Foster Wheeler supplied products for engineering, power, and power management companies. The company used asbestos in construction and boiler components and later faced claims over related illnesses, like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Many of the people harmed by Foster Wheeler were U.S. Navy veterans.
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Did Foster Wheeler Use Asbestos?
Foster Wheeler supplied the power industry, which used many components with asbestos to insulate and reduce heat loss. Many of Foster Wheeler’s products contained asbestos for decades. These included insulating materials for pipes and boilers.
Foster Wheeler History
Foster Wheeler was established in 1927 as a merger between two companies. The Water Works Supply Company, later known as the Power Specialty Company, was founded by the Foster family in 1884. The Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Company was founded in 1891.
- After the merger between the Power Specialty Company and Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Company, the new company became Foster Wheeler.
- The merger tied Foster Wheeler directly to asbestos, as the companies it merged with had a long history of using it in numerous products.
- For example, Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Company, which supplied heat exchangers, pumps, and steam condensers to the military, used asbestos in most of its products.
- When Foster Wheeler was the Power Specialty Company, it manufactured asbestos-containing boiler components and heaters for the military during World War I.
- In the 1920s, Foster Wheeler began designing and building petrochemical plants and oil refineries. It made and supplied the industry with boilers.
- When the oil boom declined, the company created Foster Wheeler Environmental Services, Inc. and Foster Wheeler Power Systems, Inc.
- The company then expanded into Asia and Europe, taking on boiler contracts for China. Soon after, Foster Wheeler opened a plant in the Philippines.
- Foster Wheeler faced numerous asbestos claims, putting it at risk for bankruptcy in 2001. By 2006, it had already spent more than $700 million settling claims.
AMEC acquired Foster Wheeler in 2014. AMEC was then acquired by the John Wood Group in 2017. Foster Wheeler continues to operate today.
Foster Wheeler Asbestos Products
Not all of Foster Wheeler’s products contained asbestos. The following Foster Wheeler products were confirmed to contain asbestos:
- Boilers
- Marine boilers
- Gaskets
- Valves
- Seals
- Pumps
- Heaters
- Steam generators
- Refractory block insulation
- Surface condensers
- Steam drums
These products were installed in oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and other industries that used boilers. The U.S. Navy used Foster Wheeler boilers in many of its ships.
Workers Affected By Foster Wheeler Asbestos Products
Occupations in the military, including contractor roles, that were affected by Foster Wheeler include:
- Pipefitters
- Boilermakers
- Shipyard workers
- Mechanics
- Electricians
- Power plant workers
- Steamfitters
- Engineers
- Maintenance workers
- Millwrights
- Paper mill workers
Since Foster Wheeler sent much of its supply to the armed forces, military personnel have been significantly affected. The U.S. Navy, in particular, used Foster Wheeler boilers, and crew on Navy ships were at risk for exposure and later illness.
Foster Wheeler Claims
Although Foster Wheeler faced numerous asbestos-related claims, the following is one of the more prominent claims. It’s a prime example of what Foster Wheeler faced as employees and contractors came forward after developing fatal illnesses.
In 2002, Alfred Todak, 60, a former Navy electrician, won one of the largest verdicts ever in a California asbestos case after proving the company’s negligence caused his battle with pleural mesothelioma.
Per court documents, during a five-week trial, Todak’s mesothelioma attorney showed that Todak’s occupational exposure to asbestos occurred while he worked at Seattle’s Bethlehem Steel Mill and the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, also in Seattle.
His work around Foster Wheeler’s boilers, in particular, contributed to Tudok’s mesothelioma diagnosis. From 1965 until 1972, Tudok’s employment with both companies constantly exposed him to asbestos fibers.
Under California’s consumer safety laws, a San Francisco county jury found Foster Wheeler’s type–D marine boilers defective because the company failed to warn others of the dangers associated with the product.
Further, the jury also found Foster Wheeler at fault for the negligent supply, manufacture, and design of its boilers.
His verdict amount included $22.7 million in damages. His wife, Stephanie Todak, won $11 million for loss of consortium.
These are a few other claims brought against Foster Wheeler for asbestos exposure and resulting illness:
- Lynda Berry developed peritoneal mesothelioma through secondhand exposure. Her husband worked in a paper mill in Louisiana that used Foster Wheeler boilers. A jury found Foster Wheeler liable for her damages and awarded her $2.25 million.
- Valent Rabovsky died from mesothelioma after working as a millwright for decades. His widow and family sued Foster Wheeler and other asbestos companies. A jury awarded them over $1 million and assigned 20% of the liability to Foster Wheeler.
- Richard Walmach developed and died from mesothelioma after working at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He worked around others who removed asbestos insulation from boilers. They used jackhammers, creating asbestos dust. Walmach’s family sued Foster Wheeler and others, resulting in $5.2 million in total damages.
Foster Wheeler Today
In 2001, Foster Wheeler faced bankruptcy due to the overwhelming amount of claims it faced. However, the company slowly recovered and, in 2009, built a biomass-only power plant in Poland, marking it the world’s largest power plant of its kind.
The company also relocated its headquarters from the United States to Geneva, Switzerland, resulting in most company sales coming from overseas business. In 2014, Amec plc and Foster Wheeler merged. The resulting company merged with Wood Group in 2017.
How to Seek Compensation for Foster Wheeler Asbestos Exposure
You have legal options if you suffered asbestos exposure through Foster Wheeler products. An asbestos attorney can explain them and help you seek compensation.
Because Foster Wheeler never filed for bankruptcy protection, workers with asbestos illnesses can still file a claim against the company for damages. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your work history and outline all the choices available to you for seeking compensation.
Additional Resources and Information for Asbestos Victims
Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Remember to fill out our form for your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area.
References
View All ReferencesFoster Wheeler Asbestos FAQs
Did Foster Wheeler make products that contained asbestos?
Yes. Foster Wheeler is among the companies linked to asbestos exposure. The specific products involved, and the years they contained asbestos, are described above on this page. Workers who handled or worked near those products, and in some cases their family members, could have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
Can I get compensation for Foster Wheeler asbestos exposure?
Possibly. If you were exposed to Foster Wheeler asbestos products and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be able to recover compensation. Depending on the company’s status, that can come through a claim, a bankruptcy trust claim, or both. A free case review can confirm which options apply to your exposure.
How do I prove asbestos exposure from Foster Wheeler?
Exposure is usually documented with your work history, identification of the specific products, the job sites and dates involved, co-worker statements, and your medical records. An asbestos attorney gathers this evidence for you. Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer at no cost to get started.