South Carolina: Mesothelioma Lawyers Share SC Asbestos Exposure Map

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Mesothelioma lawyers from the national asbestos litigation firm of Levy Konigsberg LLP (“LK”) are continuing to help South Carolina mesothelioma patients and families obtain legal compensation from companies who manufactured, sold or used asbestos-containing products. In this article, they share a map of asbestos exposure sites in SC (scroll down to see the map).

Every year, thousands of men and women across the country are diagnosed with mesothelioma, including many in South Carolina. Even more are diagnosed with lung cancer and asbestosis. All of these asbestos-related diseases could have been prevented if workers had been properly protected from exposure to asbestos.

Due to the presence of numerous textile mills, power plants and industrial employers throughout South Carolina, mill workers, powerhouse employees, insulators, plumbers, laborers, electricians, pipefitters, chemical operators, machinist, boilermakers, engineers and many other trades were routinely exposed to asbestos on a daily basis at their places of employment. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK have extensive experience in investigating these occupational exposures:

South Carolina Textile Industry

Textile manufacturing in South Carolina spread throughout the state before the start of the Civil War. By the early 1980’s, after decades of growth, South Carolina was considered the preeminent textile center of the world. Thousands of South Carolina citizens were employed at textile mills across the state. Many of these textile workers were exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing process where raw asbestos was converted into yarn and other finished products.

Textile Workers

Because asbestos is fire resistant, textile manufacturers incorporated vast amounts of asbestos fiber into its fireproof goods, including aprons, gloves, mittens and protective jackets. Manufacturers of textile products also discovered that asbestos fibers strengthened the products they produced. Workers at South Carolina’s textile mills worked with and around raw asbestos fibers. Many textile operators were employed solely to separate or weave asbestos fibers which were eventually incorporated into the end products manufactured at the textile mill.

Other workers were also exposed to asbestos at these South Carolina textile mills. Various tradespeople, including laborers, millwrights, electricians, boilermakers, insulators, pipefitters, and independent contractors were exposed to the raw asbestos incorporated into the textile products produced at these mills. These tradespeople also worked with and around the asbestos-containing machinery and equipment necessary to operate the textile mills, including boilers, furnaces, pumps, valves, motors, generators, packing, gaskets, and masonry products. Many of these tradespeople were routinely exposed to asbestos on a daily basis at these South Carolina textile mills.

Dr. John Dement, PhD, CIH, of the Duke University Medical Center, conducted several investigations into asbestos exposures suffered by textile workers at North Carolina and South Carolina textile mills*. Dr. Dement’s research found that textile manufacturers predominantly incorporated chrysotile asbestos into their manufactured goods. Chrysotile asbestos is a type of asbestos which features longer and thinner fibers than other forms of asbestos, a fact which appealed to the operators of textile mills. Dr. Dement’s research determined that textile workers who routinely worked with and around chrysotile asbestos in North Carolina and South Carolina textile mills were at an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. Dr. Dement’s research has established a scientific link between the development of cancer and exposure to long thin asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma lawyers at LK are experienced in identifying the unique asbestos exposures suffered by individuals at South Carolina’s textile mills. Regardless of your occupation at a South Carolina textile mill, there are several areas of exposure which must be investigated. During your free consultation, an LK attorney will gather all relevant employment information to determine all possible sources of exposure you or your loved one suffered at a South Carolina textile mill.

Charleston Naval Shipyard

Located on the Cooper River, the Charleston Naval Shipyard began operations in 1901. At the end of World War I, Congress appropriated funds for the building of cruiser warships, which took place in Charleston, SC. Over time, activities at the Charleston Naval Shipyard expanded, and construction provided resources for additional work, including submarine overhauls and the building of destroyer tenders. Thereafter, Charleston Naval Shipyard employees began overhauling nuclear submarines and converting retired vessels to seaworthy stats. In 1968, due to the expansive work occurring at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, the Navy ordered that Poseidon missiles be erected at the shipyard. Construction of this project required the development of a six-story building. The Charleston Naval Shipyard employed thousands of South Carolina citizens through to 1996, when operations at the shipyard ceased.

