Salem Mesothelioma Lawyer
Every year, mesothelioma takes the lives of thousands of Americans, many of whom were exposed to asbestos on the job. Many Salem residents also have fallen victim to this deadly disease from asbestos exposure at job sites at Boise Cascade Paper Mills, industrial facilities throughout Oregon, and the area’s numerous military bases. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis in Salem, Bergman Oslund Udo Little can help you seek fair compensation from the complicit companies.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 29, 2024
Asbestos Law Firm Serving Marion County
We’re the Pacific Northwest’s premier mesothelioma law firm. Our experience makes all the difference when you are facing a complex case against powerful companies. Since 1995, we’ve recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for mesothelioma victims and their families in Oregon and Washington, including multiple clients in Marion County..
Asbestos law has been our primary focus for over 20 years, allowing our Oregon mesothelioma lawyers to provide superior legal representation for mesothelioma clients. Whether you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos in the Willamette Valley or simply moved here after you were exposed to asbestos, our Oregon-licensed attorneys are ready to help you investigate your claims and seek justice for serious asbestos injuries, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos Exposure in Salem, OR
The Salem area is home to many industries that have put workers at risk for asbestos exposure. Certain Marion County job sites and occupations are particularly notorious for exposing workers to asbestos fibers, which can cause the development of mesothelioma.
Mechanics
Asbestos has long been a common component of car parts, such as brakes, clutches, and gaskets. While modern vehicles don’t always contain asbestos, it remains legal to sell asbestos-containing auto parts.
This fact means Salem mechanics are at risk for exposure by working on both old and new vehicles either in the work environment or at home. Vehicles manufactured before the 1980s are more likely to contain asbestos, so mechanics specializing in vintage cars or performing work prior to 1990 are especially vulnerable. Even farmers who operate heavy equipment and maintain brakes and clutches can be at risk of asbestos exposure.
Demolition and Construction Workers
Old buildings in and around Salem often contain asbestos insulation and other asbestos-containing materials. Examples of asbestos sources in homes and residential buildings built before 1980 include roofing shingles, popcorn ceiling materials, insulation, and ceiling tiles.
Demolition and construction work on these buildings can cause asbestos fibers to become airborne, putting workers at risk of inhaled exposure. Although federal regulations require demolition workers to have proper protective gear when working with asbestos, the risk of exposure still exists.
Shipyard Workers
Salem is located a few hours away from the coast, but many residents have worked in the shipyards of Portland, Seattle and other coastal cities. Shipyard workers may experience asbestos exposure while working with insulation, wiring, and other asbestos-containing materials on older ships.
Ships built between the 1930s and 1970s commonly contained asbestos, and many of them are still in use today. This means current shipyard workers could still be at risk for asbestos exposure even if their careers began after the peak of asbestos use in shipbuilding.
Electricians
Manufacturers historically used asbestos in various electrical components, such as wire insulation and electrical panels. As a result, Salem electricians have a higher risk of exposure to asbestos fibers while working on older buildings and industrial sites.
Electricians are also at risk of asbestos exposure through other building materials when accessing underlying electrical systems. For example, cutting through walls or ceilings made with asbestos-containing materials can release fibers into the air.
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Asbestos cement and insulation were commonly used in plumbing components due to the material’s insulating, heat-resistant nature. Plumbers and pipefitters working on older Salem structures may disrupt these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Industrial sites, like paper mills, power plants, and smelters used large amounts of asbestos to insulate steam systems.
Examples of plumbing components containing asbestos include water pipes, boilers, ducts, gaskets, pumps, and valves. Plumbing professionals may also experience asbestos exposure through insulation or cement sheets when accessing covered pipes.
Firefighters
Asbestos cement and insulation were commonly used in plumbing components due to the material’s insulating, heat-resistant nature. Plumbers and pipefitters working on older Salem structures may disrupt these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Industrial sites, like paper mills, power plants, and smelters used large amounts of asbestos to insulate steam systems.
Examples of plumbing components containing asbestos include water pipes, boilers, ducts, gaskets, pumps, and valves. Plumbing professionals may also experience asbestos exposure through insulation or cement sheets when accessing covered pipes.
Insulators
Insulation is one of the most pervasive sources of asbestos exposure in residential and commercial settings due to its widespread use throughout the 20th century. Salem insulators may be at risk of asbestos exposure from installing or removing insulation, particularly in pre-1990 buildings.
The most common types of insulation containing asbestos include pipe wrapping, spray-on insulation, block insulation, and loose-fill insulation. Insulators may also have experienced asbestos exposure from other materials encountered on the job, such as asbestos cement pipes, blocks, and boards.
HVAC Workers
Materials used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems may contain asbestos fibers. Salem residents who work in the HVAC industry are at risk of exposure when installing or repairing these systems in older buildings.
As with other trades, the risk of exposure increases when disturbing or removing asbestos-containing materials in and around boilers or HVAC systems, such as insulation, ductwork, and gaskets.
Salem, Oregon Asbestos Exposure Sites
Boise Cascade Paper Mills
Paper mills often expose workers to high levels of asbestos through machinery, packing, gaskets, and insulation. Some Salem residents performed paper mill work with Boise Cascade, which had a paper mill in the neighboring city of Willamina.
Boise Cascade Corporation produced numerous asbestos-containing products until the 1980s, putting workers and consumers at risk. The company’s manufacturing plants also contained asbestos in their construction, and the asbestos fibers became airborne as the materials deteriorated over time. Other pulp mills located throughout the Columbia and Willamette valleys are also significant sources of asbestos exposure.
Oregon State Hospital
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined Oregon State Hospital, a Salem public psychiatric hospital, for asbestos violations in 2006. The fine stemmed from issues involving the handling of pipe insulation on old pipelines. The hospital was also the subject of a 1990 asbestos survey that revealed high amounts of asbestos in the pipe insulation.
Nurses, doctors, maintenance workers, or anyone else who worked in the hospital during this era may have been exposed to asbestos fibers. Patients and loved ones also may have experienced asbestos exposure. Similar types of asbestos exposure are likely in other old Salem hospital buildings, including the nearly 130-year-old Salem Hospital.
Military Bases and Installations
Millions of U.S. military veterans were likely exposed to asbestos during their service. Much of this exposure occurred on Navy ships, but military bases and installations in and around Salem may have also contributed to exposure, such as:
- Camp Adair
- Camp Withycombe
- McNary Air National Guard Base Field Heliport
- Portland Air National Guard Base
Potential sources of asbestos exposure for military personnel include old buildings and ships, submarines, motor vehicles, and aircraft with asbestos-containing components. Sometimes, veterans brought home asbestos fibers on their uniforms, putting family members at risk of secondary exposure.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes asbestos-related diseases as a service-connected disability and provides benefits to eligible veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service. Our Salem asbestos cancer attorneys have represented many military veterans and families after a mesothelioma diagnosis, including those in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Talk to a Salem Asbestos Attorney Today
You and your family have enough to handle after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Let our Salem mesothelioma attorneys tackle the legal side of things so you can focus on your well-being. Bergman Oslund Udo Little is ready to help you recover fair compensation for your losses.
Contact us online or call 503-447-6230 to schedule a free consultation and discuss your rights, legal options, and next steps with a Salem mesothelioma cancer attorney.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
