Atlantic Richfield Company

Unfortunately, ARCO and many oil companies failed to protect workers and ignored their safety and well-being. If you worked at ARCO and were exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation if you have developed related health issues.

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Key Takeaways

Asbestos was commonly used in the construction and operations of oil refineries because of its fire- and heat-resistant qualities and effectiveness as an insulator.
Oil refinery workers are at risk of asbestos exposureon the job. Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Atlantic Richfield Co., now owned by BP, operated the Cherry Point refinery near Bellingham, Washington.
People who worked at the Cherry Point refinery and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease have the right to pursue compensation through an asbestos lawsuit.
Bergman Oslund Udo Little fights for the rights of individuals and families impacted by asbestos exposure throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Bergman Oslund Udo Little specializes in representing clients throughout the Pacific Northwest who have developed mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos exposure. Since 1995, our Oregon and Washington asbestos lawyers have been fighting for the interests of asbestos victims.

We will fiercely pursue the maximum compensation you deserve from the suppliers of asbestos products and any other responsible parties. Our firm is strongly committed to high-quality, compassionate representation and has recovered over $1 billion for our clients. Contact us today for a free case review.

Asbestos at ARCO Refineries

Atlantic Richfield Company used asbestos products and fibers in the construction and operations of its oil refineries and other businesses in the late 1960s and 1970s. The company continues to receive claims related to asbestos exposure at its Washington State ARCO plant and other facilities.

Asbestos use was common in the oil and refining industry. According to a study published by the Toxicology and Industrial Health Journal, up to 90 percent of oil refinery workers were exposed to asbestos fibers by 1991. Oil refining companies used asbestos products to coat and seal pipes, insulate equipment and walls, and create effective seals. Some examples of asbestos materials used at refineries include the following:

Asbestos insulation
Ceiling tiles
Floor tiles
Drywall
Cement
Mastic
Gaskets
Pumps
Fire-resistant clothing

Asbestos-containing products were common in areas at oil refineries with elevated pressure and temperature. These locations included boiler rooms, reactors, furnaces, shipyards, and other areas where workers and other sensitive equipment required heat and exposure protection.

When these products were moved, disturbed, or damaged, asbestos dust was released into the air, creating a risk of asbestos exposure for workers. Even loved ones could suffer harm due to secondary exposure.

Asbestos Lawsuits Over Exposure at Atlantic Richfield Company

If you worked at an Atlantic Richfield Company facility and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you have the right to pursue compensation through an asbestos lawsuit. In many cases, individuals who worked for outside contractors can bring premises liability claims against companies like Atlantic Richfield who used asbestos on their properties but failed to warn or protect contractors who worked at their facilities.

Plaintiffs in mesothelioma cases cannot generally sue their employer. Instead, they typically must file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides benefits to employees injured or sickened at work. Employees do not have to prove their employer was at fault for their condition. As a tradeoff, the system limits an employer’s liability.

However, those sickened by work-related asbestos exposure may pursue asbestos claims against manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, or other companies involved in producing or supplying dangerous products. Atlantic Richfield Co. did not manufacture asbestos products used at its refineries. Other companies, including Garlock Sealing Technologies and Metalclad Insulation Corporation, provided the construction materials and other asbestos-containing products.

Other manufacturers of the asbestos products used by oil refinery workers include the following:

Owens Corning
Armstrong International
A.W. Chesterton Company
Johns-Manville
Crown Cork & Seal Company
Quigley Company
Pittsburgh-Corning
North American Refractories Company
Philip Carey

In a lawsuit, you can pursue compensation to provide financial relief for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, emotional suffering, and other expenses.

These cases can be complex because the plaintiff must show a link between their employment and subsequent illness. Without that link, similar cases have failed. A seasoned asbestos attorney will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Asbestos product manufacturers and suppliers have faced so many claims that many have declared bankruptcy. As part of the bankruptcy process, these companies were required to establish asbestos trust funds to pay victims’ claims. However, Atlantic Richfield Co. and its successors are not among those companies. Bergman Oslund Udo Little has the full list of companies that established trust funds and can pursue a claim if they are responsible for your exposure.

History of the Atlantic Richfield Company

Atlantic Richfield Company, commonly known as ARCO, was an American petroleum corporation created by the 1966 merger of Richfield Oil Corporation and Atlantic Refining Company. The company was one of the primary developers of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the mid-1970s and became a major refiner with its acquisition of Sinclair Oil Corporation. 

ARCO was acquired in 2000 by BP Amoco for $27 billion, making BP the world’s second-largest oil company. 

Two former Atlantic Richfield Company operations remain in the Pacific Northwest—one in Oregon and one in Washington. BP West Coast Products, located in Portland, OR, is a bulk fuel terminal with 26 above-ground storage tanks. It is currently undergoing environmental cleanup. 

The Cherry Point refinery in Bellingham, Washington, cost $200 million to build in 1971. It was built in anticipation of new crude supplies coming from Alaska’s North Slope. It is the largest refinery in the Pacific Northwest.

Helping Refinery Workers Exposed to Asbestos at ARCO

Asbestos can have numerous damaging effects on the health and wellness of those exposed to it. These effects can impact the lives of victims and their families for many years, and the consequences can be tragic. If you were exposed to asbestos while working at an Atlantic Richfield Co. refinery and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, the attorneys at Bergman Oslund Udo Little are here to fight for you.

We have been representing people harmed by asbestos exposure since 1995. Contact us today for a free case review.