Shipyard operations required the presence of civilian workers, independent contractors, and military personnel. South Carolina citizens and military personnel present at the Newport Shipyard were unaware of the serious health hazards created from their routine exposure to asbestos dust at the Charleston Naval Shipyard.

Vessel building, repair and overhaul work performed at the Charleston Naval Shipyard typically occurred in cramped spaces with poor ventilation resulting in regular exposure to high levels of asbestos dust. Individuals present at the Charleston shipyard regularly worked with asbestos-containing equipment and gaskets, packing, raw asbestos, insulation, and other asbestos-containing materials throughout their careers. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK are experienced in identifying the unique asbestos exposures suffered by individuals who were employed at the Charleston Naval Shipyard.

South Carolina Power Plants

Numerous companies established power plants throughout South Carolina between the 1940s and 1980s, including Duke Energy, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, Carolina Power & Light Company, and Lockhart Power. For decades, these companies employed thousands of individuals in South Carolina. The generation of power at these power plants required the use of large, high-temperature equipment. Boilers, furnaces, turbines, cooling towers and ovens were installed, maintained and repaired at these power plants. This equipment required large amounts of asbestos-containing products to properly function. Other products, including pumps, valves, motors, wire, cable, heaters, air conditioning units, gaskets, packing, chillers, and steam traps were necessary to allow the powerhouses to properly function. Individuals working at these South Carolina power plants were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust from their work with or around these products. During power plant “outages,” where independent contractors and employees would replace and repair large equipment, many people were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust. An experienced LK attorney will investigate all possible sources of your asbestos exposure at these South Carolina power plant worksites.

Two major power plant employers in South Carolina were Duke Energy and South Carolina Electric & Gas Company:

Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke Energy is the nation’s largest electric power company. For several decades, Duke Energy operated power plants throughout South Carolina cities, including Greenwood, Lancaster, Chester, Cherokee, Chester, Pickens and Anderson.

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company

As early as 1957, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company operated six coal-fired power plants throughout South Carolina.

South Carolina Industry

South Carolina’s industry between the 1930s and 1980s included manufacturers and producers of turbines, boilers, paper, foundry materials, automotive accessories, beverages, oil products, petroleum, construction materials, cleaning chemicals, industrial chemicals, and other everyday consumer products. Individuals in South Carolina employed at these worksites routinely worked with and around asbestos-containing products without knowledge of the serious health hazards created by exposure to asbestos. Attorneys at LK have the expertise necessary to carefully analyze your work history to identify the unique asbestos exposures that were present at your previous places of employment.

Individual Case Review

In South Carolina, and across the country, many people have also developed mesothelioma from non-occupational asbestos exposures, such as automotive work, home renovations, and other hobbies, or from “second-hand asbestos exposure,” which occurred when work clothes contaminated with asbestos were worn home. An experienced LK attorney will assist your family in determining all possible sources of your exposure to asbestos dust.

South Carolina worksites where asbestos exposure occurred most commonly include:

Figure 1. Map of the most common asbestos exposure worksites in the State of South Carolina.

