Asbestos at General Electric
For over 45
years, General Electric in San Jose utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with General Electric 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,
gaskets, packing and seals,
fireproofing materials and sprays,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
Burns and Roe, Western MacArthur ND, Owens Corning, Owens Corning/Fibreboard, Pittsburgh Corning, Yarway asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at General Electric in San Jose, California:
Burns and Roe
- Used Asbestos Products from Other Manufactures
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
- 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
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
Pittsburgh Corning
- Braided Rod Packing
- Foamglas Building Insulation
- Gasoline Packing
- Insubestos Felt Insulation
- Insutape
- Semi-metallic Asbestos High Pressure Packing
- Unarco Insulating Cement #50
- Unarco Insulating Cement #75
- Unibestos Block Insulation
- Unibestos Insulation
- Unibestos Pipe Covering
Yarway
- Adjustable Spray Head
- Air Control Valves
- Automatic Boiler Skimmer
- Cylinder Guided Expansion Joints
- Double-Tightening Valves
- Gun-Pakt Expansion Joints
- Hydraulic Valves
- Pipe-Joint Clamps (Simplex)
- Process Steam Traps
- Seatless (Simplex) Blow-off Valves
- Series 40 Steam Traps
- Starting and Pressure Unloader
- Tandem Blow-off Valves
- Wrought Steel Expansion Joints
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the General Electric in San Jose, CA. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at General Electric
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at General Electric, 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
- Burner
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- 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
- Machinist
- Machinist Helper
- Maintenance Man
- Maintenance Mechanic
- 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
- 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 General Electric in San Jose, California. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
General Electric in San Jose, California 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 General Electric, 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 General Electric in San Jose. 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 Jose 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 General Electric.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at General Electric
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to General Electric in San Jose, CA. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by General Electric at
its San Jose 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 General Electric in San Jose.
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 General Electric site in San Jose, CA, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $39,943 and
$2,033,607. 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 General Electric, including job duties and duration of exposure.