Australia Sees Rise in James Hardie Asbestos Claims

James Hardie Corporation, manufacturer of a wealth of building products, has left its mark on the people of Australia, but not in a positive way. The company long used asbestos in many of its products and, as such, many of the individuals who worked in Hardie’s Australia plants or used the company’s products are now sick with related diseases.

And though Hardie stopped using asbestos some time ago, asbestos claims against the mega-company continue to rise and some of those claims, records show, are much higher than expected.

An article in The Age reports that James Hardie actuaries actually thought the peak year for asbestos claims against the company would be 2011. But now company officials have raised the idea that asbestos claims may not peak until several years from now, partly because mesothelioma cancer – caused by exposure to the mineral – sometimes takes decades to appear.

The company reported 160 new claims between March and June of this year, 25 higher than the 135 that were expected during that time period. “In addition, the cost of payouts is running higher” the article reports, “and is expected to put pressure on a compensation fund that has been set aside for victims of James Hardies’ asbestos products.”

Nonetheless, while thousands suffer due to asbestos exposure caused by handling Hardie products, the company expects profits to remain steady this year, thanks to a rise in the Australian and U.S. housing markets. Sales in both countries have increased this year.

Proponents of banning asbestos in the United States often compare James Hardie to U.S. insulation manufacturer, W.R. Grace and Company. While Hardie is responsible for the largest number of mesothelioma cancer cases in Australia, Grace holds that distinction in the United States. W.R. Grace’s negligence has already resulted in more than 400 deaths in the small town of Libby, Montana, where the company operated an asbestos-tainted vermiculite mine. A few thousand others have been sickened, including both employees of the company and residents of Libby, Montana.