AK Steel Holding Corporation
A producer of stainless steel, flat-rolled carbon and electrical steel products mainly used in the appliance, construction, electrical power and automotive markets, AK Steel Holding Corporation maintains two tube manufacturing plants as well as seven steel plants in four U.S. states. Locations of these plants may be found in Ashland, Kentucky, Butler, Pennsylvania, Rockport and Columbus, Indiana and Walbridge, Coshocton, Middletown, Zanesville and Mansfield, Ohio.
The company began as Armco in 1899 and quickly grew to be one of the world leaders in the field. AK Steel has earned a number of notable patents throughout its more than 100 years of business, including a patent for one of its best-known products, the crash barriers (called Armcos) that are used at auto raceways around the world.
AK Steel currently operates with the help of 6,500 employees in all of its production facilities and at the company's headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.
AK Steel Holding Corporation and Asbestos
While AK Steel touts its dedication to safety and the environment, profiling programs that include recycling, natural resource conservation and reduction of emissions, the Political Economy Research Institute ranks the company fourteenth highest among U.S. corporations emitting airborne pollutants, based on quantity and toxicity. These emissions have a negative impact on those who live near these plants as they may be affected by toxins in the air and groundwater.
For much of the 20th century, AK Steel also used toxic materials inside their plants – namely, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. These materials were used as insulation to help prevent burns that may have been caused by the high-temperature processes used to manufacture steel products. Employees may have also worn aprons, mitts, coats, pants or masks made from asbestos materials in order to garner protection while on the job.
AK Steel and Asbestos Litigation
Asbestos has long been a cause of lung problems among those who toiled in America's steel mills while the mineral was in use. Typically, the longer they worked in those facilities, the more likely it was that some sort of asbestos-related disease would eventually develop, including mesothelioma cancer. If you worked at AK Steel and have questions about asbestos exposure and your legal options, please fill out the form on this page for additional information.
As of 2009, figures showed that 426 asbestos lawsuits were pending against AK Steel Holding Corporation. Most of these involved employees or others who were exposed at the company's sites. As many of them are class action suits, the number of plaintiffs involved most likely numbers in the thousands. As is typical of such lawsuits, many of these allege that AK Steel executives knew about the dangers of asbestos but did not relay this information to employees or do anything to protect them from related hazards.
Resources for Metal Workers
If you were one of the tens of thousands of individuals who have worked for AK Steel Holding Corporation from the 1940s until about 1980, you may have been exposed to asbestos while on the job. Informing your family doctor or specialist about your possible exposure and attending regular check-ups are essential steps to take in order to determine whether any damage may have been caused by the mineral. If problems are suspected, the doctor may order tests to confirm his suspicion.
Understanding the consequences of asbestos exposure and the details of mesothelioma can be difficult and overwhelming. Workers with a history of asbestos exposure can contact a Patient Advocate at the Mesothelioma Center to ask questions about exposure risk, treatment options and request resources. Call (800) 615-2270 to speak to a Patient Advocate directly or fill out the form on this page to request more information.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
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.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
