Asbestos at General Motors
For over 38
years, General Motors in Bedford utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with General Motors 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,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants,
asbestos cement sheets, siding and boards.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
A-Best Products, A. P. Green, Babcock & Wilcox, Eagle-Picher, Kaiser Aluminum, Owens Corning/Fibreboard asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at General Motors in Bedford, Indiana:
A-Best Products
- Aprons
- Boots
- Cloth
- Coats
- Conveyor Belting
- Curtains
- Gloves
- Handpads
- Hoods
- Leggings
- Mittens
- Rope
- Sleeves
- Tape
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
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
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
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
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the General Motors in Bedford, IN. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at General Motors
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at General Motors, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Abatement 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
- Bricklayer
- Burner
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Cement Mason
- Checker
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Crew
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Drywall Applicator
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Engine Room Mechanic
- Factory
- Fireman
- Firewatcher
- Flame Cutter
- Foundry Worker
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Gaskets
- Heat & Frost
- 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
- 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 General Motors in Bedford, Indiana. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
General Motors in Bedford, Indiana 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 Motors, 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 Motors in Bedford. 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 Bedford 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 Motors.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at General Motors
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to General Motors in Bedford, IN. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by General Motors at
its Bedford 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 Motors in Bedford.
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 Motors site in Bedford, IN, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $22,322 and
$1,686,081. 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 Motors, including job duties and duration of exposure.