Willamette Industries/Willamette Paper Mill and Mesothelioma

Asbestos-containing products were often used in industrial plants built before the 1980s, including paper mills. If you worked at the Willamette Paper Mill and were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffer. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC has represented several people exposed at this site, and we may be able to help you, too.

Where Were Asbestos Products Used in Paper Mills?

Construction workers were exposed when plants were constructed, and mill employees were exposed over time as these products were removed, replaced, and deteriorated.

Asbestos insulation was used because pulping, paper making, and boilers involve high heat, and asbestos is an excellent heat insulator. It was also used on pipes and vessels, which may be covered with asbestos insulation that is later torn out and replaced.

Paper mill workers could be exposed during different stages of paper making. Talc, possibly contaminated with asbestos, is a paper additive during the bleaching and refining process. Workers could also be exposed during the paper’s drying process because asbestos dryer felts, or fabrics, were used in high-speed paper machines.

Did the Willamette Paper Mill Use Asbestos?

The Willamette Paper Mill, now owned by Domtar, was built in Hawesville, Kentucky, in 1967. The first part of the plant was called the Kentucky Medium Mill. The Bleached Pump Mill was added in 1969 or 1970, and the Fine Paper Mill was added in the early 1980s. This massive complex makes a variety of products for different industries.

The first two mills, which still operate, were built when industrial plants were constructed with asbestos products. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC has represented victims of asbestos diseases who worked in these facilities.

These mills have miles of pipes covered in asbestos-containing insulation, asbestos-containing gaskets were frequently used, and some tanks in the facility were insulated with asbestos. Pipes, motors, and valves used asbestos gasket, packing or insulation.

How Were Workers Exposed to Asbestos at the Willamette Paper Mill?

People exposed to asbestos include those working to construct the mills and those who later worked in them. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC has represented insulators, electricians, pipefitters, and millwrights who helped build these mills.

Insulators applied and may have removed asbestos-containing insulation. Anyone in the area, like the millwrights who installed much of the equipment, could’ve inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers in the air.

Also in the building were electricians who worked with electrical equipment, wires, and cables insulated with asbestos. Pipefitters installed asbestos gaskets and sometimes applied insulation to pipes.

Over time, pipe and other insulation deteriorates. Pieces may fall and hit workers, equipment, or concrete floors, spreading fibers throughout the area. Compressed air was used to clean up areas, which blew fibers through the mill. Mill employees were exposed to asbestos whether they worked in production or offices. Maintenance workers and custodians were heavily exposed.

Asbestos products in the mills were abated and either encapsulated or removed, but that process may have resulted in additional exposure.

What Should a Paper Mill Worker Diagnosed With an Asbestos-Related Disease Do?

Asbestos can cause many kinds of cancers and different types of mesotheliomas. Research your condition so you can make the best treatment decisions you can and get treatment from an oncologist who, if they don’t specialize in mesothelioma, at least has experience treating the disease. You may have different treatment options and should get a second medical opinion if you want an additional viewpoint.

You should also contact our office to learn about compensation for your condition.

We can discuss how and when you were exposed to asbestos and what products you used or were exposed to. You may be able to file a claim with a trust fund that compensates victims of products made by companies that have gone bankrupt. If the product’s manufacturer is still in business, a lawsuit against the company may be an option.

This compensation may help pay for your medical treatment and the pain, suffering, and lost enjoyment in life you’re enduring. It can’t bring your health back, but it may make your life a little easier.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

Whether you worked at the Willamette Paper Mill or elsewhere, if you or a family member in Kentucky suffers from an asbestos-related condition, including mesothelioma, Satterley & Kelley PLLC will be your trusted local law firm. Call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.