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Bethlehem Steel

Once the second-largest steel producer in the U.S., dwarfed only by giant U.S. Steel, Pennsylvania's Bethlehem Steel boasted roots that went way back to the mid 1800s, when the company got its start as the Saucona Iron Company. As it grew and changed, it would later become the Bethlehem Rolling Mill and Iron Company, Bethlehem Iron Company, and finally in 1899, Bethlehem Steel.

According to company historians, Bethlehem Steel's early inventions were largely responsible for the “Age of the Skyscraper” and by the early 1900s, the company was the chief supplier of steel to the country's construction industry. However, the company was reshaped when it was hired to help rebuild the U.S. Navy around the turn of the century. What followed was decades of military contracts that eventually resulted in the building and operation of 15 shipyards that produced more than 1,100 ships during World War II.

After the war, Bethlehem Steel continued making products for the construction, power, and defense industries, even rolling uranium fuel rods for use in nuclear reactors. The company remained at its peak until around 1970, when cheaper steel from foreign sources had a huge impact on U.S. steel plants. The company first began to close some of its operations in 1982 and operations at its main plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania permanently ceased 1995. Shipbuilding activities stopped in 1997.

Finally, in 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy, and in 2003, its remaining assets, which including six large plants, were sold to the International Steel Group. A casino will open at the site of the company's Bethlehem plant in mid-2011.

Bethlehem Steel and Asbestos

For many decades, Bethlehem Steel was one of the most prosperous corporations in America. It assisted in shaping the country and provided materials that were integral to the growth of the U.S. For the most part, it was a respected corporation that provided employment for thousands, especially during World War II.

Unfortunately, however, Bethlehem Steel was involved in a number of endeavors that made working for the organization dangerous. Throughout the years, there were plenty of accidents inside their steel mills and at their shipyards, some fatal. In addition, Bethlehem Steel used many toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials in the making of their products and in the building of ships. These substances, which included asbestos, had an adverse affect on those who worked with or near them.

Both shipyards and steel plants were full of asbestos. The toxic mineral was used mostly as insulation, primarily because it was extremely heat- and fire-resistant but also because it was durable and inexpensive. Generations of employees handled the material and many inhaled its fibers and brought asbestos dust home to their families, exposing even more individuals to the potential of developing asbestos-related cancer and other diseases.

Bethlehem Steel and Asbestos Litigation

The dangers of asbestos exposure were noted as early as the 1930s when articles about lung problems in those who worked with the material began cropping up in medical journals all around the world, including in the United States. Employees in places like Bethlehem Steel's many plants began to notice breathing problems and many were dying at a young age. Yet, they were told that asbestos had nothing to do with their ailments or untimely deaths.

When the facts about asbestos were made public in the late 1970s, the picture became clear and corporations like Bethlehem Steel began to be inundated with lawsuits filed by employees (and families of employees) who were obviously sick due to asbestos exposure.

An October 2000 article in the Allentown Morning Call, a Bethlehem-area newspaper, cited the filing of more than 400 lawsuits by Bethlehem Steel retirees from the company's main plant. The number, said the article, was expected to climb to more than 3,000 by the end of the following year. The same thing happened at the company's other plants.

In addition, thousands of former Bethlehem Shipyard employees also filed suit, including many who worked at these locations during World War II. One shipyard employee noted in his lawsuit that he was exposed daily to "laggers" who used asbestos-containing block, cement and pipe covering. Exposure was unavoidable, he said.

Resources for Metal Workers

Those who worked for Bethlehem Steel during the peak of the company's asbestos use were no doubt proud to be doing their job, which included building ships and producing other items that were important to America's defense. Sadly, however, many employees are now facing serious asbestos-related illnesses.

It's frightening to face a potential diagnosis of mesothelioma, but many former Bethlehem Steel employees understand that the disease could become a real part of their life. It's extremely important that anyone who once worked with asbestos schedule regular doctor's appointments to check for any signs of the disease.

Because mesothelioma has a long latency period and often strikes during old age when other health problems are present, it's especially important to find the right doctor for treatment, one who can offer plenty of options. To locate a doctor near you, fill out the form below or ask one of our Patient Advocates about our unique Doctor Match Program. For more information, call (800) 615-2270.

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