• 3M (Laurens, SC)
• Alice Manufacturing Company (Easley, SC)
• Alken Bomb Plant (Alken, SC)
• American Enka Corporation (Central, SC)
• APC (Fort Jackson, SC)
• Baldwin Cotton Mills (Chester, SC)
• BASF Corporation (Central, SC)
• Bigelow-Sanford, Inc. (Calhoun Falls, SC)
• Bloomsburg Mills (Calhoun Falls, SC)
• Bowaters Carolina Corporation (Catawba, SC)
• Broad River Brick Company (Gaffney, SC)
• Calhoun Mills (Calhoun Falls, SC)
• Camden Forest Products, Inc. (Camden, SC)
• Carolina Shipping Company (Statewide)
• Catawba Nuclear Plant (Catawba, SC)
• Celanese Chemical Plant (Spartanburg, SC)
• Celotex (Clemson, SC)
• Central Electric Power Coop. (Conway, SC)
• Central Mills Company (Central, SC)
• Charleston Navy Yard (Charleston, SC)
• Civil Insulation Company (Beech Island, SC)
• Clearwater Finishing Plant (Clearwater, SC)
• Columbia Lbr & Manufacturing (Cayce, SC)
• Covil Insulation Company (Berea, SC)
• Daniel Construction Company (Anderson, SC)
• Daniel International Corp. (Greenville, SC)
• Darlington Manufacturing Company (Darlington, SC)
• De Kalb Cotton Mills (Camden, SC)
• Detyen’s Shipyards, Inc. (North Charleston, SC)
• Dolphus M. Grainger Power Station (Cayce, SC)
• Duke Energy (Statewide)
• DuPont (Statewide)
• Easley Cotton Mills (Easley, SC)
• Embers Charcoal (Conway, SC)
• Excelsior Mills (Clemson, SC)
• Fiber Industries Textile Plant (Statewide)
• Fort Jackson (Columbia, SC)
• Gaffney Manufacturing Company (Gaffney, SC)
• General Electric Power Company (Conway, SC)
• Georgetown Powerhouse (Georgetown, SC)
• Georgetown Veneer Co., Inc. (Georgetown, SC)
• Glenwood Cotton Mills (Easley, SC)
• Goose Creek Naval Shipyard (Charleston, SC)
• Graniteville Manufacturing
• Greenville Computer Processing (Greenville, SC)
• Hystron Industries (Spartanburg, SC)
• Imperial Manufacturing Company (Clemson, SC)
• International Industries (Greenville, SC)
• International Paper Mill (Georgetown, SC)
• Isaqueena Mills (Central, SC)
• J.P. Stevens & Company (Greer, SC)
• Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Beech Island, SC)
• Lancaster Cotton Mills (Chester, SC)
• Lockhart Power Company (Statewide)
• Magnolia Finishing Plant (Blacksburg, SC)
• May Plant (Camden, SC)
• Monsanto Chemical Plant (Anderson, SC)
• New South Forest Industries (Conway, SC)
• Nucor Steel (Darlington, SC)
• Owens Corning (Anderson, SC)
• Pacolet Yarns (Blacksburg, SC)
• Perfection American Company (Darlington, SC)
• Pine Creek Manufacturing Company (Camden, SC)
• Plywood Plastics Corporation (Hampton, SC)
• Riley Stoker Corporation (Statewide)
• Rocky River Mills (Calhoun Falls, SC)
• Saco Lowell Shops (Easley, SC)
• Savannah River Plant (Alken, SC)
• Sligh Plumbing & Heating Company (Fort Jackson, SC)
• South Carolina Electric & Gas (Columbia, SC)
• South Carolina Power & Light Powerhouse (Statewide)
• Southern Kraft Corporation (Georgetown, SC)
• Spartan Mall (Spartanburg, SC)
• Spring Industries (Chester, SC)
• Stafford Insulation Company (Charleston Heights, SC)
• Stauffer Chemical Plant (Anderson, SC)
• Pulp & Paper Mill (Charleston, SC)
• Union Bleachery (Greenville, SC)
• United Merchants Manufacturers (Alken, SC)
• Urquhart Powerhouse (Beech Island, SC)
• U.S. Naval Receiving Station (Charleston, SC)
• Utica Mohawk Plant (Clemson, SC)
• Victor Plant (Greer, SC)
• Wateree Station (Eastover, SC)
• Wellman, Inc. (Darlington, SC)
• Westinghouse (Hampton, SC)
• Westpoint Stevens (Clemson, SC)
• Williams Station (Eastover, SC)
• Winyah Electric Generating Plant (Georgetown, SC)
• Winyard Steam Plant (Georgetown, SC)
• Wylie Mills (Chester, SC)

If you or your loved one are a South Carolina resident or were exposed to asbestos in South Carolina, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call 1-800-637-6529 or contact us electronically on this website to receive a FREE consultation with mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg LLP.

ATTENTION: Mesothelioma has no known cure and often causes severe pain, suffering, and other types of damage, such as loss of consortium, and loss of income. Additionally, due to the exceedingly high cost of mesothelioma treatments, many families exhaust savings and accumulate financial debt in order to pay for the medical expenses of their family member.

Under the law of most states, pain and suffering from mesothelioma may be compensated through the award of money damages, usually obtained with the help of experienced mesothelioma attorneys. In some states other types of damages may also be recovered.

