High Temp Metals
High Temp Metals is located in Sylmar, California. They manufacture nickel and cobalt based alloy metals for a variety of industries. Over the years the company has been very successful and employed a large number of people.
The professionals who have accepted positions at High Temp Metals were well aware that they faced certain on the job risks, but they did not realize that they were being exposed to an extreme danger while on the clock. As with most industrial settings, this Sylmar based facility had insulation and various fire retardant products on site that were made out of the naturally occurring mineral known as asbestos. This mineral was very popular for many reasons: it is strong, easy to mold into any shape, inexpensive to mine and able to endure even the most extreme temperatures. Manufacturers used it as a base for hundreds of different products over the years, and millions of people spent time in close proximity to it. They worked with the material daily, but would have been reluctant to continue had they been aware that asbestos is toxic.
Although ancient civilizations realized that asbestos is a poison, that knowledge was somehow overlooked when the mineral was discovered in massive quantities in America. It was found around the time of the Industrial Revolution, and was soon being used to create hundreds of goods. Workers all over the country were exposed to the material, and they unknowingly breathed in microscopic bits of the mineral on a regular basis. The more of the toxic substance they inhaled, the worse matters became, but even when a small amount on the mineral is taken internally it can be dangerous. It will cling to the lining of the respiratory system and can result in breathing disorders, lung cancer and the well known mesothelioma. Because there is no cure for the disease, a mesothelioma prognosis is usually poor and the reason for a short life expectancy when diagnosed with mesothelioma. There is now a mesothelioma vaccine to help protect against the harmful effects of asbestos exposure but the best prevention is use of proper safety gear when working with the material. If you believe that you may be diagnosed with mesothelioma please refer to our directory of mesothelioma cancer clinics and our mesothelioma treatment guide for more information.
After being exposed to asbestos, millions of people became seriously ill, and many perished. Tragically, even after the executives who ran work sites that utilized large amounts of products which contained the mineral were made aware of this problem, they did nothing to eliminate the danger and didn't even warn their employees. This allowed more people to be exposed to asbestos and fall ill because of it. Eventually government offices such as the Environmental Protection Agency stepped in and created strict regulations about the manufacture and use of asbestos. It is still used today, but only in a manner that is safe to people and to the environment.
