Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Bethlehem Steel Corporation History of Asbestos Use

Bethlehem Steel Corporation (Bethlehem Steel) was among the world’s top steelmakers and shipbuilders. Bethlehem Steel Company, Union Iron Works and several small firms merged to form the company. Charles M. Schwab, an American steel magnate, was the primary founder of Bethlehem Steel.

The company used asbestos products for heat resistance. Steelworkers reported that asbestos dust was often present at its facilities. Many employees were unaware of asbestos dangers and lacked protective equipment.

Bethlehem Steel built ships and supplied steel to the U.S. military and European allies during World War I and World War II. The company also provided steel for major architectural projects, including:

• Empire State Building in New York City
• George Washington Bridge in New York City
• Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
• Madison Square Garden in New York City
• Merchandise Mart in Chicago
• Rockefeller Center in New York City

In 1974, Bethlehem Steel stopped using asbestos. By this time, thousands of workers and nearby residents faced asbestos exposure. People exposed earlier may still develop illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis.

The company tried to expand beyond steel to counter rising competition from foreign producers. Bethlehem Steel ventured into plastics, chemicals and nonferrous mining. However, these efforts weren’t enough to offset financial losses from competing with low-cost foreign steel.

In 2001, Bethlehem Steel filed for bankruptcy. By 2003, the company had dissolved, selling its assets and those of more than 20 subsidiaries.

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Bethlehem Steel Corporation Asbestos Products

Asbestos products were frequently used in steel mills and shipbuilding. Bethlehem Steel used some of these materials in its facilities, including its shipyards. Some notable Bethlehem Steel shipyards include Sparrows Point Shipyard in Sparrows Point, Maryland, and Key Highway Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland.

The locations below are known sites of asbestos exposure at Bethlehem Steel shipyards or mills:

• Alameda, California
• San Francisco, California
• San Pedro, California
• Burns Harbor, Indiana
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Sparrows Point, Maryland
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Hingham, Massachusetts
• Quincy, Massachusetts
• Bayonne, New Jersey
• Hoboken, New Jersey
• Lackawanna, New York
• Staten Island, New York
• Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• Johnstown, Pennsylvania
• Beaumont, Texas
• Port Arthur, Texas

Bethlehem Steel also used asbestos products in its steel mills. For example, asbestos insulation was commonly found in boiler rooms, furnaces, pumps, valves, gauges and pipes.

The following asbestos products were commonly used in steel mills:

• Boilers
• Building and construction materials
• Cement
• Cloths, fabrics and textiles
• Coke batteries
• Electrical wires
• Fireproof aprons, blankets, clothing and gloves
• Furnaces
• Gaskets
• Gauges
• Incinerators
• Insulation
• Ovens
• Paper
• Pipe insulation
• Pumps
• Refractory bricks
• Steam pipes
• Steel molds
• Valves
• Welding rods

Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Occupational Exposure

For much of the 20th century, asbestos was widely used in shipbuilding, steel production and other related industries. As wartime raised the demand for durable, fire-resistant ships, shipyards got even busier.

Bethlehem Steel used asbestos in its facilities for its strength and heat resistance. Regular asbestos use in the workplace put employees at risk of occupational asbestos exposure.

Some jobs with a high risk of exposure include machinists, insulators and welders. Bethlehem Steel workers exposed to asbestos could later develop mesothelioma or similar diseases.

Today, the risk of asbestos exposure persists. Older ships, whether in use or preserved, may contain asbestos, risking workers and restoration crews. The same applies to renovated and repurposed old steel mill buildings that require proper asbestos removal services.

Have a Question About Asbestos Exposure and Bethlehem Steel? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Some Bethlehem Steel workers were exposed to asbestos at work and later developed mesothelioma, lung cancer or other illnesses. Over 3,000 lawsuits related to asbestos exposure had been brought against the company. Several workers have received settlements.

For example, a 73-year-old machinist and shipyard worker sued Bethlehem Steel after asbestos exposure at a South Baltimore shipyard led to mesothelioma. While working at the shipyard, the plaintiff fastened valves together with rope that was made of 60% to 70% asbestos. He was awarded $15.3 million in damages.

Here are some other examples of workers who sued Bethlehem Steel and received settlements:

• $1,854,683 for a 55-year-old ironworker
• $1,403,523 for a 68-year-old shipyard and plant worker

Bethlehem Steel Corporation workers exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with related illnesses may qualify to seek compensation. A mesothelioma lawyer can file claims and handle asbestos lawsuits.