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  • Home > Welders and Mesothelioma

Welders and Mesothelioma

Welders are exposed to a number of hazards on the job, including hot materials and the intensely bright light of the welder’s arc. To protect themselves, welders need protective clothing. Many welders in earlier decades wore asbestos-lined gloves, asbestos-lined aprons or curtains to shield them from the showers of sparks, hot slag and metal chips. Unfortunately, the protective clothing as it ages and becomes more brittle can release asbestos fibers. Many welders are likely to have been exposed to asbestos dust, and the risk is even greater for those who worked in confined spaces. Inhaling asbestos is associated with mesothelioma, a life-threatening respiratory cancer.

If you worked as a welder and have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to consult an experienced mesothelioma claims attorney. You have legal rights to seek compensation from the asbestos manufacturers who made and sold a product that harmed your health.

The asbestos litigation attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP, represent welders and other skilled trades people diagnosed with mesothelioma in New York and nationwide. We may be able to help you obtain compensation to provide financial stability for your family and pay your medical bills, allowing you to focus on your health.

Speak with an experienced NY asbestos claims attorney by calling (888) 803-6231, or use our online contact form.

Welders and Asbestos

Welding joins pieces of metal by heat and pressure. The smoke from welding and hot work consists of gases and very fine particles, including asbestos fibers.  An estimated 500,000 welders are employed in a number of industries, such as shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace, construction, utilities and oil refineries. Asbestos was widely used as insulation and fireproofing in shipbuilding and other industrial settings because of its durability and resistance to heat. Many of the industries that employ welders have an elevated incidence of mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease.

In addition to asbestos gloves and asbestos blankets, some welding rods were coated with a mixture containing 5 percent to 15 percent asbestos. The asbestos fibers may be released during the heating of the rod.

A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine identified welding among the occupations at high risk of developing mesothelioma, based on workplace exposure to asbestos. Occupational exposure to asbestos is the most important risk factor for pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung. If you worked as a welder in the 1960s or 1970s, you may only recently have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease because of the long latency period of the disease.

Contact An Experienced Mesothelioma Claims Attorney

At Belluck & Fox, LLP, we understand the health hazards that welders and other metal workers 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 a knowledgeable 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 $450 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 with 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.