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  • Home > Machinists and Asbestos Exposure

Machinists and Asbestos Exposure

A machinist fabricates metal parts and equipment — including industrial valves, pumps, piping systems, parts for ships and railroad and various types of machines — to exacting specifications. For decades, many replacement parts and equipment had asbestos insulation, asbestos-containing gaskets and other asbestos material. A machinist replacing a valve and gasket would be exposed to asbestos dust when removing a worn out gasket or when cutting a new gasket out of asbestos-containing materials. People are more aware today of the dangers of asbestos. Yet asbestos dust is present throughout many older factories and industries.

If you worked as a machinist and doctors have diagnosed you with mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease, you should talk to an experienced mesothelioma claims attorney. You have legal rights to seek compensation from the asbestos manufacturers who caused your disease. The asbestos litigation lawyers at Belluck & Fox LLP represent machinists diagnosed with mesothelioma in New York and nationwide. We may be able to help obtain compensation to cover your medical bills and provide financial stability for your family, while you focus on your health.

To speak with an experienced asbestos claims attorney, call (888) 803-6231 or use our online contact form.

How Machinists Are Exposed to Asbestos

Machinists use power tools such as lathes, drill presses, milling machines and grinders to produce metal parts to precise specifications. The job involves cutting metal, steel, titanium, plastic, silicon and other materials that need to be shaped. Production machinists may produce large quantities of a specific precision part. Maintenance machinists make repairs and fabricate replacement parts for existing machines. Many manufacturers and industries have in-house machine shops and employ machinists. For decades, asbestos was used as an insulation material in many of the parts and equipment that machinists handled. Machinists could inhale asbestos dust when working around machinery that had asbestos-containing materials or asbestos insulation. Any machinist exposed to asbestos is at risk of development of mesothelioma.

Starting during World War II, the Navy employed shipyard outside machinists. Outside machinists fabricated equipment to be installed above and below deck in ships. The duties of an outside machinist included using portable grinders, overhauling valves, grinding valve seats, making gaskets and seals, overhauling pumps, and installing steam boilers, winches, propellers and propulsion motors. Much of the equipment a machinist worked with produced heat and therefore incorporated asbestos insulation. But cutting the asbestos material exposed the machinist to breathing asbestos dust, a cause of mesothelioma and lung cancer. In some instances, machinists wore asbestos-insulated aprons or gloves to shield themselves when handling hot materials. As they wore out, asbestos aprons and gloves were a source of friable asbestos dust.

Machinists exposed to asbestos in the 1970s may only now be receiving a diagnosis of asbestos-related disease because of the long lapse between exposure to asbestos and appearance of symptoms of mesothelioma. Unfortunately, many asbestos manufacturers knew or should have known of the hazards of asbestos. Yet they continued to sell asbestos-containing products jeopardizing the health of hard-working men and women.  If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have the legal right to seek compensation for the harm done to your health. The law is on your side if your health has been harmed through the negligence of an employer or asbestos manufacturer.

Contact An Experienced Mesothelioma Claims Attorney

At Belluck & Fox LLP, we understand the workplace health hazards that machinists face from exposure to asbestos. We are committed to helping victims of mesothelioma by holding accountable asbestos manufacturers for the harm they caused hard-working families. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to talk to an experienced mesothelioma claims lawyer to understand your legal options.

Belluck & Fox LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims. The New York asbestos litigation law firm has won more than $350 million in compensation for its clients and their families. While no amount of money will make up for the loss of good health or the death of a loved one, compensation obtained through an asbestos lawsuit can relieve worries about paying medical bills and help secure your family’s future.

There is a time limit after diagnosis of mesothelioma for filing asbestos claims so, it’s important to talk to an experienced mesothelioma lawsuit lawyer right away. We will provide you professional and personalized service so please call for help.  For a free evaluation of your asbestos claim, contact the firm at (888) 803-6231 or through our online contact form.