Longview Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that can spread in the body and usually causes death. Longview mesothelioma patients can often trace their asbestos exposure back to their workplaces, such as Weyerhaeuser Longview, Longview Fibre Paper & Packaging, Cowlitz County Paper Mills, Reynolds Metals Company, Kalama Chemical or Port of Longview. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis in Longview, Bergman Oslund Udo Little can help you recover mesothelioma compensation from the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 9, 2024
Asbestos Law Firm Serving Cowlitz County
Bergman Oslund Udo Little is the Pacific Northwest’s premier mesothelioma law firm. We have been focused on helping those injured by asbestos and fighting for mesothelioma victims and their families in Cowlitz County since 1995.
Our Longview mesothelioma lawyers have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients’ asbestos-related damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our track record includes many successful asbestos exposure cases against companies with operations in Longview and these surrounding areas:
- Kelso
- Woodland
- Lexington
- Longview Heights
- Kalama
- Castle Rock
Asbestos Exposure in Longview, WA
Longview and Cowlitz County have a rich history of industrial development. Unfortunately, this also means that many workers experienced asbestos exposure in the workplace before the public was aware of its dangers. Our Longview mesothelioma attorneys have researched local job sites and occupations with a particularly high risk of asbestos exposure, especially pulp and paper mills located in Longview and Cowlitz County.
Demolition and Construction Workers
Longview is home to many old residential and commercial buildings that were built with asbestos-containing materials, including insulation, roofing materials, ceiling materials, and floor tiles. Construction and demolition professionals who perform work on pre-1980s buildings are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers during demolition, repair, or renovation projects. The work can release asbestos fibers into the air, and workers may experience asbestos exposure without proper safety measures.
Shipyard Workers
The Port of Longview and other neighboring ports have employed thousands of workers over the years to build and maintain ships. Between the 1930s and 1970s, ships were often built with asbestos-containing materials, meaning many shipyard workers experienced regular asbestos exposure. Additionally, the shipyards themselves often contained asbestos in their structures.
Working with insulation, paneling, interior cables, piping, valves and adhesives has long posed a risk to shipyard workers’ health. Despite the age of these asbestos-containing facilities and vessels, many are still in use, putting today’s workers at risk.
Electricians
Older homes and buildings often have electrical wiring wrapped in asbestos-containing materials, which can release fibers when disturbed. Electrical panels, switches, fuses and wire insulation are all potential sources of asbestos exposure for Longview electricians. These workers also may need to cut through drywall or other building materials that contain asbestos in order to access certain electrical components.
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Manufacturers historically used asbestos cement and insulation in plumbing components, such as boilers, water pipes, gaskets, ducts, valves, and pumps. Steam system piping and components were heavily insulated with asbestos. Plumbers and pipefitters who regularly worked with these components may have experienced significant asbestos exposure.
Even modern-day plumbers and pipefitters can face exposure to older materials when renovating or repairing pipes and plumbing in aged buildings. The risk of asbestos exposure rises when workers need to penetrate cement sheets or insulation to access underlying pipes.
Firefighters
When older buildings catch fire, the intense heat can cause asbestos-containing materials to release fibers into the air. Firefighters who enter these burning buildings without proper protective gear may inhale dangerous fibers. The act of breaking walls or ceilings to access hidden flames also can release fibers into the air. Washington has special laws that allow firefighters to file claims for occupational diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Even after the fire is extinguished, firefighters are at risk of exposure when handling debris or cleaning up a burned structure that contained asbestos. Additionally, some firefighters may have experienced asbestos exposure through their equipment, as asbestos was once a common component of thermal linings and fabrics in fire suits and other gear.
Insulators
Asbestos was an appealing material for insulation due to its heat- and fire-resistant properties. Many types of insulation were manufactured with asbestos in the 20th century, including vermiculite, pipe wrapping, spray-on insulation, block insulation, cement, and loose-fill insulation. As a result, workers in the insulation industry often face high levels of asbestos exposure.
