During the 1960s to mid 1980s the oil and gas industry offshore and on drilling barges commonly uses asbestos and asbestos-related products in connection with drilling for oil and gas. Many of the workers exposed to these asbestos products did not know at that time that they were endangering their health by following the instructions of their employers. This article discusses the background of asbestos being used on oil rigs, the nature of asbestos itself, the health concerns of asbestos and finally what injured workers can do to protect themselves.
The danger of asbestos lies in the minute fibers which are produced by the asbestos minerals. The word asbestos actually refers to a group of minerals which are naturally occurring on earth. Over the years companies found that the fire resistant property of these minerals as well as their cohesiveness was beneficial in the production of several types of products. Unfortunately, when these products broke apart or otherwise disintegrated, they produced asbestos fibers which could be inhaled and cause serious health problems.
The oil field, both on land as well as off shore, began using asbestos products during the 1960's and continued through the mid to late 1980's. Asbestos products were used as additives in connection with the drilling mud used for offshore and on land drilling. Asbestos provided heat resistant properties as well as a cohesive property, or bonding agent, which was very beneficial when mixed with drilling mud. Several of these asbestos-related products were actually pure asbestos fibers which workers were required to mix directly into the drilling mud.
Individuals who have previously been exposed to asbestos should be aware of the following health problems which could be asbestos related. First, common lung cancer can be asbestos related in that past asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's likelihood of suffering lung cancer. This is true for smokers who have previously been exposed to asbestos. Even though these individuals may believe their lung cancer is related solely to their past smoking history, in fact asbestos exposure may have played a significant role in contributing to their lung cancer. The asbestos-specific cancer, mesothelioma, can occur in a person's lungs, heart area, abdomen and testicles. Mesothelioma is only caused by asbestos. Finally, asbestosis is a condition of having actual asbestos fibers within a person's lungs. This can be diagnosed with X rays and proper medical testing. These fibers can ultimately lead to pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs) as well as mesothelioma.
The good news for workers who were previously exposed to asbestos in the oil and gas industry is that maritime law and a federal law known as the Jones Act may provide relief for these workers if they worked offshore or on drilling barges on the water. Under maritime law and the Jones Act, claims can be filed directly against past employers for any asbestos-related exposure that a worker may have experienced while working for these past employers. This situation typically arises in regard to oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and drilling barges which operated from the 1960's through the mid to late 1980's. Many of the workers on these oil rigs and drilling barges were exposed to asbestos and they may just be beginning to experience asbestos-related health problems because many asbestos-related health problems do not surface or "manifest" until decades after the worker's exposure to asbestos.
Visit the asbestos information websitefor more information on your rights under maritime law. You can also learn about the use of asbestos on oil rigs and in drilling muds at the site.
