Continental & General Tire Workers Suffer Deadly Asbestos Cancers

The Continental and General Tire plant in Mayfield, Kentucky, was a major employer in the area, making tires for cars and trucks from around 1960 until its closure in 2007. This industrial success came at a human cost: widespread asbestos exposure that has led to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases among former workers.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys represent those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases who seek compensation for the harm they suffer. If you are in this situation, contact us at 855-385-9532 to learn more about how we can help you reach your goals.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of mineral fibers resistant to corrosion, fire, and heat. It’s non-flammable, incredibly strong, and at one time, cheap to mine and fashion into products. It was used in thousands of products over the past 4000 years. It was used as insulation and in auto parts, textiles, floor tiles, adhesives, and construction materials.

Why is Asbestos Hazardous?

Asbestos is a health hazard, and its use is highly regulated by the federal government, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Asbestos fibers are too small to be seen with the eye, so you may not be aware you’re inhaling or swallowing them.

Breathing fibers into your lungs may cause scar-like tissue to form. If the problem’s severe enough, you may have asbestosis, which causes reduced lung function that may be disabling and fatal. Mutations in a cell’s DNA due to asbestos fiber exposure can, over decades, cause mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura, which lines the lung, chest, and abdominal cavity), lung cancer, and other types of cancer.

What was the Continental and General Tire Plant?

General Tire was a facility located in Mayfield, Kentucky. The plant opened in about 1960. It was expanded three or four times in the early and mid-1970s. It closed in 2007. It manufactured tires for various types of vehicles, and it employed thousands of people until it shut down.

Continental Tire, owned by a German company, Continental AG, bought General Tire in 1987 and took over the plant. It, along with other companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of asbestos products, is responsible for injuries to former General Tire employees.

Where was Asbestos Used in this Plant?

Asbestos products were used throughout the facility. Much of the machinery used heat and was powered by steam. That was created in boilers and transported in pipes. The boilers and miles of steam pipes were insulated with asbestos-containing products. There were valves and flanges in the piping that used asbestos-containing gaskets and packing. Machinery was also insulated with asbestos to maintain the required heat and protect workers.

Who Was at Risk?

Asbestos exposure at the plant affected workers from across all job categories and time periods. During the plant’s initial construction and subsequent expansions, construction workers faced significant exposure. Insulators, pipefitters, millwrights, and mechanics who installed asbestos materials were directly exposed, but so were electricians, carpenters, laborers, and others working nearby.

The installation process was particularly hazardous. Insulation materials had to be cut and sawn to fit properly, often using hand saws or power saws in areas near other workers. This created clouds of asbestos dust that could travel hundreds of yards, exposing anyone working in the building. Plant expansions occurred while production continued. Production workers were exposed along with construction crews.

Throughout the plant’s operation, maintenance workers faced ongoing exposure when repairing equipment, replacing gaskets, removing packing from valves, or cutting into insulation. Asbestos exposure wasn’t limited to construction and expansion periods but occurred throughout the facility’s history.

What are My Legal Options?

If you or a loved one worked at the Continental and General Tire plant and are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation. Past cases have established that Continental Tire is accountable for the asbestos exposure that occurred under General Tire’s operation.

Asbestos exposure didn’t discriminate based on job title or department. Whether you worked as a laborer, maintenance technician, production employee, engineer, supervisor, contractor, or management personnel, if you were in that plant regularly, you likely experienced asbestos exposure.

You could also be exposed as a family member of someone working at the plant. They may have returned home with asbestos fibers on their clothes, which were spread throughout the household.

Don’t wait to explore your legal rights. Kentucky has a one-year time limit to file a legal action after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or after you should have reasonably believed you had one.

How Can an Experienced Satterley & Kelley, PLLC Attorney Make a Difference?

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, represents those suffering asbestos-related diseases and family members of those who have died because of them.

If this is your situation, retain an attorney experienced in these cases, as they’re complex and far from ordinary. You don’t want to use an attorney who will learn while working on your case. Given our long track record of success, you can trust us with your claim so you can focus on making the most of your life.

Call Us Today for a Free Consultation

We are your boots on the ground if you or someone you love in Kentucky suffers from mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness. To reach our Louisville office, call 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.