DANGEROUS OCCUPATIONS
Oil refinery workers risk mesothelioma due to pervasive presence of asbestos

January 12, 2009 - Oil refinery workers are among those occupations carrying the highest risk of asbestos exposure, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Oil drilling is hazardous by its very nature. Even in crude form, it is highly flammable, which is the reason asbestos-containing products were used as insulation. The problem is that over time this material becomes brittle, causing it to flake off, producing airborne asbestos dust that can get into workers’ lungs.

Ironically, the protective gear issued by some oil companies were themselves the source of toxic asbestos. Asbestos fire-suits made prior to the 1980s could expose the wearer to fibers as the suits became worn or damaged.

The truth about asbestos

Despite the potentially fatal health consequences associated with asbestos exposure, asbestos is still imported and used in the United States for its insulation properties. The United States imported and used an estimated 1,820 tons of asbestos in 2007.

Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma. This disease is most often the result of industrial workplace exposure to asbestos – and usually contracted through employers’ blatant disregard for the health and safety of their workers.

Time to seek justice!

That’s why people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their family members have strong cases in court. Anyone who worked for an oil refinery contractor should realize that the company they worked for 30 to 40 years ago is now probably part of Exxon or BP. This situation is a good reason to hire a law firm that specializes in asbestos litigation.

Weitz & Luxenberg has access to databases for tracking the corporate evolution of oil companies. Our firm has protected the legal rights of oil refinery workers for 25 years – longer than most law firms in the nation. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and seek FREE legal guidance and answers to your concerns, please notify us through the communication form below. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, future and past lost wages, and damages. There is no cost to you until we win a settlement or a verdict.