Facts About Asbestos On Offshore Oil Rigs And Land Rigs

by Timothy Young

Almost everyone in the United States has heard the word "asbestos" during the last 20 years. It is common knowledge that asbestos was used to make many products including insulation, roofing materials and other residential and commercial building products. However, it is less known that asbestos was also used in the oil field industry including on land rigs as well as offshore oil rigs. If you worked in the oil field on land or offshore, it is possible that you were previously exposed to asbestos. You should know the following information.

  

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 and gas industry found asbestos products to be very helpful in connection with the drilling mud used offshore and on land rigs. Asbestos is fire retardant meaning that it has fire proof like qualities. Additionally, asbestos is very cohesive and serves as a bonding agent which was helpful when mixed with drilling mud. Offshore workers were required to mix asbestos products as well as even pure asbestos fibers into the drilling mud to give the drilling mud these fire resistant and cohesive benefits.

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 exposed to asbestos on offshore drilling rigs relates to the law which applies to any claim that they may file against their past employers. As a "vessel", an offshore drilling rig falls under maritime law and a federal statute known as the Jones Act. Offshore workers who were previously exposed to asbestos can file claims directly against their past employers under the Jones Act and general maritime law. This provides a huge benefit to these injured workers since many manufacturers of asbestos products are now in bankruptcy, protected from further suits. Under the Jones Act and maritime law, an injured offshore worker has a significant chance of actually collecting damages against a still available and solvent defendant, i.e., his past employer.