Asbestos Exposure at National Southwire Aluminum (NSA)

National Southwire Aluminum (NSA) Company started operating in Hawesville, Kentucky, in 1969. Their aluminum smelter used huge amounts of power to generate the intense heat needed to smelt aluminum. Critical equipment was insulated with cancer-causing asbestos products due to the high heat levels and the need to protect machinery and employees, but they caused fatal illnesses to those exposed to asbestos fibers.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC in Louisville, has more than twenty five years of experience trying asbestos and mesothelioma cases in Kentucky. Because of our successes, which include millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, we are regarded as a leading Kentucky law firm for representing clients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers. Learn more by calling us at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring mineral fibers. They’re resistant to fire, heat, corrosion, and electricity. It’s highly versatile, incredibly strong, and at one time, cheap to mine and incorporate into thousands of products. Asbestos was commonly used in buildings and industrial facilities of all kinds, including aluminum smelters.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. These qualities make them highly toxic to the human body. It may take years or decades for asbestos’ damage to become apparent, which makes these fibers all the more dangerous.

Fibers become stuck in human tissue. The immune system tries to destroy them, but the fibers destroy immune cells instead. This causes scar tissue, inflammation, and, over time, cell mutations that cause several types of cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that can affect several parts of the body. It may involve the linings covering organs (including the heart and lungs) and the chest and abdominal cavities.

What is NSA?

NSA, a division of Southwire, based in Georgia, began operations in 1969 on a 1,100-acre site at the intersection of Kentucky Highways 271 and 334 in a rural section of Hancock County near Hawesville, Kentucky.

It was founded to provide electricity to rural Georgia, according to the Southwire Company (its current name), and is still in Hawesville, occupying an 806,770-square-foot facility. It makes and sells many products, including aluminum cable and wire.

Why Were Asbestos-Containing Products Used in Aluminum Smelters?

The smelter was constructed in 1969, before asbestos was used until the early 1980s, and it used asbestos extensively. Aluminum smelting requires temperatures of thousands of degrees to melt aluminum oxide, and even higher temperatures are needed to purify it. Asbestos was commonly used for high-temperature insulation and fire protection.

Asbestos-containing products were used in many places:

The pot lines needed extensive insulation to maintain temperature and protect workers from the heat. Asbestos blankets, boards, and cloth were commonly wrapped around furnaces, crucibles, and pipes carrying molten metal
Electrical systems had to be fireproofed because smelters use enormous amounts of electricity and generate high heat. Asbestos was used in electrical insulation, cable wrapping, and around transformer stations
Buildings housing these operations needed fireproof walls, roofing, and panels. They may have used cement board, corrugated roofing sheets, and spray-on asbestos insulation
Workers’ personal protective equipment often included asbestos-containing gloves, aprons, and other heat-resistant clothing
Gaskets and seals in high-temperature piping systems and pumps would have contained asbestos to prevent leaks and withstand thermal expansion

Many people in various capacities were exposed to asbestos at the Hawesville plant. If they brought fibers home on their work clothes, family members were endangered, too.

What Compensation is Available for Those with Asbestos-Related Diseases?

Those with asbestos-related diseases may have several options for compensation, depending on their circumstances:

Workers’ compensation is a system providing benefits for medical expenses and lost wages filed against a current or former employer
Personal injury lawsuits may be filed against companies that manufactured, distributed, and sold asbestos products. These legal actions could recover damages for pain and suffering, medical costs, lost income, and other losses
Asbestos diseases often take decades to develop, and many cases involve companies that no longer exist. If the company went through the bankruptcy process, it may have a trust fund covering asbestos-related compensation claims
Wrongful death claims are a type of personal injury lawsuit. They may be pursued if a family member died of an asbestos-related disease

The amount of compensation varies based on many factors.

If I Worked at NSA and Have an Asbestos-Related Disease, Why Should I Contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC?

If you or a family member is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Depending on the situation, you may be compensated for the following:

Pain and suffering
Lost income and illness-related costs and expenses
Past and future medical treatment
The negative effects on relationships

If you have an asbestos-related condition because of your exposure at NSA, you may improve your chances of a successful claim by retaining an attorney with the following:

Knowledge of Kentucky and federal asbestos laws, court procedures, and jury dynamics
Access to industrial and asbestos litigation records involving the company
Experience with asbestos litigation
Resources to secure experts who can show how asbestos caused your illness, where it came from, and the harm you suffer as a result
The ability to tailor strategies to your circumstances

Given the complexity and what’s at stake, you should discuss your case with a Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyer.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

Whether you worked at NSA or elsewhere, if you or a family member in Kentucky suffers from an asbestos-related condition, Satterley & Kelley PLLC can be the law firm you can trust. Call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.