ASARCO, LLC. History and Asbestos Use

ASARCO, LLC. began in 1899, originally without asbestos in its products. In the 1950s, it incorporated asbestos to boost profits, leading to lawsuits and bankruptcy in 2005, resulting in an asbestos trust fund. A merger followed an early strike, and ASARCO expanded into various industries. It entered the asbestos industry in 1952, significantly increasing global asbestos supply with the Black Lake asbestos mine in Quebec. ASARCO later acquired CAPCO, a producer of asbestos cement products, which contributed to lawsuits and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1999. Today, ASARCO focuses on copper production. According to ASARCO, Zero Harm represents a fundamental Core Value. They firmly believe that “Safety Is an Inherent Value” rather than just a priority.

ASARCO’s Asbestos Use

For its first 50 years, ASARCO didn’t use asbestos. In 1952, it started mining asbestos, increasing global supply by 7%. ASARCO acquired CAPCO, a major asbestos cement piping producer. Employees from 1952 to 1994 faced asbestos exposure, as did workers in companies using ASARCO-mined asbestos. CAPCO employees worked with asbestos cement piping until 1993. Occupations like blasters, drillers, electricians, engineers, factory workers, laborers, mechanics, miners, pipefitters, and smelters were affected.

Occupational Exposure and Risks

ASARCO employees from 1952 to 1994 faced potential asbestos exposure. Workers in companies using ASARCO-mined asbestos were also at risk. The Black Lake mine supplied raw materials to asbestos manufacturers. CAPCO employees, before ASARCO’s acquisition, worked with asbestos cement piping until 1993. Occupations like blasters, drillers, electricians, engineers, factory workers, laborers, mechanics, miners, pipefitters, and smelters were impacted by ASARCO’s asbestos use.