Product Description

The Lincoln Electric Company (Cleveland, Ohio — founded 1895; today Lincoln Electric Holdings) was through the 20th century the dominant U.S. manufacturer of arc welding equipment, stick welding electrodes (covered electrodes), and flux-cored welding consumables. Lincoln Electric covered electrodes are an industrial welding standard specified across refineries, shipyards, power plants, structural steel construction, pipelines, manufacturing, and railroad shop work through the asbestos era.

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Lincoln Electric stick welding electrodes contained asbestos fiber as a component of the flux coating on the welding rod and that welders who consumed Lincoln Electric electrodes were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers — both from the flux-coating disturbance during arc strike and from the breakdown of asbestos in the flux during welding-arc combustion.

Welders typically consume hundreds to thousands of welding electrodes annually during full-time welding employment, and the cumulative exposure of welders to flux-coating asbestos in the documented era is among the most heavily-litigated welding-trade exposure pathways.

Lincoln Electric Company has been named as a Manufacturer Defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation.

Workers Exposed

  • Welders (Boilermakers Local members, Pipefitters Local members, Sheet Metal Workers Local members) — full-time welders consuming Lincoln Electric electrodes
  • Boilermakers building boilers, pressure vessels, and refinery equipment
  • Pipefitters welding process piping in refineries, chemical plants, and power plants
  • Shipyard welders at Navy and commercial shipyards
  • Pipeline welders on cross-country pipeline projects
  • Structural ironworkers welding building and bridge steel
  • Railroad shop welders at locomotive and car-repair facilities

If You Worked With Lincoln Electric Welding Electrodes

If you welded with Lincoln Electric stick welding electrodes during the asbestos era — including as a Boilermakers, Pipefitters, Sheet Metal Workers, or Ironworkers Local member, as a shipyard welder, or as a pipeline welder — and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness, you may have legal rights.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956