Firebrick
When fire and high temperatures are present, it’s always important to protect those who work around those particular perils. Many materials are used for this purpose, but for many decades, fire protection materials were usually made of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials.
A firebrick (or fire brick) is a brick capable of withstanding high temperatures and is generally used to line furnaces, chimneys, stoves, or other similar items. Firebricks are available in different sizes and varieties and are categorized according to their “heat duty” and the types of materials and atmospheres with which they will come in contact. These days, firebrick is made of a specialized fire clay that is able to provide insulation and prevent spread of fire should there be an explosion or other concern inside the chimney, furnace, stove, or other similar item. However, during much of the twentieth century, firebrick was made of asbestos. Asbestos was often chosen for such applications because of its incredible strength and its ability to resist fire and heat. Most people believed that if asbestos was present, they would be protected from the dangers of fire.
Unfortunately, asbestos was causing other hazards while it was protecting from some, and most of the general public was unaware of these asbestos-caused dangers, even though scientists and doctors had been warning about them for decades.
Quite simply, asbestos can make you sick. When asbestos is intact, it generally does not present a hazard, but if it is damaged, sawed, grinded, sanded, or otherwise manipulated, as was often the case with firebrick, it can release small, sharp fibers that are easily inhaled. Once the dust or fibers are absorbed, they cannot be expelled and become lodged in the lungs and chest. After remaining there for several years, they can cause inflammation and scarring, resulting in breathing difficulties and chest pain. Eventually, victims of asbestos exposure may develop serious pulmonary diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Researchers often made clear the dangers of asbestos and the information was relayed to manufacturing plant executives and others who supervised employees who used asbestos on a daily basis to manufacture products such as firebrick. However, the workers were rarely informed of the hazards and continued to work with asbestos without using protective gear. The result was the inhalation of dangerous fibers and the development of asbestos diseases.
Throughout several decades, innocent individuals were the victims of asbestos cover-up schemes. Today, many have already paid with their lives and others are suffering from the everyday debilitating symptoms of these horrible diseases. If you or someone you know has mesothelioma due to exposure to firebrick while on the job, you should take a few moments to learn more about your legal rights. For more information about legal representation, monetary compensation, and about the disease in general, order our free mesothelioma information kit.
