O'Hare Spring Company - Specific Job Sites & Asbestos Exposure

The O’Hare Spring Company was formed in 1964 in Des Plaines, Illinois and continues to make springs and wires for industrial use to this day. They are just minutes from the Chicago International Airport and have seen steady company growth over the years (2). Their state of the art technology in their area of expertise (5) and ability to fill orders both large and small (2) allows them the ability to make just about any type of industrial spring or wire product needed.

Asbestos was widely used in steels mills such as the O’Hare Spring Company for insulation, pipefittings, furnaces, pourers and ladles (5) as well as many other manufactured products in many other industries. It was used for its fire-resistant qualities, strength and flexibility and was even used in the protective clothing of employees and workers to protect against burns from hot steel. This includes their pants, aprons, masks, hats and gloves (5). This puts them at even higher risk for the development of deadly disease. There have been many legal clients that have developed Mesothelioma and other diseases related to asbestos exposure that were previous employees of the O’Hare Spring Company (4).

Asbestos products were used in this and other steel mill until the 1970’s (4). This occurred even though it was known to cause health problems as early as 1904 and was found to cause lung cancer as early as 1955 (3). The inhalation of asbestos dust has been proven to be the cause single of Mesothelioma (6), a rare and deadly form of cancer. It can also cause other lung cancers and diseases (6). Many companies have now begun developing products to serve as replacements for asbestos. These include Portland cement, silica and organic-based substitutes (5).

The state of Illinois has more steel mill sites known to have exposed employees to asbestos than any other state with the U.S. Other Illinois companies known to have exposed workers to asbestos are Acme Metals, Inc., A. Finkl & Sons Company, Bohler Steel, Chicago Heights Steel, Clingan Steel, Inc., Granite City Steel, Keystone Steel and Wire Company, Northwestern Steel and Wire, and Tri-Star Metals (4). In fact, a judge in Chicago ruled this year (2007) that the Chicago International Airport could not begin its expansion project until a full environmental test was done of all surrounding areas in Chicago that were to be included in the renovation. This is due to the amount of asbestos that is known to have been within the area (1) that would contaminate the environment during construction putting many at risk.

Employees who worked at the O’Hare Spring Company from its beginning until the late 1970s were most likely exposed to asbestos and other cancer-causing materials (5) and are at high risk for the development of related diseases. Mosothelioma is often difficult to diagnose and is very deadly, although new research may be able to find more effective treatments in the future (6). It is important to seek prompt medical advice and attention if you’ve worked at the O’Hare Spring Company or any other steel mill during years in which asbestos was used.

'O'Hare Spring Company - Specific Job Sites & Asbestos Exposure' Resources:
  1. Sun-Times News Group. “Judge Puts O’Hare Expansion on Hold.” Associated Press. 2007
  2. O’Hare Spring Company, Inc. “Company Profile.”
    Accessed: 1 August 2007.
  3. Legalview: Everything Legal., “Asbestos.”
    Accessed: 1 August 2007.
  4. Early, James F., LLC., Early, Ludwick, Sweeney, Strauss. 2007. “Job Sites: Steel Mills.”
    Accessed: 1 August 2007.
  5. Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center. Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center. 2007. “O’Hare Spring Company.”
    Accessed: 1 August 2007.
  6. Mesothelioma-Asbestos-Portal., “Mesothelioma Information and Help.”
    Accessed: 1 August 2007.