Flintkote Floor Tiles
Floor tiles are found in homes, businesses and most every type of building structure. There are hundreds of companies that produce these tiles, giving consumers a wide range of styles, colors and choices. The Flintkote Company was founded in 1901 as a producer of roofing materials, floor tiles and other construction based products. To create these goods, Flintkote utilized a strong and enduring mineral called asbestos. It was generally thought to be one of the most useful and beneficial natural resources because it could be molded into most any shape, and would create a solid, tough product that would last for years. To make matters even better, asbestos was also extremely resistant to any weather conditions, water and even fire.
Unfortunately, despite its advantageous attributes, asbestos came with one problem that could not be overlooked - it was also toxic. A piece of floor tiling might be perfectly safe, but if it were to be sanded, cracked or modified in any way, seemingly insignificant amounts of asbestos would be released into the air. These particles could be inhaled by anyone and develop into serious diseases, which are often deadly. The most commonly recognized disease is a form of cancer known as Mesothelioma. There is no cure for mesothelioma, and many people die every year because of it. There are different types of mesothelioma including pericardial mesothelioma, and because the disease if often diagnosed in the latter stages, mesothelioma doctors usually offer a poor prognosis with regard to life expectancy. People who worked for companies that manufactured products which contained asbestos, as well as individuals who purchased these goods, were put at risk of ingesting the hazardous substance and in many instances were unaware that it was a cause of mesothelioma. In these cases they could not take the appropriate steps around mesothelioma prevention.
Flintkote fell under the attack of thousands of personal injury claims by mesothelioma attorneys during the 1970's. They struggled to remain in business while dealing with the lawsuits, but by 2004 the company had filed for bankruptcy protection. Their plan was to go through a period of reorganization, establish a trust fund to pay off all remaining claims and reemerge from bankruptcy free from debt. A trust is monitored today to examine and deal with all ongoing and newly established claims.
If you worked for Flintkote during the time they used asbestos, or purchased products such as their floor tiles, you may be interested in more mesothelioma resources. We have put together an informational brochure that explains your rights, and what you should do next if you have been diagnosed with any illness that was caused by asbestos exposure. Request a copy today, it is free and ready to be delivered to you.
Questions about working with Flintkote Floor Tiles and asbestos exposure? Please contact us.
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