Key takeaways: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the steel industry established itself in
Pittsburgh. This was a result of different environmental factors complementing the production,
sale, and transportation of steel across the nation. Because steel mills used asbestos frequently,
steel mill workers and their families were (and are) at a greater risk for asbestos exposure and
consequent mesothelioma diagnoses. There have been recent examples–like the U.S. Steel
Corps–that have knowingly exposed their employees to asbestos. OSHA has been diligent in
monitoring these sites of potential exposure and keeping employees safe.
Pittsburgh’s Steel Industry and Asbestos: The Numbers
Pittsburgh was aptly dubbed the “Steel Capital of the World.” Because of its ideal position
between the East Coast and Midwest, location on three major rivers, and ample natural
resources, Pittsburgh became the world’s leading producer of steel by the late 19th century. The
most notable of these pioneers was Andrew Carnegie–one of the wealthiest Americans of his
time–because of his investment in the steel industry.
The steel industry has notoriously utilized asbestos in their mills because of its fireproofing and
highly insulating qualities. It was commonly used in protective equipment (like gloves and
aprons), furnaces, building insulation, ovens, and in the different components of the boiler
rooms. In 1953 alone, 62% of all steel and iron workers in the country were located in Allegheny
County (which includes Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas).
Because of the prevalence and duration of the steel industry in Pittsburgh, local residents and
previous workers at these mills are at an increased risk of asbestos exposure. The steel industry
has posed both occupational and second-hand asbestos exposure risks, meaning that its workers
are much more likely to develop malignant pleural mesothelioma than people who weren’t as
consistently exposed to asbestos.
US Steel Corporation
In one example, U.S. Steel Corp. was observed by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) in 2011 and 2016. In both observations, a handful of workers were
exposed to asbestos. For instance, in observation, workers were instructed to remove and dispose
of packaging that was known to contain asbestos. There are certain precautions to take when
doing this, as the asbestos exposure can be mitigated through proper handling techniques (like
not cutting it open, or cutting it open in an area with ventilation, or even using personal
protective equipment [PPE]). In another case, the company directed two workers to remove and
replace a section of the building’s expansion piping; the piping was later found to have contained
significant amounts of asbestos.
Steel Corp. was fined $170,000 for knowingly exposing their employees to asbestos and not
providing the proper training for employees to mitigate asbestos exposure. Although this is just
one recent example, there are likely more local examples of this kind of negligent action in steel
mills (especially as asbestos is still used to an extent in the United States, and especially in the
industrial sector). These companies need to be held accountable; at the very least, their
employees need to be aware of the risks and educated on responsibly handling products that may
contain asbestos.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, please call
(800)-505-6000 for legal help. For more information, fill out the form on our Homepage.
Sources:
Carnegie Steel Company | Corporation, History, Description, & Facts | Britannica. (2024,
January 22). https://www.britannica.com/topic/Carnegie-Steel-Company
OSHA finds US Steel again exposed workers to asbestos hazards at Pittsburgh coke
production facility, fines company $170K | Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2024, from
https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/region3/08082016
Paustenbach, D. J., Stevens, M. E., Tuttle, B. P., Shore, R. A., Ligas, S., & Brew, D. W.
(2023). Occupational exposure to asbestos in the steel industry (1972–2006). Journal of
Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 1–31.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00576-4
