Pleasant Village, Fitchburg, Neenah, Caledonia Village, Muskego, De Pere, Mequon, Grand Chute, South Milwaukee, Pleasant Prairie, Germantown Village, Menasha Town, Onalaska, Cudahy, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Onalaska, Howard Village, Middleton, Ashwaubenon, Beaver Dam, Menomonie, Kaukauna, Watertown, Menasha, Weston Village, Bellevue, Hartford, Greendale, Whitefish Bay, Allouez, Chippewa Falls, Pewaukee, Shorewood, Glendale, Hudson, Stoughton, Fort Atkinson, Waunakee, Plover Village, Salem, Baraboo, Brown Deer, River Falls, Two Rivers, Grafton Village, Suamico, Cedarburg, Whitewater, Richfield Village, Port Washington, Platteville, Appleton, Verona, Marinette, Harrison, Monroe, Greenville, Sussex, Burlington, Little Chute, Portage, Lisbon, Elkhorn, Sparta, Merrill, Somers, St. Francis, Oregon Village, Reedsburg, Shawano, Tomah, and more.
Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Wisconsin
One of most prominent of cases of asbestos exposure in Wisconsin occurred at Four Wheel Drive, a brakes manufacturing company in Clintonville. Several workers at the facility began coughing and having difficulty breathing in the early 80s, which resulted in a complaint call to the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH).
In 1987, NIOSH evaluated the facility and found asbestos not only in the brake products but all over the machinery and equipment.
The Ladish Company, in Milwaukee, was also associated with asbestos. As a metal manufacturer, numerous furnaces containing asbestos were in operation every day for years. In addition, most of the pipes, machinery, and other equipment were riddled with asbestos.
Although the company provided medical monitoring for the workers, NIOSH determined that the X-rays given to employees were not accurately detecting of asbestos. Several workers at the Ladish company ended up with mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Several paper manufacturing companies also exposed workers to asbestos. Paper manufacturing companies placed some of the highest risks on workers in Wisconsin.
Several decades ago, Wisconsin was one of the leading paper manufacturing states. Wisconsin was home to several branches of leading paper manufacturing companies, such as Georgia-Pacific and Charmin.
Other Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Wisconsin
- Falls Paper and Power Company
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- Oconto Falls Tissue Inc.
- Scott Paper Company
- Scott Paper Mill
- Gardner Machine Company
- Hydro-Blast Corporation
- P. B. Yates Machine Company
- Rock River Generating Station
- Wisconsin Construction Company
- Wisconsin Power & Light Company
- Yates-American Machine Company
- Burlington Junior High School
- Carbonite Metal
- Helene Curtis
- Murphy Products
- Nestle Company Inc
- Nestle Usa, Inc.
- Case Threshing Machine Company
- Chicago Rubber Clothing Company
- Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Horlick High School
- J I Case Threshing Machine Company
- J. Bashaw, Inc.
- J.I. Case Company
- J.I. Case Senior High School
- Jacobson Thomas Tire Company
- Lakeside Malleable Castings Company
- Mosinee Paper Mill
- Industrial Insulation Corporation of Wisconsin
- Valley Ready Mixed Cement Company
- Wisconsin Cabinet and Panel Company
- Falls Paper and Power Company
- Wisconsin Power and Light
- Wisconsin Construction Company
Wisconsin Asbestos Facts and Statistics
- The majority of asbestos-related deaths in Wisconsin happened in urban areas, with Milwaukee and its surrounding areas having the most fatalities.
- The majority of asbestos-related deaths in Wisconsin were mesothelioma victims, followed by asbestosis victims.
- Both Polk and Kenosha County have the highest asbestos-related death rates in Wisconsin.
- Per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, pipefitters, plumbers, and steamfitters are the most frequently recorded occupations that led to asbestosis deaths.
- Almost 90% of all Wisconsin mesothelioma cases are caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.
Wisconsin Asbestos Laws
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services carries out the rules and regulations regarding asbestos abatement as well as asbestos administrative laws in the state of Wisconsin.
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Under Chapter 254 of the Wisconsin Environmental Health laws, prior to beginning an asbestos abatement project in Wisconsin, prior written notification must be provided to the state, detailing the information regarding the project.
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Anyone working on an asbestos abatement project must be state-certified and hold an asbestos certification.
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services can enter the area of an asbestos abatement project at any time to ensure that only qualified individuals are working on the project. Proof of qualification, such a certification card, may also be asked for and must be produced. Civil fees and fines may occur if anyone is caught working on an asbestos abatement project without the proper certification.
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Public schools and building that were built using asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) must have an asbestos management plan in place at all times. For public schools, parents must be notified of the asbestos management plan as well as the proper procedures should asbestos become disturbed.
For more in-depth, detailed information as well as additional asbestos rules and regulations in Wisconsin, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at 608-266-1865.
Getting Medical Help in Wisconsin
It’s crucial to find a physician that specializes in asbestos-related diseases as these types of illnesses are still considered rare in the medical world. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) makes this process easier by appointing worthy care centers and hospitals as NCI-designated facilities.
The Froedtert Hospital, in Milwaukee, is an NCI-designated care center with researchers, physicians, cancer experts, and healthcare specialists that focus on mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. Froedtert combines partnerships with an array of state and local facilities which has helped the hospital become the leading cancer care center in Wisconsin, including surrounding areas.
According to both NCI and the National Health Institute (NHI), it is highly recommended to seek treatment for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from a care center that specializes specifically in the disease you’re suffering from.
A typical family clinic and/or a general practitioner may not have the expertise and knowledge that a physician who specializes in asbestos cancer has. For more information, visit the official NCI website.
New Asbestos Lawsuit Law in Wisconsin
In May of 2013, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a new bill that requires plaintiffs and their attorneys filing an asbestos-related lawsuit must reveal any other companies the attorney sued, in addition to the plaintiff. The new law was brought about as a means to limit to prevent attorneys from maximizing awards on several claims.
Supporters of the bill claim it’s also a way to allow a jury to understand just how many defendants are at fault for one individual’s asbestos-related illness, which in turn may bring about higher award amounts for plaintiffs.
Those who oppose the bill indicated that it’s just another attempt to prolong asbestos-related cases until the victim dies. On the other hand, this could mean the award amount would become much higher should the families of those victims sue for wrongful death.
Wisconsin Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits
The statute of limitations when filing an asbestos-related lawsuit in Wisconsin starts within three years from the time the illness is first discovered or within three years from the date that it should have been reasonably discovered.
Wrongful death lawsuits must also be filed within three years; however, the time starts according to the date of the victim’s death.
Legal Help in Wisconsin
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. Keep in mind that you may qualify for substantial compensation if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis. For additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
