Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.

Workers exposed to asbestos

Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. image

The company got its start in 1865 under another name – Star Fire Brick Company. It became Harbison-Walker in 1875 and the company’s main activity was manufacturing heat-resistant products like firebricks. In 1967, a merger took place between Harbison-Walker and a subsidiary of Halliburton – Dresser Industries, Inc. Due to its fireproofing characteristics, asbestos was used heavily in Harbison-Walker’s products, risking the lives of the people involved in the making process and the lives of the workers in the construction industry that interacted with these asbestos-contaminated materials.

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Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. employees exposed to asbestos

Remarkably withstanding extreme temperatures, asbestos was seen as the ideal raw material to include in the manufacturing of refractory materials for the better part of the last century. Although companies were aware of the dire health consequences exposure to asbestos might have, plenty of manufacturers – including Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. – decided for using it, completely disregarding the safety of their workers. While undeniably tragic, it should not come as a surprise that thousands of people who were employed at Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. came to struggle with harrowing diseases several decades later.

In addition to Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. employees who held down a job during the last century, the occupations at highest risk of developing a serious disease as a result of asbestos exposure are:

Considering the fact that asbestos-related diseases may take a long time to develop, it's extremely important that anyone who has a history of asbestos exposure regularly monitor their health. In the interest of promoting the importance of early diagnosis, we are offering screenings free of charge for Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. employees.

Asbestos related cancer eligible for filing a claim

If you developed one of the following cancers as a result of occupational exposure, you are eligible for compensation. If you are too ill, a family member can help you with the legal process. In the unfortunate event that you pass away before recovering compensation, your surviving family members will receive compensation on your behalf.

Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Throat Cancer Esophageal Cancer Bronchial Cancer Gastrointestinal Cancer Colorectal Cancer

If, however, you struggle with non-cancerous pleural diseases such as asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening, COPD (emphysema & chronic bronchitis), pleurisy, lung nodules, lung spots, asthma, pneumonitis, tuberculosis, rounded atelectasis or lung scarring, please seek a second or even a third opinion as the rate of misdiagnosis is very high among the victims of asbestos exposure.

Secondary asbestos exposure, a serious concern for the family members of Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.


Because secondary exposure would occur so frequently during the heyday of asbestos, individuals who worked directly with this carcinogen were unfortunately not the only demographic at risk. The people whom they lived with also came in contact with asbestos fibers, as workers would often return home covered with toxic dust, which could linger in the environment for years. As a consequence, their family members would unknowingly breathe in asbestos fibers too, either while laundering their work clothes or by greeting the worker upon coming back from the job. It is estimated that over 10% of those who lose their lives to asbestos diseases were secondarily exposed to the deadly mineral.

Inhabiting the same house as a Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. worker entailed a high risk of developing one of the diseases asbestos exposure is notorious for. If you have someone in your family who was employed at Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. and suffers from a pulmonary disease or another illness correlated with asbestos exposure, please contact our lawyers as soon as possible. After a careful assessment of your case, they will begin preparing your claim for submission and eventually provide you with the compensation you are entitled to as a victim of secondary exposure. It is crucial to take legal action shortly after you receive your diagnosis, as cases involving asbestos exposure have a statute of limitations that will prevent you from filing a claim if it expires. For more information concerning the legal process, feel free to give us a call and we will gladly assist you.

Legal assistance in wrongful death asbestos exposure cases for family members

The surviving family members of a worker who developed a disease as a result of occupational asbestos exposure but has not taken legal action during their lifetime are also eligible for compensation. With over 25 years of experience in pursuing compensation for the victims of asbestos exposure and their family members, our attorneys will help you recover the money you deserve on behalf of your loved one. While it is very complex, the legal process requires minimal involvement on your part, as the majority of the aspects, such as the claim and the documents which must accompany it, will be efficiently handled by our legal team. If you have a family member who lost their lives to a disease that was caused by workplace asbestos exposure, do not hesitate to contact our law firm for quality legal assistance. It is important to know that, because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not have to pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.