Steelworkers (NW Indiana Steel Belt)
Union locals: USW Local 1014 (Gary Works) · Local 1066 (Gary Sheet & Tin) · Local 6787 (Burns Harbor) · Local 1010 (Indiana Harbor, East Chicago) · Local 6103 (NLMK Portage)
How Steelworkers (NW Indiana Steel Belt) Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, Steelworkers (NW Indiana Steel Belt) were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Indiana 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 basic oxygen furnaces at U.S. Steel Gary Works, ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, and Inland Steel (Indiana Harbor)
- Handling asbestos-backed hot tops, ladle insulation, and tundish coatings
- Wearing asbestos gloves, aprons, leggings, and spats during heat operations
- Replacing asbestos gaskets on rolling mill drives, reheat furnaces, and steam systems
- Bystander exposure during furnace relines and refractory tear-out by bricklayers
Why This Matters for Indiana Workers
If you worked as an steelworkers (nw indiana steel belt) in Indiana 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.
Indiana Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks
Indiana keeps the personal-injury clock (Ind. Code § 34-20-3-1 — 2 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (Ind. Code § 34-23-1-1 — 2 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Indiana asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.
Talk to an Experienced Indiana 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.
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