Lawsuits For Pittsburgh Asbestos Exposure – Fisher Scientific Job Sites

Asbestos is a silent killer, taking years to accumulate in a worker’s body and cause diseases like mesothelioma. Even when precautions are in place to limit exposure, many people have still been placed in dangerous conditions that led to asbestos-related illnesses. There are proven cases of asbestos exposure at many Fisher Scientific job sites throughout Pennsylvania.

If you or a loved one worked at a Fisher Scientific location and are experiencing symptoms of asbestos-related sickness, contact our asbestos lawyers at D’Amico Law Offices, LLC, today by calling 412-906-8180. Asbestos exposure lawsuits have limited filing deadlines, so it is essential that you act quickly.

What To Do If You Were Exposed To Asbestos At A Fisher Scientific Job Site

Fisher Scientific has used asbestos at many of its job sites. Asbestos was mainly used in laboratory products that were made to insulate equipment from extreme heat. Many workers who wore and handled products containing asbestos have been exposed. This widespread exposure has led to many cases of asbestos-related cancers developing in Fisher Scientific workers.

The most common illness is mesothelioma. This cancer is slow to develop, appearing anywhere from 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure. This means that many workers may leave Fisher Scientific to work somewhere else and not know that they are at high risk for developing a deadly disease later in life.

At D’Amico Law Offices, our asbestos exposure attorneys have years of experience in investigating and researching claims. They have a significant amount of statistical data and evidence for causation involving asbestos at many job sites in Pennsylvania. Our team excels at the techniques and data analysis required to prove exposure at a Fisher Scientific job site. They will aggressively litigate your case on your behalf.

What Type Of Company Is Fisher Scientific?

The company now known as Thermo Fisher Scientific was founded in 1902 by a young engineering graduate named Chester Fisher. Then called Scientific Materials, the company was the first of its kind to offer testing agents and laboratory equipment in the Pittsburgh area. Fisher first produced lab measurement tools and then expanded by organic growth and acquisitions.

In 1925, Fisher renamed the company Fisher Scientific Company, and, in 1940, it began manufacturing and selling chemicals. Notably, Fisher Scientific supplied the chemicals used in the Manhattan Project, which created the world’s first atomic bomb.

Fisher Scientific used asbestos and asbestos fibers in many of its laboratory items. It manufactured asbestos-containing products for its own workers to use and for sale to other companies. Until the early 1970s, businesses and individuals were not aware of the extreme danger of asbestos exposure. Fisher Scientific sold lab gloves, burner pads, ovens and fume hoods that were insulated with asbestos to hospitals, schools and commercial institutions. This means that people in a variety of workplaces were exposed to asbestos products from Fisher Scientific for years, if not decades.

The first asbestos regulations were established in 1973, and, surprisingly, efforts to fully ban asbestos use in the U.S. continue to this day. The U.S. has not fully banned asbestos in all environments, meaning workers continue to risk exposure when companies like Fisher Scientific fail to take adequate measures to protect their employees. In 1977, internal memos at Fisher Scientific indicated that it thought asbestos-containing products would soon become unmarketable as the general public became more aware of the danger.

Fisher Scientific started phasing out asbestos products in 1979, ending the use of the material completely by 1980. Despite this, many former employees and consumers of the products had been exposed and began filing claims, including new claims even now.

Fisher Scientific has undergone ownership and name changes since 1980, such as its purchase by Allied Corporation in 1981. Allied owned the company privately until 1991, when Fisher Scientific was re-created as a public company named Fisher Scientific International, Inc. It then merged with Thermo Electron Corporation in 2006, forming Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Our family-run law firm provides a large professional legal team with access to an extensive database of resource material to build the necessary arguments for your claim. Our lawyers will work hard to ensure that you and your loved ones receive the justice you deserve. Contact us online or call 412-906-8180 today to schedule your free consultation.

What Products Does Fisher Scientific Make?

