Kaiser Aluminum manufactured certain products with asbestos in the past. Kaiser asbestos products included refractory materials made from the 1950s to 1970s. Kaiser Aluminum filed for bankruptcy to compensate victims who developed illnesses after handling and working around its asbestos-containing products.
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. 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.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Did Kaiser Aluminum Use Asbestos?
Aluminum processing did not involve asbestos, but Kaiser also made refractory products and other insulating materials. Kaiser used asbestos in these products from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Kaiser Aluminum History
Kaiser Aluminum was founded in 1946 when Henry J. Kaiser bought three Washington aluminum facilities from the U.S. government and began mining, processing, and manufacturing aluminum products.
- Over several decades, the company grew substantially. It acquired bauxite mines and began transforming bauxite into both fabricated and semi-fabricated aluminum products.
- As the company expanded, it began distributing asbestos-containing fireboard to the U.S. Navy for use aboard vessels. Many of Kaiser’s products were manufactured with asbestos due to its strong resistance to heat and fire.
- From the 1950s until stricter regulations against asbestos were implemented in the 1970s, Kaiser made asbestos-containing products. These included insulation, refractory cement, and construction materials.
- Due to Kaiser’s excessive asbestos use in many of its products, employees, contractors, and Veterans began developing toxic illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer.
- Kaiser faced thousands of asbestos lawsuits, forcing it into bankruptcy in 2002. It reorganized and created a trust fund to compensate victims.
Kaiser continues to operate today with headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. It manufactures industrial aluminum products with facilities throughout North America.
Which Kaiser Products Contained Asbestos?
Kaiser did not use asbestos in the process of making aluminum products. However, it contained asbestos in its facilities to protect against the high temperatures used. Boilers, furnaces, and pipes were often insulated with asbestos.
Kaiser also made products in addition to aluminum, many of which contained asbestos:
- Birdsboard
- Block castable insulation
- Fire bricks
- Furnace castable insulating cement
- Hardtop finishing cement
- Insulation
- Mineral wool cement
- Plastic chrome ore
- Plastic insulation
- Refractory cement
- Siding
- Siding board
- Wall panels
Many of Kaiser’s asbestos products were made by subsidiaries. The company sold them to numerous industries, including the U.S. Navy.
In addition to these products, Kaiser sold raw asbestos fibers to various companies in the 1960s.
Occupations Affected by Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Products
Since Kaiser distributed asbestos-related products to numerous industries, a variety of different workers in multiple occupations were affected, including:
- Shipyard workers
- Aerospace workers
- Construction workers
- Paper mill workers
- Refinery workers
- U.S. Navy veterans
Workers in the factories that made Kaiser asbestos products had very high risks of exposure. Anyone who handled or worked near asbestos could have inhaled fibers.
Asbestos in Abandoned Kaiser Plants
Many industrial companies like Kaiser have abandoned plants, leaving behind toxic materials that can contaminate the surrounding area and residents. Kaiser abandoned a facility in Mead, Washington, with asbetos and other toxins.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began remediating the site in 2020. The project includes removing contaminated soil and preventing the release of toxic materials into a nearby bond.
Kaiser Asbestos Lawsuits
Kaiser faced thousands of lawsuits over asbestos exposure and resulting illnesses. These are just a few examples of notable cases won against Kaiser and other companies:
- Henry Barabin filed a lawsuit against the Kaiser Trust and several other companies in 2007. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in a paper mill and a refinery and coming into contact with asbestos materials. Kaiser and others settled the case for approximately $40,000. Barabin had already passed away from mesothelioma, but his widow continued the case.
- Julius Egan worked as a welder for Kaiser Aluminum. He developed mesothelioma and sued the company and others in 1996. Egan worked in and near the carpenter shop where other workers cut into asbestos materials, creating asbestos dust. A jury in Louisiana awarded him over $70,000.
- John Henderson developed mesothelioma after years of working in various industrial plants. He sued Kaiser and other companies over his past asbestos exposure. A Washington court awarded him more than $2.5 million.
Kaiser Aluminum Bankruptcy
By 2001, asbestos-related claims against Kaiser Aluminum had reached over 10,000. Rather than continue to fight the mounting claims, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002. Kaiser remained in bankruptcy until 2006.
After bankruptcy, the company established the Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to compensate for all pending and future asbestos-related cases.
The trust was funded with $1.2 billion, and within two years of its establishment, it had already paid out over $100 million.
In November 2020, trust administrators dropped the payment percentage from 25% to 18.1%. This move helps ensure funds will still be available for future claimants.
Kaiser Aluminum Today
Kaiser is still in operations today. The company has 11 United States fabrication facilities, one facility in Canada, and several U.S. service centers.
The combined facilities ship over 500 million pounds of products each year worldwide. Kaiser no longer uses asbestos in any of its products, but asbestos-related claims from former workers and contractors continue to surface.
How to Seek Compensation if You Were Exposed to Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos
If you worked with or around Kaiser products, you could be at risk for an asbestos illness. Contact an asbestos law firm to find out what you can do about it.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help you make a successful claim with the Kaiser Trust. They can also find any other companies that may have exposed you to asbestos. You could be eligible for other trusts or for a lawsuit against additional asbestos companies.
Additional Resources for Asbestos Victims
If you’ve been injured by asbestos, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
