Asbestos at Harvey Aluminum
For over 38
years, Harvey Aluminum in Torrance utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with Harvey Aluminum show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
asbestos blankets, cloth, ropes and textiles,
protective clothing and accessories,
raw asbestos fibers and misc.,
boiler and high-temp equipment insulation,
gaskets, packing and seals,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
asbestos cement sheets, siding and boards,
packing and sealants for drilling/oilfield (drilling muds).
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
A-Best Products, Dresser Industries, Kaiser Aluminum, Thorpe Insulation asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, California:
A-Best Products
- Aprons
- Boots
- Cloth
- Coats
- Conveyor Belting
- Curtains
- Gloves
- Handpads
- Hoods
- Leggings
- Mittens
- Rope
- Sleeves
- Tape
Dresser Industries
- Alco Locomotives
- Baroid Drilling Mud-Diaseal
- Baroid Drilling Mud-Flosal
- Baroid Drilling Mud-Super Visbestos
- Baroid Drilling Mud-Visbestos
- Bay State Abrasives
- Clark Compressor
- Consolidated Safety Valve
- Dresser Pump
- Dresser-Rand Compressor
- Dresser-Rand Turbine
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Best
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Diaseal
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Flosal
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Shurlift
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Super Best
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Super Visbestos
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Univis
- IMCO Drilling Mud-Visbestos
- Ingersoll-Dresser Pump
- Kellogg Brown & Root
- Leroi Compressor
- Magcobar Drilling Mud-Diaseal M
- Magcobar Drilling Mud-Flosal
- Magcobar Drilling Mud-Oilfaze
- Magcobar Drilling Mud-Visbestos
- Magcobar Drilling Mud-Visquick
- Manning, Maxwell & Moore
- Mid-Valley
- Moore Turbine
- Pacific Pump
- Roots Compressor
- Terry Steam Turbine Co.
- Worthington Compressor
- Worthington Pump
- Worthington Turbine
- Worthington-Moore Turbine
Kaiser Aluminum
- Birdsboard – a Mirawal building product with asbestos cement core
- Coelex 60 Unitab Brick
- Hard Top Finishing Cement – Mud
- Wool Cement
- KR 1202/1204 M/C Brick
- M-Block Insulation
- Plastic Insulation Cement
- Plastic K-N Plastic Chrome Ore
- Plastic KK-N
- Plastic Ram
- Super D Block Insulation (6% Amosite)
- Vee Block Insulation
- Vee Block Mix/Castable Insulating Cement
Thorpe Insulation
- Insulation Products
- Construction Products
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, CA. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at Harvey Aluminum
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at Harvey Aluminum, 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
- Bricklayer
- Burner
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Cement Mason
- Checker
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Crew
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- Driller
- Drywall Applicator
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Engine Room Mechanic
- Factory
- Field Worker
- Fireman
- Firewatcher
- Flame Cutter
- Foundry Worker
- 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
- Maintenance Mechanic in oilfield operations
- Mason
- Mill Worker
- Mixer
- Oil Field Worker
- Operating Engineer
- Packing & Sealant Mixer or Operator
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Powerhouse Mechanic
- Powerhouse Operator
- Protective Clothing & Accessories Manufacturer
- Pumpman
- Puncher of Asbestos Cement Pipes
- Puncher of Millboard
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Roofing Materials
- Roustabout
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Smelter
- Stationary Engineer
- Steamfitter
- Steel Worker
- 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 Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, California. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, 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 Harvey Aluminum, 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 Harvey Aluminum in Torrance. 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 Torrance 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 Harvey Aluminum.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at Harvey Aluminum
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, CA. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by Harvey Aluminum at
its Torrance 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 Harvey Aluminum in Torrance.
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 Harvey Aluminum site in Torrance, CA, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $74,136 and
$2,394,965. 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 Harvey Aluminum, including job duties and duration of exposure.