Rubber & Tire Workers (Akron Historical)
Union locals: USW (formerly URWA) — Akron Locals 2L, 7-L, 12L, 307L, 831L, 959L (Goodyear, Firestone, General Tire, BFGoodrich plants)
How Rubber & Tire Workers (Akron Historical) Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, Rubber & Tire Workers (Akron Historical) were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Ohio industrial, commercial, and public construction work from the 1930s through the 1980s. Documented exposure pathways drawn from public litigation records and industrial hygiene literature include:
- Working tire-building machines and curing presses near asbestos-insulated steam piping
- Handling asbestos-containing molds, mold release, and curing bladders
- Wearing asbestos gloves and aprons at vulcanizing and Banbury mixing stations
- Bystander exposure to insulators during plant outages
- Most Akron tire plants closed in the 1980s — exposure window largely 1940s—1980s
Why This Matters for Ohio Workers
If you worked as an rubber & tire workers (akron historical) in Ohio during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural disease, you may have a legal claim — even if your employer is no longer in business. Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds that continue to pay qualified claimants based on documented exposure history.
Ohio Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks
Ohio keeps the personal-injury clock (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 — 2 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (O.R.C. § 2125.02 — 2 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Ohio asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.
Talk to an Experienced Ohio Asbestos Attorney
A free, confidential consultation with O’Brien Law Firm can evaluate your specific exposure history and filing-deadline situation. No fee unless they recover compensation.
☎ (314) 588-0558