Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) used asbestos for many years to manufacture boilers and other power generation equipment. This caused exposure and illness in many workers, some of whom filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the company. B&W eventually filed for bankruptcy and set up an asbestos trust fund.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you might be entitled to substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
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Did Babcock & Wilcox Use Asbestos?
Babcock & Wilcox has been designing and building boilers and similar equipment for over 100 years. For many of those years, Babcock & Wilcox used asbestos as an insulating material in its products.
Peak asbestos use in many industries occurred in the middle of the 20th century. Asbestos was cheap, abundant, and an excellent insulator. Companies that made equipment to withstand high temperatures typically used asbestos.
History of Babcock & Wilcox
B&W was founded in 1867 as a boiler manufacturer. Founders George Babcock and Stephen Wilcox started the company after Wilcox invented the water-tube boiler.
- Within a little over ten years, the company installed its first utility boiler. It installed the boiler at the Pearl Street Power Station in New York City, the first in the U.S.
- By 1902, it began manufacturing boilers that helped power the first subway built in New York City.
- Shortly after, B&W began manufacturing boilers for projects funded by the U.S. government, including a fleet of Navy battleships.
- In addition, B&W manufactured nuclear submarine components, fabricated components, and a coal-fired boiler for Nimitz airline carriers.
- Babcock & Wilcox expanded its services to include boiler cleaning, emission control systems, and power plant construction.
- B&W used asbestos in its boilers for decades. Many workers who built or repaired the boilers developed deadly diseases, including malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. As a result, over 300,000 lawsuits were filed against the company.
- Babcock & Wilcox filed for bankruptcy in 2000 due to the expense of the lawsuits. It emerged as Babcock & Wilcox Company in 2006.
How Did Babcock & Wilcox Use Asbestos?
Many industries used asbestos in the middle of the 20th century, but it was most important in high-heat industries. B&W made boilers and other products for power generation. This equipment needed a good insulator. B&W used asbestos as an insulator for decades in numerous boiler parts and other equipment.
Some of the B&W products made with asbestos include:
- Marine boilers
- Furnace boilers
- Seals
- Gaskets
- Rope backing
- Coal pulverizers
- Insulating firebricks and millboard
Workers Affected by Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Products
Since B&W boilers were used in various settings, many types of workers were exposed to asbestos and affected. The following are among just a few of the many occupations affected by asbestos in B&W products:
- Boiler workers
- Insulators
- Power plant workers
- Shipyard workers
- Welders
- Firefighters
- Plumbers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
- Maintenance workers
- Navy service members
B&W supplied the U.S. Navy with boilers and related equipment. Navy veterans now have high rates of mesothelioma because of the asbestos used on Navy vessels.
Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Lawsuits
B&W’s first asbestos-related lawsuit was filed in 1982. By 2000, the number of asbestos claims had risen to 340,000. These are just a few examples.
- Martin McPadden was a Navy fireman striker who handled various products that contained asbestos, including the boilers manufactured by B&W. McPadden passed away after a battle with malignant mesothelioma, but his loved ones pursued justice on his behalf. B&W, along with several other companies named in the lawsuit, settled with the family for a little over $1.6 million.
- Cleo Elmore served in the U.S. Navy as a pipefitter. He was eventually diagnosed with mesothelioma and sued companies that supplied the Navy with asbestos products. His lawsuit included Babcock & Wilcox, among others. A jury awarded Elmore $3 million.
- Adrienne Sweeney died of mesothelioma in 2015. Her husband made B&W boilers and inadvertently exposed her to asbestos fibers brought home on his clothing. The case, which was filed in Scotland in the United Kingdom, resulted in £250,000 for the Sweeney family.
Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Cover Up
Many companies were later found to have known about the risks of asbestos without warning or protecting workers. Evidence of what B&W knew surfaced in a 1978 memo.
In that memo, a company executive described knowledge of asbestos risks and an unwillingness to warn workers. The memo mentioned the company’s investigation to determine how dangerous asbestos was. The company failed to protect its workers and those in other industries that used its products.
Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust
That negligence would lead to thousands of asbestos lawsuits against Babcock & Wilcox, forcing the company to seek Chapter 11 protection in 2000.
The company created an asbestos trust fund as part of its reorganization. The trust was designed to compensate claimants for years to come.
The trust has since faced criticism after several state attorneys general began investigating it and other asbestos trusts. They suspected lawyers are paying claims before reimbursing states for Medicaid costs, which is illegal and an abuse of the trust.
The Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust is active today. Its current payment percentage for claims is 6.3%.
B&W Today
B&W emerged from bankruptcy and is still in business today. The company no longer uses asbestos in products and remains headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Currently, the company works with the research and development of alternative energy and with several departments of the United States Department of Energy National Laboratories.
How to Get Compensation if You Were Exposed to B&W Asbestos Products
If you suffered asbestos exposure and illness from B&W products, contact a lawyer to help you seek compensation. The trust is open for claims, but it can be complicated. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can give you the best chance of making a successful claim.
They can also investigate your work history. There are likely multiple companies that exposed you to asbestos if you have a related illness. You could be eligible for multiple trusts or even to file a lawsuit to seek damages.
Resources for Asbestos Victims
Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance or questions, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
