Kaiser Aluminum
Kaiser Aluminum used asbestos during its refining and fabricating operations until the Environmental Protection Agency classified asbestos as a carcinogen and issued a code of regulations restricting its use in the late 1970s.
During the process of refining alumina from bauxite, the materials must be heated to considerable temperatures, and the reduction vessels need an insulating agent to coat the external walls and isolate the heat. Asbestos, with its heat and fire retardant qualities, paired with its low cost and durability, seemed like an ideal choice for containing the heat involved in the reduction processes and preventing the outsides from overheating.
Through a variety of heat resistance and electricity isolation applications, asbestos also found its way into the actual fabrication of aluminum products manufactured for the aerospace and automotive industries. The use of asbestos in aluminum production and fabrication affected workers in a number of other industries.
Aluminum was mixed with cement and the mixture was sprayed onto various vessels to form a protective coating. When this coating began to wear off, fine asbestos dust could gradually be released into the air, allowing workers to inhale the released fibers. Construction workers in charge of installing aluminum ductwork in buildings and automotive workers handling aluminum paneling were commonly exposed to asbestos materials.
Kaiser Aluminum and Asbestos Litigation
After asbestos was found to be a toxic substance in 1978 and the connection between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma was established, lawsuits were filed against Kaiser Aluminum. By 2001, the company faced more than 100,000 asbestos-related claims filed by workers and consumers affected by asbestos-containing Kaiser Aluminum products.
In the effort to handle the financial strain, Kaiser opted to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002. As part of the reorganization of the company and its assets, the Kaiser Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established in 2006 in order to process, liquidate and pay all valid asbestos personal injury claims for which Kaiser has legal responsibility.
Individuals who have worked for Kaiser Aluminum industries or used their asbestos-containing products are urged to undergo regular medical testing to monitor for signs of asbestos diseases and increase the chances of an early diagnosis.
If you or a loved one has already developed an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for compensation. For more information, please take a moment to fill out the form on this page in order to receive a complimentary informational packet detailing compensation and treatment options.
Company History
Kaiser Aluminum is a large U.S. aluminum producer and supplier of high-quality, fabricated aluminum products. In 1946, the company was founded by Henry J. Kaiser in Washington state. Industries such as automotive, aerospace, engineering and high strength and custom industrial applications commonly used aluminum products.
Starting up from two reduction facilities and an aluminum rolling mill, Kaiser Aluminum expanded to include mining to manufacturing processes and the distribution of aluminum, a system known as vertical integration. As part of its integration model, Kaiser Aluminum acquired bauxite mines and set up refineries where the mined bauxite was transformed into alumina, which was crafted into aluminum and used to fabricate aluminum products.
In recent years, Kaiser Aluminum's basic structure and direction have undergone revisions. As a result, the company stopped its bauxite and alumina operations and has focused on producing high-grade aluminum product manufacturing such as aluminum components for the aerospace industry.
With headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, Kaiser Aluminum currently owns 11 fabricating plants throughout the United States and Canada and yields 400 to 500 million pounds of aluminum annually. In 2005, the company reported revenues of $1.1 billion and employed more than 2,000 people.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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