Almost everyone in the United States has heard the word “asbestos” during the last 20 years. It is common knowledge that asbestos was used to make many products including insulation, roofing materials and other residential and commercial building products. However, it is less known that asbestos was also used in the oil field industry including on land rigs as well as offshore oil rigs. If you worked in the oil field on land or offshore, it is possible that you were previously exposed to asbestos. You should know the following information.
The danger of asbestos lies in the minute fibers which are produced by the asbestos minerals. The word asbestos actually refers to a group of minerals which are naturally occurring on earth. Over the years companies found that the fire resistant property of these minerals as well as their cohesiveness was beneficial in the production of several types of products. Unfortunately, when these products broke apart or otherwise disintegrated, they produced asbestos fibers which could be inhaled and cause serious health problems.
The oil and gas industry found asbestos products to be very helpful in connection with the drilling mud used offshore and on land rigs. Asbestos is fire retardant meaning that it has fire proof like qualities. Additionally, asbestos is very cohesive and serves as a bonding agent which was helpful when mixed with drilling mud. Offshore workers were required to mix asbestos products as well as even pure asbestos fibers into the drilling mud to give the drilling mud these fire resistant and cohesive benefits.
Asbestos-related medical problems include the well known cancer mesothelioma. This refers to a very specific asbestos-only related cancer which typically occurs in the lungs, abdomen, heart area or testicles. Asbestosis is the asbestos-related condition of having actual asbestos fibers contained within a person’s lungs. Lung cancer can sometimes be indirectly related to a person’s past asbestos exposure. It is medically documented that asbestos within a person’s lungs greatly increases the chance of that person suffering lung cancer. This is especially true with smokers who have previously been exposed to asbestos. Although these individuals may believe that their lung cancer is solely related to their past smoking history, in fact asbestos may have played a significant role in contributing to their lung cancer.
The good news for workers who were exposed to asbestos on offshore drilling rigs relates to the law which applies to any claim that they may file against their past employers. As a “vessel”, an offshore drilling rig falls under maritime law and a federal statute known as the Jones Act. Offshore workers who were previously exposed to asbestos can file claims directly against their past employers under the Jones Act and general maritime law. This provides a huge benefit to these injured workers since many manufacturers of asbestos products are now in bankruptcy, protected from further suits. Under the Jones Act and maritime law, an injured offshore worker has a significant chance of actually collecting damages against a still available and solvent defendant, i.e., his past employer.
Visit the asbestos information websitefor more information on your rights under maritime law. You can also learn about the use of asbestos on oil rigs and in drilling muds at the site.