Kansas Cement Company Still Under Investigation

The Ash Grove Cement Company in Overland, Kansas is continuing the ongoing investigation of what is believed to be tremolite in the company’s quarries and plant.

As a precautionary measure, the cement company evacuated all employees. Though the employees had been out of work for the last two weeks, the hourly employees had received full pay for all the time they were unable to work due to the investigation.

However, the company has now stated that they will no longer be paying out-of-work employees during the investigation, effective next week.

Company officials have stated that they are working on lining up unemployment benefits for the fifty-seven workers who were sent home March 16th after suspected asbestos was discovered.

Employees will be paid through Friday, March 27th, and their health insurance premiums will be paid through April.

Test results from the quarry are expected early next month.

Workers were sent home on the 16th after what appeared to be tremolite was discovered in a section of the limestone quarry. Tremolite is a naturally occurring mineral form of asbestos. When inhaled, it can be dangerous. Inhalation can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

One employee for Ash Grove stated he has been employed there since 1987, and in all that time he had never seen or heard of anyone coming down with an illness that could be linked to asbestos exposure. However, it is known that asbestos can not cause serious health problems until decades after it has been inhaled.