May 7, 2024

Ford Factory Employees: Ford Asbestos Exposure Risk

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Asbestos
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma
Unions & Trades

Ford Asbestos Exposure Risk

Henry Ford is known as the father of the modern automotive industry, founding his factory in Detroit, Michigan in 1903. With innovations like the moving assembly line and the five-dollar daily wage, the Ford Motor Company began its history-making success and grew into a multinational manufacturer. Today, it produces millions of vehicles yearly and employs hundreds of thousands of employees at around 90 plants worldwide.

Many workers who spent years at Ford factories like the Ford Rouge Plant complex in Dearborn, Michigan were exposed to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was used in the construction of most auto plants before the 1980s. While asbestos is valued for being heat- and chemical-resistant, it is also a carcinogen that can have a deadly effect on humans.

Serling & Abramson, P.C. is a law firm with decades of experience pursuing companies for damages related to asbestos-related diseases. We’re your first place to turn if you are a Ford worker or retiree with mesothelioma or cancer caused by asbestos, and will do a free review of your case.

How Ford Workers Were Exposed

Because of the constant friction and wear that automobile parts undergo, asbestos was used during manufacturing to extend the longevity of:

  • Clutches
  • Brake pads
  • Linings
  • Spark plugs
  • Gaskets
  • Transmission components
  • Thermal plastic components
  • Electrical components
  • And others

The anti-friction materials in brakes alone could contain up to 50% asbestos. Needless to say, workers who worked on, handled or installed these parts are at serious risk of exposure — as well as cleaning crews who worked in the plants.

The biggest danger to workers is asbestos particles that break down and become dislodged from plant conditions and automobile parts over time. These particles go into the air in a work area, putting workers at risk of inhaling or ingesting the fine, fibrous dust.

Long-term auto plant workers at plants built before the 1990s are most at-risk.

If you have worked in a Ford or other automotive plant, you have likely been exposed to asbestos. If you’ve already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or are experiencing symptoms like the ones listed below, contact us.

Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure

The most severe illness associated with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. It’s a cancer that forms on the protective lining covering the lungs, abdomen and organs in the thoracic cavity.

Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop: usually between 20 and 50 years after the first exposure. Common symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Buildup of fluid in the lungs or abdomen
  • Pleural effusion
  • Unusual weight loss
  • Chest pain, especially after exertion
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Abdominal pain
  • Painful coughing
  • Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest or abdomen

Note: Mesothelioma can sometimes be misdiagnosed. Discussing your work history with your doctor can help lead them to a proper diagnosis.

Various types of lung cancer are also caused by exposure to asbestos. Just like with mesothelioma, when inhaled, asbestos fibers lodge in the lung tissue. Over time, this can contribute to the development of lung cancer.

Common lung cancer symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • A cough that won’t go away (or gets worse)
  • Coughing up blood
  • Chest pain
  • Hoarseness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Infections that won’t go away or keep coming back (such as bronchitis or pneumonia)
  • Wheezing

Note: Victims of asbestos-related lung cancer often suffer from non-cancerous asbestosis, a non-malignant scarring of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. This can happen before their lung cancer develops — sometimes 20 years or more after the initial exposure.

Ford Asbestos Automotive Plants

  • Woodhaven Ford Stamping Plant
  • Wayne Ford Assembly Plant
  • Utica Ford Trim Plant
  • Sterling Heights Ford Plant
  • Rawsonville Ford Plant
  • Owosso Ford Plant
  • Mt. Clements Ford Plant
  • Milan Ford Plant
  • Livonia Ford Plant
  • Highland Park Ford Plant
  • Wixom Ford Assembly Plant
  • And others

What Experts Know To Look For

Because we have extensive experience representing workers with asbestos-related illnesses, the attorneys at Serling & Abramson, P.C. know what to look for to help your case. For example:

Was anyone else in your home exposed to asbestos as a result of your employment? Your spouse could have breathed in asbestos dust while doing laundry or handling your work clothes. If they’ve been diagnosed with a related illness, let us know.

Have you already filed a suit against an automotive company — but have new symptoms? Having an illness that’s related to your previous one means you may have grounds for a “second disease” case. Let Serling & Abramson, P.C. review the details and discuss your options.

Holding Major Corporations Responsible

Unlike many lawyers, attorneys at Serling & Abramson, P.C. aren’t intimidated by big companies who have unsafe working conditions. With an extensive database of research we’ve gathered over the years, we’ll work with you to determine where you were exposed to asbestos and hold the proper parties responsible. Contact us today for a free review of your case.