Chicago Heights Steel is a small specialty steel company that has been in operation for over 90 years. Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the steel mill works with rail steel, which is a specialty steel that was originally formulated for use in railroad rails. Rail steel is known for its lighter weight and higher tensile strength than regular steel. Rolled steel and rail steel is typically used for outdoor applications, including street sign posts, tee posts and signs.

Rail steel is rolled from old railroad rails that are taken out of service. The steel is reheated and hot-rolled before being shaped into its final form. Unfortunately, past steel mills were among the most common places to find asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was used in steel yards for insulation and protection from the heat of working with superheated metal. Asbestos was also used in the protective gloves and clothing that workers wore to protect them from burns and injury.

Exposure to asbestos can result in tiny asbestos fibers becoming lodged in the soft tissues lining the lungs, heart, or abdomen. After remaining there for several decades, these fibers can eventually cause mesothelioma, a rare asbestos cancer that is almost exclusively attributed to asbestos exposure.

If you or a loved one have previously worked at Chicago Heights Steel and have been diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. Contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to learn more about filing a lawsuit.

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