Asbestos in West Virginia
West Virginia Asbestos
West Virginia’s economy has primarily consisted of oil and mining. With two major oil refineries and several areas of coal mining, West Virginia has its own share of asbestos issues. The power plants that generate electricity to the millions of homes across the state also are a source of asbestos exposure for the thousands of workers.
Jobs with Asbestos Exposure
Due to the industries that are located in West Virginia, there have been many areas affected by asbestos exposure. Employees who worked in power plants, oil refineries, coal mines, and chemical plants all are at risk for asbestos exposure. West Virginia has over a dozen companies such as Shell Oil Refinery, WV Chemical Factory, Beckley Mining, and the Will Island Power Plant.
Energy is a necessity in West Virginia, as it is in other states, but what many may not be aware of is the high-volume of asbestos inside each plant. Boilers, pipes and insulation products are among many asbestos-containing materials found inside a power plant. Due to the affordability of the asbestos-containing products, many power plants have opted to utilize these materials to construct the power plants themselves. This means that employees are exposed to asbestos by just merely showing up to work and entering the power plant’s premises.
It is known that asbestos fibers, when disturbed, releases into the air and make themselves more readily available for inhalation by humans. Containing natural carcinogen-inducing fibers, employers were not aware of the health hazards of asbestos and as a result, no protective wear or preventative steps were taken to protect their employees. By the time asbestos manufacturers finally released a public statement regarding the health hazards after DECADES of factual OMISSION it was already too late for many plant workers who spent decades of their lives working in the plants, already exposed to asbestos. Fact: An omission is STILL A LIE.
Metal Works:
- Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel
- Weirton Steel
- Steel of West Viriginia, Inc.
Asbestos-Related Deaths
Since 1980, there have been nearly 600 deaths due to asbestos exposure in the state of West Virginia. Over half were attributed to asbestosis, while less than half were from mesothelioma. West Virginia is ranked 26th in the nation for the number of mesothelioma cases and ranked even higher at 3rd for the number of asbestos-related deaths.
