Mesothelioma Lawyers South Carolina

According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 628 people were killed by asbestos exposure in South Carolina from 1979 to 2001. These deaths primarily centered around Charleston and Spartanburg Counties, covering the metropolitan areas of Charleston and Spartanburg.

If you or someone you love has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) because you were exposed to asbestos while working in South Carolina, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason understand the stressful and complicated mesothelioma legal process. We are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of success. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their heirs. Our attorneys provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost to you for our services.

Asbestos Exposure in South Carolina

Industries in South Carolina where workers may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos include power plants, shipyards, vermiculite processing plants, paper mills and chemical plants.

South Carolina is home to several older power plants. Because even the smallest fire at a power plant can be a disaster, power plants need to use heat-resistant materials to shield equipment and every part of the facility. Prior to the 1980’s, asbestos was commonly used in power plants to insulate boilers, generators, turbines and other machinery. It was also used in gaskets, building materials, roofing and even the clothing that workers wore. When power plant equipment or facilities were repaired or asbestos-containing clothing frayed or became damaged, dangerous asbestos fibers were released into the air.

One of the major industries contributing to asbestos problems in South Carolina is the shipping industry. The shipbuilding industry notoriously exposed countless workers to asbestos. A fire at sea is always a great concern for everyone aboard a ship, and using asbestos as an insulator and fire retardant was a way to minimize this risk. Asbestos was used to protect boiler rooms, engine rooms, sleeping quarters and hallways. Shipyard workers who constructed these areas were commonly exposed to asbestos while installing the asbestos-containing materials. Whenever a ship had to be serviced, dangerous asbestos fibers could be disturbed.

Port workers may have been exposed to asbestos while loading and unloading ships as well. Wrapping materials, crates and pallets for transporting products often contained asbestos fibers. Anyone who handled items being off-loaded from a ship or who delivered a load aboard a ship was at risk of breathing asbestos into their lungs.

Shipyards in South Carolina include:

• Carolina Shipping Company
• Charleston Naval Shipyard
• Denton Shipyard
• Detyens Shipyards

Another source of asbestos exposure in South Carolina was vermiculite processing. From 1940 – 1990, asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mined in Libby, Montana was shipped to processing plants throughout the United States. According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 109 shipments, representing almost 9,000 tons, of vermiculite was shipped from Libby to 3 locations in South Carolina, including Travelers Rest, Enoree and North Charleston. The vermiculite was made into attic insulation and other products and sold for construction purposes around the state and across the country, putting many people at risk of asbestos exposure. As a result of their negligence, eight executives of W.R. Grace & Company, the owner of the Libby, Montana mine, were indicted on criminal charges for conspiracy and violations of the Clean Air Act.

South Carolina has many historical homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings that might have used this insulation.  Asbestos was commonly used in the construction industry for insulation, roofing materials, floor tiles and millboard.  Construction workers, even today, can be exposed to asbestos while building, upgrading and demolishing buildigns that used asbestos products, unless proper safety measures are taken.  These measures include:  dampening asbestos-containing materials, wearing disposable protective clothing and avoiding the use of power tools.

Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in South Carolina

If you or a member of your family has been affected by asbestos cancer in South Carolina or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Whether your asbestos exposure was due to working at a contaminated jobsite or because you used asbestos-containing products, our mesothelioma attorneys can give you sound, legal advice. We have over thirty years of experience providing mesothelioma legal representation to clients across the United States. We offer a free case evaluation and can fly to South Carolina to meet with you in person.

If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, visit our list of South Carolina mesothelioma treatment centers.  Mesothelioma attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are here to help.

Call Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason for a free consultation.