Kaiser Aluminum
Headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, Kaiser Aluminum produces fabricated aluminum products primarily for use in aerospace/high strength, automotive, general engineering and custom industrial applications.
The company was founded in 1946 after well-known industrialist, Henry Kaiser, leased and then purchased three Washington aluminum facilities from the United States government. These included two reduction plants – one in Mead and one in Tacoma, and a rolling mill in Trentwood.
Through the years, Kaiser has been involved in many different aspects of the aluminum industry. For many years, the company mined and refined bauxite, turning it into alumina. In addition, some of the company's facilities were involved in the production of aluminum from alumina. However, Kaiser is no longer involved in alumina or bauxite operations.
Today, approximately 2,000 employees - including production workers, engineers, metallurgists and designers - work in 11 Kaiser fabricating facilities throughout the United States and Canada, producing some 500 million pounds of aluminum each year. Facilities are located in Richland and Trentwood, Washington, Los Angeles, California, Chandler, Arizona, Sherman, Texas, Jackson, Tennessee, Newark, Ohio, Bellwood, Virginia, Kalamazoo, Michigan and London, Ontario, Canada.
Kaiser Aluminum and Asbestos
From its start in 1946, Kaiser Aluminum was responsible for exposing its employees to asbestos. Considered the prime insulator of the era, asbestos was used in a number of different applications inside aluminum plants like the ones operated by Kaiser. The material, known for both its heat resistance and durability, may have been used to insulate equipment such as:
- Furnaces
- Boilers
- Mixers
- Rolling mills
- Cranes
- Motors
- Ovens
Sadly, the material was used for more than 30 years before its hazards were brought to the attention of the general public, including those who worked inside Kaiser and other aluminum plants. Though the dangers of exposure had long been apparent, information about asbestos' toxicity was often withheld. For many workers, however, the after-effects of exposure would eventually appear, often in the form of cancerous tumors.
Kaiser Aluminum and Asbestos Litigation
Once the facts about asbestos exposure were shared with workers at Kaiser's many facilities, it became apparent to many employees that they were suffering from asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma cancer. By 2001, more than 100,000 asbestos-related claims had been filed against Kaiser, both from employees and users of the company's products.
This excessive number of lawsuits forced the company to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, and as part of their bankruptcy reorganization plan, they established the Kaiser Asbestos Personal Injury Trust in 2006. The trust processes and pays any and all valid asbestos personal injury claims filed against the company. It also allows for “fair, equitable, and similar treatment” for all claims.
Resources for Metal Workers
Given the large number of lawsuits forged against Kaiser Aluminum, it is obvious that the health of many was negatively affected by their years spent working for the company. Furthermore, since asbestosis and mesothelioma take quite some time to develop, many additional employees may not yet realize that asbestos has had an impact of their health. It is essential for former aluminum plant workers to receive regular medical exams, chest x-rays, and/or pulmonary function tests to monitor any potential health problems related to the toxic mineral.
If you would like assistance finding a location to be tested for mesothelioma, please fill out the form on this page. For those already diagnosed with the disease, our Top Mesothelioma Doctor Directory provides an expansive list of mesothelioma medical professionals. Patients requiring assistance in securing a doctor in their area may contact our Patient Advocates, who can help find a specialist for your specific diagnosis, assist in setting up an appointment, discuss common treatment options, and search for financial assistance options to help pay for treatment (such as participating in a clinical trial where treatment costs are covered). To speak directly with a Patient Advocate, call (800) 615-2270.
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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.