Fisher Scientific manufactures and sells numerous products for use in scientific laboratories, schools, hospitals and other environments that require the use of lab equipment. In the past, it made products containing asbestos such as:

• Asbestos boards and board mats
• Asbestos cement and cement wood
• Asbestos clamps, cloth and cords
• Asbestos gloves and mittens
• Electric heaters that use asbestos power cords
• Electric ovens with air cell asbestos insulation
• Laboratory fume hoods and ovens
• Mineral and rock collections for educational use
• Rolls of asbestos paper

Despite Fisher Scientific discontinuing the production of asbestos-containing products in 1980, it is probable that products used in laboratories and schools were used for many years after being purchased. Fisher Scientific also sold its products to many government and health care institutions. Together, these various environments mean that potentially thousands of people have been exposed to Fisher Scientific products containing asbestos.

What Damages Can You Seek In An Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit Against Fisher Scientific?

Asbestos exposure is most directly linked to a type of cancer called mesothelioma. This cancer and other diseases can take many years to develop, making it difficult to directly tie your disease with exposure at a specific job site. However, it also means that you may be able to seek years’ worth of damages for medical and other costs that have resulted from the disease.

A skilled asbestos exposure lawsuit attorney can guide you on how to pursue compensation for expenses such as:

• Long-term medical treatment
• Hospitalizations
• Surgery
• Home medical devices
• Medications
• Loss of income
• Loss of future earnings
• Loss of companionship for family members if you are disabled or die
• Pain and suffering

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue lining most of the organs in the body. When a person inhales or swallows particles of asbestos, the material comes in contact with the nose, throat, stomach and lungs, all of which can be at risk for developing cancer. In addition, if a worker carries asbestos fibers home on their clothing, every member of their family or anyone they come in contact with can be exposed.

Finding An Experienced Asbestos Exposure Attorney For Fisher Scientific Job Sites

Our attorneys at D’Amico Law Offices offer decades of background and experience in managing the many intricate details involved in asbestos and mesothelioma cases. Our family-run law firm provides a large professional legal team with access to an extensive database of resource material to build the necessary arguments for your claim. Our lawyers will work hard to ensure that you and your loved ones receive the justice you deserve. Contact us online or call 412-906-8180 today to schedule your free consultation.

Pennsylvania Fisher Scientific Asbestos Exposure FAQ

What if your asbestos exposure was due to your employer’s negligence?

When a company knowingly continues to use asbestos-containing products without taking appropriate safety and removal precautions, a worker can be eligible to sue their employer for a resulting asbestos-related illness. Even if it has been many years since they experienced occupational exposure, they can sue to recover compensation for their illness or their loved one’s death.

Fisher Scientific failed to label its asbestos gloves and other products as hazardous in its catalogs. Instead, it stated that the products “met OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] requirements.” Fisher Scientific was accused in later lawsuits of misleading customers that the products were safe, partly because its products were never labeled as dangerous or containing asbestos. These past lawsuits can support a plaintiff’s argument that Fisher Scientific displayed negligence in protecting its employees and customers.

Who owns Fisher Scientific?

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders. Although it began in 1902 as a private company, it is publicly owned today.

How can an asbestos exposure lawyer help you with your Fisher Scientific lawsuit?

At D’Amico Law Offices, we employ skilled attorneys who have spent years researching and litigating asbestos exposure lawsuits in Pennsylvania. They combine your personal story with their documentation from previous cases to develop a solid foundation for your claim. Our lawyers and paralegals will investigate all the supporting data, such as:

• Relevant work history
• Records of asbestos products manufactured at your job site
• Internal company documentation concerning asbestos exposure at Fisher Scientific
• Medical literature related to mesothelioma
• Testimony from experts and others with similar cases
• Medical records

Large companies like Fisher Scientific have significant financial and legal resources and will try to discredit your claim. The lawyers of D’Amico Law Offices will fight to win the most compensation you can receive. They can help you decide whether to pursue a workers’ compensation insurance claim or a personal injury claim. Even if your insurance covers your illness, they can help you find and pursue all parties who are responsible for causing you harm.

State laws often limit the amount of damages that can be awarded from workers’ compensation claims, so filing a lawsuit may help you recover the tremendous costs involved in treating asbestos-related diseases. When the worst happens, a wrongful death suit can give your family members the security they need to face life without you and deal with the expenses of losing their loved one.