Sheet Rope
Since the days of the Industrial Revolution, savvy manufacturers recognized the advantages of including asbestos in many of their products. After all, the naturally mined mineral was abundant and inexpensive to use and, for centuries, people bragged about asbestos’ unique and miraculous heat- and fire-resistant properties. The addition of asbestos to various products also made them extremely durable, so for the customer, asbestos-containing products were a good buy as they generally lasted for many years.
The most widespread use of asbestos was in insulation of many varieties, including sheet rope. Sheet rope of various sizes and shapes was used to insulate boilers and pipes and could often be found in other places where a high degree of heat resistance was necessary. It was used in buildings as well as aboard ships, where heat and fire resistance was of the utmost importance.
A number of different tradesmen may have encountered sheet rope during their careers, including pipefitters, steamfitters, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC workers that maintain and install heating and air conditioning systems. In general, these tradespeople were totally unaware of the dangers that would occur when sheet rope was cut or otherwise manipulated. Cut or damaged sheet rope may have caused asbestos dust to be released. The shard-like particles could have then been inhaled by those in the vicinity.
More than a century ago, doctors and research scientists confirmed the fact that asbestos inhalation can result in the development of very serious pulmonary diseases. So, it’s easy to understand why many employees who worked with sheet rope and similar insulation products on a daily basis developed asbestosis or mesothelioma decades after exposure and have since passed away or are now suffering from the effects of these diseases.
Mesothelioma, cancer experts say, is recognized as one of the most debilitating forms of cancer and is, unfortunately, one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Though researchers are constantly working towards new treatments, because mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until it’s reached its later stages, conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy offer little success and are used mostly for palliative purposes. In general, mesothelioma is a death sentence.
Sadly, many individuals knew about the dangers of breathing in asbestos but continued to use the mineral in the manufacture of products, even when suitable substitutions were available. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that manufacturers were made to abide by laws limiting the use of the toxic material.
If you used sheet rope on a regular basis and have developed mesothelioma, you may be eligible to collect monetary compensation for your injuries. For more information, take a moment to order our free mesothelioma resource packet.
Last modified: September 23 2008.
