Asbestos at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
For over 35
years, Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with Rancho Los Amigos Hospital show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
boiler and high-temp equipment insulation,
gaskets, packing and seals,
fireproofing materials and sprays,
flooring materials (tiles, sheet, adhesives),
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants,
floor underlayments, backings and felts,
sprayed or trowled acoustic/decorative plasters and textures,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics .
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
ACandS, Armstrong World Industries, Owens Corning, Thorpe Insulation, W.R. Grace asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California:
ACandS
- 2000 Degree F. Block Insulation
- 27-B Soam Filler
- 85% Magnesia Block
- 85% Magnesia Cement
- 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering
- Accobest AN-8012
- Accobest AS-474 Gasketing Material
- Accobest AS-8073
- Accopac AD-8024 Asbestos Paper
- Acoustical Cements (306, 314/waterproof, 340/panel-board)
- Adhesives
- Aircell Block & Sheets
- Aircell Insulations
- Aircell Pipe Covering
- Amblerex
- Armabestos Pipe Covering and Block
- Armaglas Pipe and Duct Insulation
- Armalite
- Armaspray
- Armatemp Cement
- Armatemp No. 166 Cement
- Armatemp Pipe & Equipment Insulation
- Armflex Covering & Sheets
- Armflex Insulation
- Asbestos Ceiling Board
- Asbestos Cement
- Asbestos Felt
- Asbestos Floor Tiles
- Asbestos Insulating Cement
- Asphalt (Oil) Floor Tile
- Asphalt Putty
- Bestfelt Pipe Covering, Block and Sheets
- Box Toe
- Calcium Silicate Pipe Covering
- Cork Board
- Cork Pipe Covering
- Duplex Woolfelt Pipe Insulations
- Firebrick
- Gasket Material – Beater Saturated
- High Temp Block Insulation
- High Temp Cement
- High Temp Pipe Covering
- Hy-Temp Block
- Hy-Temp Cement
- Hy-Temp Pipe Covering
- Hydrocord Felt
- K&M Asbestos Insulating Cement Amblerex No. 2
- K&M Asbestos Insulating Cement Mineral Wool
- K&M Asbestos Insulating Cement No. 151
- K&M Asbestos Insulating Cement No. 152
- K&M Asbestos Insulating Cement Velvet Hard Finish
- K.P. Asbestos Floats
- Kamatt Pipe Covering
- Kaylo Pipe Covering and Block
- Kaylo-20
- Kaytherm Block
- Limpet Spray
- LK Pipe Covering
- LT Cork Covering
- LT Pipe Covering
- Mani-Ply Pipe Insulation
- Mastics
- Mattison
- Millboard
- Minalok
- Mineral Wool Cement
- Nesecone Ablation Material
- Non-Parell High Pressure Covering, Block and Cement2
- Other Cements
- Paper and Range Boiler Jackets
- Perforated/Unperforated Asbestos Cement Ceiling Board
- Plasticork
- Resurfacer
- Rollboard
- Roofing Materials
- Rubber Tile
- S-89
- S-90
- Sealers
- Simplex Pipe Insulations
- Sundries: Emulsions
- Temlok
- Tiles
- V-18 High Temperature Block
- Vinyl Asbestos Tile
Armstrong World Industries
- 314 Acoustic Cement
- Accobest Gasketing Material
- Accopac Asbestos Paper
- Armaspray
- Armaspray 16 Spray-on Insulation
- Armatemp Cement No. 10
- Asphalt Tile
- CC Navy Sealer
- Emulsions
- Excelon Tile
- Excelon Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
- Finishes
- FRJ
- Heavy Duty FRJ
- Heavy-Duty FRJ Insulation Jacket
- Hydrocord Flooring Felt
- LT Sealer
- LT – Cork Covering
- LT – Minus Thirty Cork Covering
- LT – Thirty Cork Covering
- LT – Zero Cork Covering
- Mastics
- Nonpareil High Pressure Cement
- Nonpareil High Pressure Covering Block
- Ring Facing Material
- Rubber Tile
- S-89 (Adhesive)
- S-89 Adhesive
- S-90 (Adhesive)
- S-90 Adhesive
- Sealers
- Sheet Gasketing Material
- Sprayed Limpet
- Vinyl Asbestos Tile
Owens Corning
- Ceiling Boards
- Finishing Cement
- Insulating Cement
- Kaylo 10 Block Insulation
- Kaylo 20 Block Insulation
- Kaylo Block Insulation
- Kaylo Heat Insulation
- Kaylo Insulation
- Kaylo Pipe Covering
- Kaylo Pipe Insulation
- One Cote Cement
- Ready Mix
- Type II Mastic
Thorpe Insulation
- Insulation Products
- Construction Products
W.R. Grace
- Ari-Zonolite Texture
- Econo-White
- Gun Coat Spray Surfacer
- Hi-Sorb Plaster
- High Temp Insulating Cement
- Perlcoustic
- Perltex Super 40 Perlite
- Perltex Super-40 Fog
- Perltex Super-40 Polycoarse
- Perltex Super-40 SAV
- Prep Coat
- Spra-Wyt
- Vermiculite
- Versakote
- Z-Tex
- Zono-Coustic
- Zonolite
- Zonolite Acoustical Plaster
- Zonolite Cement
- Zonolite Mono-Kote
- Zonolite Mono-Kote Fireproofing (MK)
- Zonolite Spra-Insulation
- Zonolite Spra-Tex
- Zonolite Super 40
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Worker
- Auto Mechanic
- Boiler Inspector
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Mechanic Helper
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Repair
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Carpenter
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Electrician
- Fireproofing Sprayer
- Flooring Installer
- Floor Tile & Linoleum Layer
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Industrial Engineer
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Machinist
- Machinist Helper
- Maintenance Man
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Operating Engineer
- Painter
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Powerhouse Mechanic
- Powerhouse Operator
- Puncher of Millboard
- Puncher of Roofing Materials
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Spray Gun Worker
- Stationary Engineer
- Steamfitter
- Tile Helper
- Tile Installer
- Tile Layer
- Tile Mechanic
- Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Worker
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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1948 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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, 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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey. 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 Downey 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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by Rancho Los Amigos Hospital at
its Downey facility between 1948 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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey.
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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital site in Downey, CA, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $81,608 and
$2,408,526. 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 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, including job duties and duration of exposure.