Asbestos at Bethlehem Steel
For over 53
years, Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with Bethlehem Steel 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,
sprayed or trowled acoustic/decorative plasters and textures.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
Babcock & Wilcox, Eagle-Picher, Western MacArthur ND, Owens Corning/Fibreboard, USG, U.S. Mineral asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, California:
Babcock & Wilcox
- FJ Furnace Boilers
- Gauges
- Insulating Firebrick
- Integral Furnace Boilers
- Marine Boilers
- Steam-Generating Boiler Products
- Stirling Boiler
- Type E Pulverizers
Eagle-Picher
- 106 Finishing Cement
- 111 High Temperature Cement
- 33 Insulating Cement
- 43 Cement
- 7M Asbestos Finishing Cement
- 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering and Insulating
- 99 Finishing Cement
- Armatemp Cement No. 10
- Armatemp Cement No. 166
- Castable Cement
- Coprtex Cement
- D.E. Block
- Drycote
- Eagle 20 Finishing Cement
- Eagle Drycote
- Firekote Cement
- Fireproofing Cement
- Hi-Stick Insulating Cement
- Hi-Temp Corrosion Resistant Paint
- HyLo Finishing Cement
- HyLoc Block and Pipe Covering
- Insulac
- Insulating Cement
- Insulseal
- Insulstic Adhesive Material
- Kings XX Finishing Cement
- Navy Grade Insulating Cement
- Navy Special Insulating Cement
- One-Cote Cement
- Spray Mastic
- Stalastic
- Super “66” Cement
- Superfill “A”
- Superfill “F”
- Supertemp Block
- Swetchek
- Vercel Block
- “1003” Cement
- “330” Insulating Cement
- “DE 85” Block
- “DE 95” Block
Western MacArthur ND
- Adhesives
- Duct tapes
- Fire blankets
- Fireproofing spray
- Insulation (pipe and wall)
- Insulation Cements: 1-V / 7-V / No. 1 / and No. 28
- Joint compounds
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
USG
- Asbestos Felts & Covering
- Asbestos Paper
- Audicote Acoustical Plaster
- Bondcrete
- Ceiling Tile
- Cement Plaster Regular
- Corrugated Cool Felt Air C. Covering
- Corrugated Wool Felt Covering
- Durabond 90 Joint Compound
- Durabond Joint Compound
- Firecode Plaster
- Glatex Asbestos Cement Siding
- Gypsum Woodfibre Plaster
- Hi-Lite Acoustical Plaster
- Imperial Gypsum Cement Plaster
- Imperial Plaster
- Imperial Tape
- Oriental Exterior Stucco Finish Coat
- Perf-A-Tape Compound
- Perf-A-Tape Joint System
- Pipe Coverings
- Pyrobar Mortar Mix
- Pyrobestos PC Board & Stack Lining
- Range Boiler Jackets Pipe Covering
- Red Top Cement Plaster
- Red Top Firecode Plaster
- Red Top Gypsum Plaster
- Red Top Patching Plaster
- Red Top Plaster
- Rigid Block Insulation (Generic)
- Roofing Products
- Sabinite Acoustical Plaster
- Siding Shingles
- Spray Texture Paint/Finish
- Spraydon Fireproofing Plaster
- Structo-lite Perlited Gypsum Plaster
- Structolite
- Super Hard Spray
- Texolite
- Textone
- Texture Paint
- Thermalux (Generic)
- “Sheetrock” Texture
U.S. Mineral
- CAFCO® Blaze Sheild Type D
- CAFCO® Blaze Shield Fireproofing
- CAFCO® Cominco All-Purpose Insulating Cement
- CAFCO® Cominco Mono-Ply Insulating Cement
- CAFCO® Fireproofing
- CAFCO® Heat Shield Fireproofing
- CAFCO® Patching Fiber
- CAFCO® Power Shield Fireproofing
- CAFCO® Sound-Shield
- CAFCO® Spray
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, CA. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at Bethlehem Steel
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at Bethlehem Steel, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Abatement Worker
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Worker
- Asbestos Worker
- Bagger
- Bag Opener
- Bale Press Operator
- Bale Roller
- Boiler Inspector
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Mechanic Helper
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Repair
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Burner
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Electrician
- Engine Room Mechanic
- Factory
- Fireman
- Fireproofing Sprayer
- Firewatcher
- Flame Cutter
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Gaskets
- Heat & Frost
- Industrial Engineer
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Mill Worker
- Mixer
- Operating Engineer
- Painter
- 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
- 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 Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, California. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, California employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1930 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 Bethlehem Steel, 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 Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco. 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 San Francisco 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 Bethlehem Steel.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at Bethlehem Steel
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, CA. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by Bethlehem Steel at
its San Francisco facility between 1930 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 Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco.
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 Bethlehem Steel site in San Francisco, CA, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $27,697 and
$1,734,982. 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 Bethlehem Steel, including job duties and duration of exposure.