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Crock Pots - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

In addition to the more commonly expected insulation and construction materials, there were also about 3,000 consumer products produced during the heyday of asbestos that contained asbestos. These included trivets, stove mats, pot holders and small appliances like toasters, crock pots and irons. Any small appliance that had a possibility of overheating might have contained asbestos. A 1950s era kitchen may have contained a dozen appliances and accessories made with asbestos.

Many adults who grew up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s will recall asbestos oven mats and cooking mats made with corrugated asbestos paper and laminated with textured foil or tin. Oven mitts often proudly boasted that they were woven with asbestos for superior protection from heat, and toasters, toaster ovens, irons and crock pots used asbestos not only for heat insulation but for electrical insulation around the cord as well. In crock pots and slow cookers, asbestos may have been used as a layer between the inner and outer pot to prevent heat loss and keep the outside of the crock pot cool enough to prevent burns. Household goods containing asbestos included ironing board covers and electric blankets.

The asbestos in small appliances could prove deadly, especially to the hobbyist or small appliance repairman. In 2001, the family of a small appliance repairman in San Clemente California sued over 100 makers of small appliances because they failed to warn him of the dangers of working with appliances containing asbestos components. In his thirty years of small appliance repair, he was exposed to asbestos dust almost daily. In the end, his dedication to his work killed him. He died of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by inhaling and ingesting asbestos fibers. Among the companies named in the suit were West Bend, Sunbeam, Conair, Farberware and Sears Roebuck, Inc, all of whom made and/or sold crock pots along with other small appliances.

In addition, anyone who worked for a factory that made small appliances like crock pots and toasters may have been exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing process. It is most likely that workers who assembled those appliances were never warned that they were handling a potentially fatal substance.

While asbestos has not been used in the manufacture of small appliances since the 1980s, there are still many older appliances in circulation that may present a danger to hobbyists, collectors and consumers, as well as to those who repair small appliances for a living. If you have an older appliance that may contain asbestos, it is strongly suggested that you do not attempt a repair on it.

If you worked for a manufacturer that assembled crock pots, irons, toasters and other small appliances that contained asbestos, you are at a greater risk for developing mesothelioma, a deadly cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos. If you were exposed to asbestos at work or in the environment and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to recover damages for your illness and the losses that accompany it. An attorney who is experienced in the field of mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos litigation will have the resources to help you discover the manufacturers and producers who are responsible for your illness. Contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer for more information about the possible avenues for exposure to asbestos, and about how you can be compensated for your medical expenses and loss of income.

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