The Green River Steel Corp. Plant Heavily Used Asbestos

The Green River Steel Corp.’s plant, later bought by Jessop Steel, used extremely high heat to make steel. To protect against that heat, equipment was covered with asbestos-containing insulation, and some employees wore safety gear containing the cancer-causing mineral fiber. If you worked at the plant and have an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers represent people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases who seek compensation for the harm they suffer. If this is your situation, contact us at 855-385-9532 to learn more about how we can help you obtain compensation for your injury.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of mineral fibers resistant to fire, heat, electricity, and corrosion. Asbestos has been used in about 3,000 products, including pipe insulation, building materials, floor tiles, cigarette filters, vehicle brakes, and clutches. These fibers are strong, durable, light, and microscopic.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos was used in thousands of products because its fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. Those same qualities make them incredibly hazardous to the human body. The fibers won’t immediately cause a deadly reaction in people who inhale or swallow them. It may take years or decades for the damage caused by asbestos to become apparent.

Fibers become stuck in human tissue. The immune system tries to get rid of them, but the fibers destroy the cells meant to dissolve them instead. This results in scar tissue, inflammation, and, over time, severe breathing problems and genetic cell mutations that result in cancer tumors.

Asbestos causes or increases the risk of several cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that can affect several parts of the body. It can involve the linings covering organs (including the heart and lungs) and the chest and abdominal cavities.

What Was the Green River Steel Corporation?

The Owensboro, Kentucky, steel mill on Highway 60 was built in 1953, and the company was purchased by Jessop Steel in 1957. That company was bought by Allegheny Ludlum Steel, which merged with Teledyne in 1996, to form what’s now ATI. The 350,000-square-foot facility closed in 1985.

Why Was Asbestos Used in Steel Mills?

Asbestos-containing products were widely used in steel mills for decades. There are several important reasons related to the extreme operating conditions, including the following:

1. Heat Resistance

Steel mills operate at extremely high temperatures. Furnaces can reach more than 3,000°F when melting steel. Asbestos can withstand this heat without degrading, making it ideal for insulation around furnaces, steam pipes, and other high-temperature equipment.

2. Fire Protection

The steel manufacturing process involves molten metal, sparks, and extreme heat, creating fire hazards. Asbestos is naturally fire-resistant and was used extensively in fireproofing applications, electrical equipment, protective clothing, and building materials to prevent fires from starting and spreading.

3. Insulation

Asbestos provided excellent thermal insulation, helping to:

Maintain consistent temperatures in furnaces and processing equipment
Protect workers from heat
Improve energy efficiency by reducing heat loss
Insulate steam pipes and boilers used throughout the mill

Asbestos was also extremely strong and durable, so it not only resisted high heat but also allowed products containing it to survive extreme conditions for long periods.

Who Would Be Exposed to Asbestos Fibers?

All employees and contractors at the mill would be exposed, though the level of exposure would vary depending on whether they worked directly with asbestos products or worked near them, and how long they worked at the mill.

Some of those affected include the following:

Insulation workers and laggers: They directly handled asbestos insulation materials, installing and removing insulation from pipes, furnaces, and boilers. They had the most direct and frequent asbestos exposure
Maintenance and repair workers: Maintenance crews would disturb existing asbestos insulation, gaskets, and packing materials, releasing fibers into the air when equipment broke down or needed servicing
Pipefitters and plumbers: They worked with asbestos-insulated pipes and used asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials when installing or repairing piping systems
Furnace operators and tenders: Working near blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, and other high-temperature equipment meant exposure to asbestos insulation and heat-protective materials
Electricians: Electrical systems often used asbestos for fire protection and insulation. Electricians would encounter it when working on wiring and electrical equipment
Welders: They often worked near asbestos-insulated equipment and could disturb asbestos materials, plus some welding rods contained asbestos
Millwrights and mechanics: Installing and repairing heavy machinery often involved working with asbestos gaskets, brakes, and clutches
Production workers: Those working on the mill floor near furnaces, rolling mills, and other equipment could be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers from nearby insulation. They may also wear protective clothing containing asbestos
Laborers and cleanup crews: Sweeping, cleaning, and general labor could disturb asbestos dust that had settled on surfaces throughout the facility
Supervisors and other personnel: Anyone who spent time in areas where asbestos was present could face some level of exposure, even if they weren’t directly handling the materials or involved with the steel-making process

Asbestos fibers are microscopic, extremely light, and strong, so they could float through the mill’s facilities, moving with air currents. Someone could inhale or swallow them far from where the fibers came from.

Family members of those working at the plant were also at risk. Those working with asbestos in the area would return home in clothes covered in microscopic fibers that could drift through the household until someone inhaled or swallowed them.

Why Should I Contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC?

If you or a family member is diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be received 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 due to asbestos exposure at the Green River Steel Corporation/Jessop Steel or elsewhere, improve your chances of a successful claim by retaining a lawyer with the following:

Knowledge of Kentucky and federal asbestos laws, deadlines, court procedures, and jury dynamics
Access to historical industrial and asbestos litigation records
Experience in mesothelioma litigation
Resources to secure experts who can show asbestos caused your illness, where it came from, and the harm you suffer due to your illness
The ability to tailor strategies for your unique situation

Given the complexity and stakes of your case, you should discuss with a Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyer how we can help.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultationvv

If you or a family member in Kentucky suffers from an asbestos-related condition, Satterley & Kelley PLLC is 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.