Wheelabrator Frye Inc.

Wheelabrator Frye Inc. employees exposed to asbestos

At the moment, the company is the second-largest waste-to-energy business in the U.S. It currently operates 26 strategically located facilities across the country and also recovers metals for recycling into commercial products. Despite the amazing and innovative achievements of Wheelabrator Frye, the company is responsible for having exposed workers to asbestos before the 1980s, when the carcinogenic mineral was banned in most industries.

The primary occupational groups that experienced significant asbestos exposure on the job were paper mill workers and metal workers. While the former mostly inhaled and ingested asbestos fibers by handling dryer felts, gaskets, and insulation, the latter would come in direct contact with asbestos by cutting and sawing various materials, releasing toxic dust.

These are the workers Wheelabrator Frye exposed to asbestos during the last century, whether directly or indirectly:

• paper mill workers
• boiler workers
• machinists
• printing press workers
• welders
• pipefitters

Paper mill workers encountered asbestos products in the equipment they had to operate and in the building materials present in the structure of the facility. The heaviest asbestos exposure in paper mills would occur through equipment maintenance. Since pulping, paper making, and boiler work involved intense heat, asbestos was perfect for insulating pipes and vessels, which the employees in charge of maintenance would often encounter.

A very common way metal workers were exposed to asbestos on the job was through asbestos pipes and walls that contained asbestos insulation. The activities that would loosen these products released asbestos fibers in the air workers inhaled. Welding metal sheets, installing metal studs, and drilling into cement would often create more asbestos dust.

Secondary asbestos exposure, a serious concern for the family members of Wheelabrator Frye Inc. workers

When one breathes in or swallows asbestos fibers coming from indirect sources, secondary asbestos exposure occurs. It was extremely common during the last century, as over 70 industries were using asbestos in large amounts. This was also the case of Wheelabrator Frye workers. Because they were not required to change their clothes at the end of the day, they would inevitably bring asbestos dust home, exposing their family members. Usually, their wives would come in contact with asbestos when laundering their work garments, whereas their children would breathe in toxic fibers when greeting their fathers.

In the terrible event that you developed a disease that has a causal relationship with asbestos exposure and lived in the same house as a family member who was working for Wheelabrator Frye at the time, you should contact our law firm as soon as possible. With over 25 years of experience in asbestos exposure cases, we will be able to determine whether you are eligible for compensation. If you are, our skilled lawyers will promptly begin preparing your claim for submission. You will only have to explain your situation and send our legal team several documents. Otherwise, your involvement will be minimal so that you can take care of your health and undergo treatment.

Legal assistance in wrongful death asbestos exposure cases for family members

The family members of a victim of asbestos exposure have the right to file a wrongful death claim if their departed loved one had not taken legal action. Filing a wrongful death claim is relatively easy for clients, as you just have to describe your situation in detail and send our legal experts the employment and medical records of your family member and their death certificate. Our attorneys will review your case, and if they determine that you meet the criteria for filing a claim, they will soon begin working on it.

It is important to know that working with our law firm is free of charge unless we obtain financial compensation for you. If we fail to help you, you will not owe us anything, as we work on a contingency fee basis. Another essential aspect you should be mindful of is that wrongful death cases have a statute of limitations. This means that you can only file your claim within a certain timeframe. It is usually 2 years from the moment of death in most states, but it could be shorter, which is why we advise you to contact us as soon as you can.