Asbestos litigation affords mesothelioma victims the opportunity to receive financial compensation and hold accountable the companies that caused their asbestos exposure.

IMPORTANT: If you or your family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer as early as possible to determine if you have a mesothelioma case and to:

• Preserve your rights to bring a legal action against the responsible parties within the limited time frame allowed by law, known as statute of limitations;
• Obtain maximum compensation in your case by being able to:
  • Preserve evidence and establish facts of the asbestos exposure while the claimant is still alive and able to provide information;
  • File and resolve a lawsuit against the responsible parties before they file for bankruptcy or, if they already have, to obtain compensation before their bankruptcy trust funds run out of money;
• Expedite your case, as courts tend to give higher priority to mesothelioma lawsuits where the claimant is still alive.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers via our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or by submitting an email inquiry (see form above). Our attorneys will be quick to respond to you and happy to answer all of your questions.

NOTE: While our offices are located in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions.

* Dement J M, Brown D P, Okun A. Follow-up study of chrysotile asbestos textile workers: cohort mortality and case-control analyses. Am J Ind Med 1994. 26431–447.447

For more information about the law firm's practice areas please contact Levy Konigsberg LLP at (800) 315-3806, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mesothelioma is a deadly type of cancer caused by harmful exposure to asbestos. Our firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of asbestos exposure victims and their families in South Carolina. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about mesothelioma.

How Have People in South Carolina Been Exposed to Asbestos?

Many South Carolina people have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Among many other sources, the following have been notorious for exposing workers to asbestos:

• Textile mills: In the early 1980s, South Carolina was the textile center of the world. Thousands of workers were employed in textile mills throughout the state. Because of its fire-resistant and strengthening properties, textile manufacturers incorporated asbestos into many fireproof products, such as gloves, aprons, and jackets. Textile workers were exposed to asbestos when it was converted into yarn and finished products.
• Shipyards: Workers at the Charleston Naval Shipyard were exposed to asbestos during building, repair, and overhaul of vessels. On ships, it was used for insulating incinerators, boilers, hot water pipes, and steam pipes to prevent fires. Cramped, poorly ventilated workspaces resulted in high levels of exposure to asbestos dust.
• Power plants: South Carolina power plants include Lockhart Power, Duke Energy, South Carolina Electric and Gas Company, and Carolina Power and Light Company. Asbestos has been used in high-temperature equipment, such as boilers, furnaces, ovens, cooling towers, and turbines. Many people were exposed to high levels of asbestos during power plant outages, when workers would repair or replace large equipment.
• Manufacturing: Industry in South Carolina between the 1930s and the 1980s included manufacturers of construction materials, industrial chemicals, petroleum products, automotive accessories, turbines, boilers, foundry materials, paper, and consumer products. Workers employed by these manufacturers routinely worked with and around products containing asbestos.

What Is Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death occurs when someone dies because of the negligence or wrongdoing of another. A wrongful death claim is a legal action that allows surviving family members of a wrongful death victim to seek justice for their deceased loved one and recover compensation for their family. When a person dies from mesothelioma, survivors may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for exposing their loved one to asbestos. Damages that may be claimed in a wrongful death case may include:

• Final medical expenses of the deceased person
• Expected loss of income of the deceased person
• Expected loss of protection, care, services, and assistance that the deceased person provided to survivors
• Sorrow, mental anguish, loss of comfort, guidance, and companionship

How Much Will It Hurt a Former Employer to Sue for Asbestos Exposure?

If you were exposed to asbestos and know the responsible parties, you may not want to cause them financial harm. The truth is that most employers, contractors, property owners, and manufacturers purchase insurance policies to protect them from liability. Damages you are awarded for your injuries are not likely to come directly out of the responsible party’s pocket.

What If You Do Not Know How You Were Exposed to Asbestos?

The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Some people who develop mesothelioma do not know where, when, or how exposure to asbestos occurred. Many products containing asbestos had no warning labels. An investigation into a victim’s background and work history can uncover asbestos exposures that were previously unknown.

How Can You Afford the Cost of Filing a Mesothelioma Claim?

At Levy Konigsberg, we handle mesothelioma claims on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you. If you or your loved one has developed mesothelioma, call us as soon as possible at (800) 315-3806.