While new insulation usually does not contain significant amounts of asbestos, insulators who remove or repair insulation in Longview’s many pre-1990s buildings are at risk of exposure. The removal process of old insulation can release fibers into the air, and even small amounts of asbestos exposure can cause serious health complications for insulators.
HVAC Workers
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workers are responsible for installing and repairing heating and cooling systems. These systems often contain asbestos-containing materials such as ductwork insulation, gaskets, and sealants.
As such, HVAC workers are at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers during routine maintenance, installation, and repair work. Workers who must access HVAC components hidden inside walls and ceilings may also disturb asbestos-containing materials and release fibers into the air.
Asbestos Exposure Sites Near Longview
Weyerhaeuser Longview
Weyerhaeuser Company, a global forest products company, employs thousands of people throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Among their many operations is the Weyerhaeuser Longview paper mill, which has potentially exposed workers to asbestos.
Many mill components likely contain asbestos, including insulation, electrical breakers, cement, roofing materials, boiler refractories, and spray-on fireproofing. Former and current workers in a range of roles, from maintenance and repair to production, are at risk of asbestos exposure.
Cowlitz County Paper Mills
Pulp and paper mill workers in Cowlitz County likely have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials at work. Regional paper mills used asbestos in equipment and building materials for many years. This practice put numerous workers at risk of developing mesothelioma, including maintenance personnel, pulping, boiler, and papermaking workers, and those who worked directly with asbestos fabrics and felt.
Port of Longview
The Port of Longview’s historic “White House” building was the subject of a 2019 hazardous materials survey. The building was constructed in 1937 and served as Long-Bell Lumber Company’s headquarters until International Paper acquired it in 1956. It eventually became part of the Port of Longview, with companies such as Longview Fibre and Weyerhaeuser acting as tenants during its history.
The survey found asbestos throughout the building, including in insulation, sheet vinyl in restrooms, wall ducting, and light fixtures. Anyone who worked for the companies that occupied the building or worked on renovations may have been exposed to asbestos.
Reynolds Metals Company
Reynolds Metals operated an aluminum smelter and cable mill in Longview between 1941 and 2001. While strong evidence of asbestos at this location is not currently available, our Longview asbestos cancer attorneys believe it’s likely that workers were exposed to asbestos during the mill’s six-decade history.
Former ironworkers who developed asbestos-related diseases have targeted other Reynolds Metals Company plants, including one in Alabama, in asbestos lawsuits. Considering the plants’ similar natures and the known presence of asbestos in their processes, metal workers at the Longview location also may have experienced asbestos exposure.
Longview Fibre Company
Longview Fibre Paper & Packaging used asbestos throughout its operations between the 1940s and 1980s. A lawsuit filed in the early 2000s, Shellenbarger v. Longview Fibre Co., found asbestos in Longview Fibre Company’’s pipe coverings, machine hoods, dryer felts, insulation and pitch control agents and gaskets.
Although the company began removing or encasing its asbestos in the mid-1980s, many people were already exposed and continue to suffer from asbestos-related diseases today.
Schools and Public Buildings
The Longview School District, along with many other nearby districts, used asbestos extensively throughout its older school buildings. For example, the Broadway Learning Center building has a pending asbestos removal and renovation project due to the presence of presumed asbestos tile.
Asbestos also is likely present in other pre-1980s Longview school buildings, posing a risk to students, teachers, custodians, administrative staff and contractors who may have encountered it during maintenance or renovation projects. Robert A. Long High School, for instance, was built in 1927 and has undergone multiple renovations over time, making it likely that asbestos was disturbed during construction.
Asbestos also may be present in other Longview public buildings. Potential exposure sources include parts of the Longview Civic Center District, Longview Post Office, Longview Public Library and Longview Women’s Clubhouse.
Talk to a Longview Asbestos Attorney Today
You’re facing enough stress after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Allow our Longview asbestos lawyers to handle the legal details so you can focus on your health and family. Bergman Oslund Udo Little is here for you and your loved ones during this difficult time and is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at 206-957-9510 to set up a free consultation with a Longview mesothelioma cancer attorney. We can help you understand your legal options and determine the best course of action for your unique case.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
