Asbestos at Acipco
For over 38
years, Acipco in Birmingham utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with Acipco show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
asbestos blankets, cloth, ropes and textiles,
raw asbestos fibers and misc.,
boiler and high-temp equipment insulation,
fireproofing materials and sprays,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants,
asbestos cement sheets, siding and boards,
automotive and heavy equipment friction products.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
A. P. Green, Keene, Owens Corning/Fibreboard, Shook & Fletcher asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at Acipco in Birmingham, Alabama:
A. P. Green
- Asbestos Cement
- Asbestos Fire
- Castable Mix 204
- Greencast
- Greencast 22 L GR
- Greencast 94 GR
- Greencast 97 GR
- Greencast 97 L GR
- Insblok 19
- Insulation Adhesive
- Kast O-Lite Refractory Cement
- Lo Abrade GR
- MC-30
- Mizzou Firebrick
- No. 36 Refractory
- Refractory Ce
- SK-7 Asbestos Cement
- Steelkon GR
- Steelplant Castable B
- Therm-O-Flake Coating (18% asbestos)
- Therm-O-Flake L.B. Block
Keene
- All Fiber Asbestos Cement No. 203
- Armatemp Cement No. 166
- Asbestos Cloth Jackets
- Asbestos Commercial Grade Paper
- Asbestos Corrugated Paper
- Asbestos Fiber and Sodium Silicate
- Asbestos Fyrbestos Sheets
- Asbestos Gasket Grade Paper
- Asbestos Insulating Blankets
- Asbestos Lead Joint Runners
- Asbestos Long Fibre Paper
- Asbestos Millboard Building Paper
- Asbestos Non-Burn Grade Paper
- Asbestos Panel Board Sheets
- Asbestos Paper Furnace Tape
- Asbestos Rollboard
- Asbestos Spray
- B-H #1 Insulating Cement
- B-H 85% Magnesia Pipe Insulation
- B-H Bond Tite
- B-H Insulating Cement
- Baldwin-Hill Koldboard
- BEH Asphalt Cutback
- BEH Bondtite Cement
- Boiler Wall Coating Insulating Cement
- Carey Vitricel Insulating Cement
- Contracting & Supply Corp. label
- Ehret Air Cell
- Ehret and BEH Fibrekote
- Ehret Asbestos Sponge Felt
- Ehret’s 85% Magnesia insulation
- Ehret’s All Fibered Asbestos Cement No. 219
- Ehret’s Asbestos Gaskets
- Ehret’s Asbestos Listing
- Ehret’s Asbestos Rope & Wick Packings
- Ehret’s Asbestos Sheet Millboard
- Ehret’s Durant Insulating Pipe
- Ehret’s Regular Asbestos Cement No. 203
- Enduro Block Insulation
- Enduro High Temperature Block
- Enduro Insulating Cement
- Enduro Pipe Covering
- FibreKote
- Fibrerock Asbestos Fabric
- Finishing Cement No. 105
- Finishing Cement No. 119
- Finishing Cement No. 150
- Finishing Cement No. 175
- Finishing Cement No. 200
- Finishing Cement No. 219
- Furnace Cement
- Heat Seal Insulating Cement
- Insulation's, and Fine-Fiber Glass Fiber Blanket Insulation's.
