Glassbestos
Asbestos insulation products were popular for decades and were widely used in many applications, including within both homes and commercial buildings. Insulation was important because it could serve to keep buildings warm or cold, depending on the season, and it provided excellent protection from fire. Early insulation products almost always contained asbestos as it was one of the best fire- and heat-resistant materials known to man.
Insulation products usually contained different percentages of asbestos. Some combined asbestos with other materials. One such product was glassbestos, an insulation that was a combination of glass and asbestos, as the name indicates. Glassbestos was used for the reasons stated above as well as for its durability and its resistance to rot. Another similar product with a slightly different spelling – known as glasbestos – was a combination of fiberglass and asbestos. It had similar properties to glassbestos.
Another related product, glassbestos tape, was lauded for its flexibility and was used to insulate pipes that bent at sharp angles. Plumbing and heating systems made widespread use of glassbestos tape.
Glassbestos was in use through the building booms of the 1950s and 1960s, therefore, many structures of that era contain this type of insulation. In some instances, the glassbestos has been removed and replaced with non-asbestos insulation. However, in many buildings, glassbestos still exists.
Glassbestos in its intact form does not present a health hazard. However, when glassbestos was cut, sawed, or damaged due to carelessness or normal wear and tear, it became dangerous. Old glassbestos that has become brittle can also pose health concerns. When glassbestos is old or damaged, it becomes “friable” and small asbestos particles can be released into the air. Subsequently, it can be inhaled by those nearby and may eventually cause asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Investigations have shown that many individuals knew of the dangers of working with asbestos yet did not share the information with the “common” worker. That means tradesmen and others who worked in the plumbing, heating, or construction businesses were unnecessarily exposed to the toxic mineral when, in fact, exposure could have and should have been avoided. If those who knew the truth had shared it, hundreds would not have paid with their lives.
If you have mesothelioma due to exposure to the insulation glassbestos, it’s time you learn about your legal rights. For more details and to find out if you are eligible for monetary compensation, order our free mesothelioma information kit today.
