Steelworkers
Union locals: USW Local 979 (Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works) · Local 1104 (Lorain — tubular ops closed 2016) · Local 169 (Mansfield Works). Note: Middletown Works is IAM Local 1943 (AEIF), not USW.
How Steelworkers Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, Steelworkers 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 blast furnaces, coke ovens, and BOFs at Cleveland Works, Lorain, Mansfield, and historical Republic/LTV/Wheeling-Pitt mills
- Handling asbestos-backed hot tops and ladle insulation
- Wearing asbestos gloves, aprons, and leggings during heat operations
- Replacing asbestos gaskets on rolling mill drives and reheat furnaces
- Bystander exposure during furnace relines and refractory tear-out
Why This Matters for Ohio Workers
If you worked as an steelworkers 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