Top Class Actions  |  April 10, 2014

Category: Labor & Employment

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Metal working class action lawsuitOne issue for former metal workers who are dealing with toxic cutting fluid exposure is establishing when employers and manufacturers would have been reasonably be aware of the risks associated with those chemicals. So older research may be buttressed by more recent studies, but is still valuable on its own.

A 2002 work on “examining the role of cutting fluids in machining and efforts to address associated environmental [and] health concerns” noted that even then, 2 billion gallons of the chemicals were used. However, it cites studies performed as far back as 1989 indicating “statistically significant increases” in cutting fluid exposure side effects including esophageal cancer and related gastrointestinal damage as a result of exposure to the chemical as a mist.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency already had to update its recommendations on acceptable particle counts twice by then. Part of that was due to more research into the risks posed by these chemicals in metal working environments. Another component was that improvements in machinery allowed workers to operate them at a higher rate or frequency. Studies show that the smaller the particles, the harder it is to protect employees and the easier it is for them to damage organs.

In the more than a decade since the data was gathered for the 2002 research overview, more medical studies have outlined the problems that can come, and that many metal working exposure class action lawsuit lawyers see in clients. Still, while many companies do have effective protection plans in place thanks to the EPA regulations regarding cutting fluid exposure side effects, many do not and, more importantly, did not at a time when the numbers indicated potential problems.

In addition to the esophagus, the carcinogenic properties of cutting fluid have led to class action lawsuit investigations regarding colon, pancreatic, prostate, rectal and stomach cancers from the chemicals as well. Other concerns include pneumonia, dermatitis and a variety of respiratory illnesses.

You may be eligible to work with one of our partner metal working exposure class action lawsuit lawyers if you have been affected by some of these chemicals. The first step is to get a free case review to determine your eligibility. You can do so by submitting your information now for a confidential evaluation:

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