Refractory asbestos exposure in WV has harmed countless skilled workers in steel mills, power plants, and industrial furnaces. Refractory materials—used to line high-temperature equipment—often contained asbestos to improve fire resistance and durability. Unfortunately, the same fibers that protected equipment endangered the people who installed, maintained, and repaired it.
What Are Refractory Materials?
Refractory products are designed to withstand extreme heat, commonly used in:
- Steel mill furnaces and ladles
- Power plant boilers
- Cement kilns and lime ovens
- Foundries and glass manufacturing
These materials included asbestos-containing blocks, cement, castables, coatings, and gunning mix—each capable of releasing fibers during cutting, mixing, or removal.
May people believe firebrick used in furnaces and kilns contain asbestos. However, firebrick is usually made from high alumina and/or silica. However all of the refractory brick had asbestos cements, mortars and castables. Some bricks used in Open Hearth furnaces were metal clad with an asbestos paper or cardboard spacers.
Who Was Exposed in West Virginia?
In WV, refractory asbestos exposure was common in:
- Weirton Steel
- Kammer and Mitchell Power Stations
- Ormet Aluminum in Hannibal
- John Amos and Mountaineer Plants
- Allied Chemical and FMC facilities
Those most at risk included bricklayers, boiler workers, millwrights, insulators, and laborers—plus supervisors, inspectors, and even family members through take-home exposure.
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Diseases Linked to Refractory Asbestos Exposure
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Pleural thickening and effusion
These diseases often take 20 to 50 years to appear after exposure.
Your Legal Options Refractory Asbestos Exposure WV
You may be eligible for compensation if you or a loved one:
- Worked with or around refractory asbestos in WV
- Developed an asbestos-related illness
- Are the surviving family member of someone who passed
Legal remedies include personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and structured settlements. Timing matters—West Virginia has specific statutes of limitations.
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