Thermal Paper Products
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, scientists continued to experiment with new and better ways to provide insulation for a number of applications. The primary goal of insulation, of course, was to prevent fires, burns, or other hazards caused by heat and high temperatures. Researchers found that the use of asbestos in insulation helped achieve this goal.
Thermal paper products containing asbestos were used for this purpose. Considered the ideal insulation for pipes or for machine parts that generated heat, this thermal paper was widely used in a number of different industries and could be found in both homes and commercial buildings.
When they were initially used, asbestos-containing thermal paper products were safe as long as they were intact, but because insulation often needs to be cut to fit the application, fibers were released during the act of cutting. Furthermore, when these thermal paper products become old or damaged, they become friable, which indicates that large amounts of asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Pipes and other equipment that are still wrapped with asbestos thermal paper products today continue to present a hazard to workers, especially as the material ages, so when these asbestos paper products are potentially present, anyone working with them should take extra precautions so as not to be exposed to dangerous fibers. Some experts estimate that millions of buildings in the U.S. have asbestos thermal paper products somewhere inside.
After the asbestos warnings were issued by the U.S. government in the late 1970s, the Consumer Product Safety Commission requested that all sales of asbestos-containing thermal paper products in the U.S. cease by 1980. That included several different varieties of the paper, including types manufactured by 3M, GAF, and Carey, including the popular Fireguard and Fireclad brands.
Alarmingly, the ban on these asbestos-containing thermal paper products came too late for the individuals who were exposed to the insulation. That includes insulators and others who installed the product as well as those who manufactured the product for companies such as those listed above. To add insult to injury, it has been proven that many asbestos manufacturers knew that the mineral was dangerous when inhaled, yet they continued to allow the manufacture of products containing asbestos. Because of that, many individuals whose lives may have been spared had the ban gone into affect sooner were stricken with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer for which the only known cause is asbestos exposure.
If you worked with asbestos thermal paper products either as an installer or manufacturer and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should be informed as to your legal rights. To learn whether or not you qualify for monetary compensation for your injuries, order our free mesothelioma information kit today.
Last modified: September 23 2008.