- Integral Jackets
- Keene 8 oz Convas Jackets #45
- LK Pipe Covering & Block
- Metal Mesh Blanket Insulation's
- Mineral Fiber Block Insulation's
- Minkote Asbestos Roofing
- Mono-Block and Pipe Covering
- Mono-K
- Mono-Spray
- Monoblock High Temperature Insulation
- No. 1 Insulating Cement
- Number One Plus Cement
- P.K. White
- Powerhouse Cement
- Pyrosprays Types I, T & S
- Ruberoid/GAF
- Spun Felt Mineral Fiber Felt Insulation's
- Styltone
- Super Powerhouse Cement
- Surfaces
- Thermalite 85% Magnesia Pipe and Block Covering
- Thermalite Block Insulation
- Thermalite Insulating Cement
- Thermalite Pipe Covering
- Thermasil Pipe and Block Covering (Cal-Sil)
- Thermasil Pipe and Block Insulation's
- Types I-fireproofing
- Types T-thermal
- Uni-Coustic
Owens Corning/Fibreboard
- 85% Magnesia Block, Pipe-covering and Thermal Insulation
- Aircell or Asbestos Paper Insulation
- Alumishield Roof Paint
- Asbestofelt (manufactured by a predecessor)
- Asphalt-Saturated Felts or Roll Roofing
- Caltemp (or Caltherm) Pipe Covering
- Caulking Compounds, Plastic Cements, Roof Coatings
- Colorok, Stormlap, Pabflex and Stonite Asbestos Cement Products
- FI Thermal Insulating Cement
- Flamecurb Gypsum Board
- Gaskets, Packings (manufactured by a predecessor)
- Gripdeck Floor Coating
- Gypsum Board and Lath
- Insulating Tape
- No. 127 Thermal Insulating Cement
- Pabco Pipe Covering
- Pebco Floron Floor Covering
- Plant Pipe Covering
- Prasco Pipe Covering
- Super Caltemp Pipe Covering
Shook & Fletcher
- Fibrous glass cloth
- Coatings
- Banding seals
- Tapes
- Acoustical insulation
- Thermal insulation
- Ceramic fiber
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the Acipco in Birmingham, AL. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at Acipco
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at Acipco, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Worker
- Auto Mechanic
- Bagger
- Bag Opener
- Bale Press Operator
- Bale Roller
- Boiler Inspector
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Mechanic Helper
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Repair
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Brake Line & Shoe Installer
- Brake Line & Shoe Repairman
- Brakeman (railroad)
- Brake Mechanic
- Brake Worker
- Bricklayer
- Burner
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Cement Mason
- Checker
- Clutch Installer
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Crew
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Drywall Applicator
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Electrician
- Engine Room Mechanic
- Factory
- Fireman
- Fireproofing Sprayer
- Firewatcher
- Flame Cutter
- Forklift Operator
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Gaskets
- Heat & Frost
- Heavy Duty Mechanic
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic
- Industrial Engineer
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Mason
- Mill Worker
- Mixer
- Operating Engineer
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Powerhouse Mechanic
- Powerhouse Operator
- Protective Clothing & Accessories Manufacturer
- Puncher of Asbestos Cement Pipes
- Puncher of Millboard
- Puncher of Roofing Materials
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Roofing Materials
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Spray Gun Worker
- Stationary Engineer
- Steamfitter
- Truck Driver
- Warehouseman
- Weaver of Asbestos Fibers
- Weaver of Asbestos Textiles
- Welder
Important Note:
This list is derived from trust fund data associated with asbestos exposure claims, focusing on products
manufactured or supplied by companies related to relevant trust funds. It identifies occupations known to
have used these types of products at Acipco in Birmingham, Alabama. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
Acipco in Birmingham, Alabama employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1945 and 1982, when asbestos was heavily used.
Asbestos fibers,
microscopic and easily inhaled, are incredibly durable. Once inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs and
other organs. The body struggles to remove these fibers, leading to chronic inflammation and scarring.
For those who worked at Acipco, this process significantly increased the risk of severe and
often fatal asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and various
pleural conditions.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure extended beyond the Acipco in Birmingham. Workers often unknowingly
carried
asbestos dust home on their clothing, skin, hair, and tools. This resulted in secondary, or “take-home,”
exposure for family members residing in Birmingham and surrounding communities. Even low levels of asbestos
exposure can be harmful, and these diseases often have a long latency period, sometimes appearing
decades after the initial exposure, leaving families devastated years after a loved one worked
at Acipco.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at Acipco
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to Acipco in Birmingham, AL. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by Acipco at
its Birmingham facility between 1945 and 1982.
- Diagnosis: Medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of a qualifying asbestos-related
disease, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.
- Causation: Evidence demonstrating a connection between the diagnosed disease and the asbestos
exposure at Acipco in Birmingham.
Important Note: Each asbestos trust fund has specific criteria, claim forms, and procedures.
Average Settlement Ranges by Type of Asbestos-Related Disease
Average settlements for asbestos-related diseases linked to exposure at the Acipco site in Birmingham, AL, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $20,234 and
$1,608,320. The specific amount awarded depends on
factors such as the severity of the disease, the claimant’s medical history, and details of their employment
at Acipco, including job duties and duration of exposure.