USS-Posco Industries
A joint venture between POSCO of the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Steel Corporation, USS-POSCO Industries produces flat-rolled steel sheets of several varieties including cold-rolled, galvanized and tin plate. Located in Pittsburg, California, the foundry opened as Columbia Steel in 1910, with just 60 employees forging steel castings for the lumber, shipping and dredging industries. Today, USS-POSCO employs about 1,000 workers.
From the 1920s through the 1940s, the little foundry grew, adding a new nail mill as well as a hot-dip tin mill, the first on the West Coast. During this era, Columbia Steel produced pieces used for the building of the San Francisco—Oakland Bay Bridge and remained busy producing steel during World War II. Numerous upgrades were made during the 1960s and 1970s, and the plant became known as having the most diverse product line of any steel plant in America.
Soon, however, foreign steel and the introduction of new materials such as plastics had an adverse effect on Columbia Steel. In order to stay afloat, the company invested money into numerous improvements at the facility. In 1986, U.S. Steel and Pohang Iron and Steel entered a joint venture that allowed the latter to provide raw material for the plant at a reasonable price. This gave the Pittsburg-based company a boost. More upgrades were made and the plant continues to be one of the world’s most efficient steel finishing plants.
USS-POSCO and Employee Health
Today, USS-POSCO follows an environmental policy known as C.I.T.E., or Continuous Improvement to Environment. The company vows to make environmental management a priority. In addition, the company enforces strict safety rules meant to protect workers from harm, including the harm that occurs from exposure to toxic materials.
USS-POSCO and Use of Asbestos
Unfortunately, things have not always been safe in the USS-POSCO steel plant. For more than 40 years, the company used tons of asbestos inside the plant. The material was commonly utilized as an insulator for pipes, ovens, furnaces, pumps, boilers and mills.
Asbestos was also used to coat friction products such as brakes on machinery used inside the plant. In addition, steel plant workers wore clothing made from asbestos cloth to protect their skin from burns. Workers were typically unaware of the toxicity of asbestos fibers, and those who encountered the material on a regular basis and inhaled its fibers often got sick with diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
USS-POSCO and Asbestos Litigation
Like many facilities that belong to U.S. Steel, USS-POSCO has had numerous asbestos lawsuits filed against them in the past, alleging that executives knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure yet allowed use of the material to continue. This negligent behavior resulted in many cases of asbestos disease and other asbestos-related conditions.
In a document distributed to stockholders in 2003, the corporation noted that 14,000 claimants have filed suit against them for injury resulting from asbestos exposure. This included employees at USS-POSCO. The document also stated that the number of claims has remained steady over the past 12 years as more and more individuals discover they have developed mesothelioma cancer due to exposure on the job.
Resources for Metal Works Employees
Working in a steel plant demands a lot of strength and presents a number of dangers. If you were employed at the USS-POSCO steel plant from the 1940s through the 1970s, you may have been at risk for exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Because you can develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, it is important to monitor your health regularly. Even if you worked at the plant decades ago, you are still a candidate for the disease. Most people are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until 20 to 50 years after initial exposure occurs, due to the long latency period of the disease. It is important to detect the disease at the earliest stage possible by having annual or twice-yearly chest x-rays and other imaging tests.
To learn more about testing or to find a mesothelioma testing center near you, complete the form on this page or contact one of the Patient Advocates at the Mesothelioma Center by calling (800) 615-2770.
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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.
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