Man claims job led to asthma

HUNTINGTON – A Huntington man is suing his former employer and the makers of industrial lubricants and fluids, claiming the vaporized substances used in his job left him with asthma.

Darrell Cline filed a lawsuit March 23 in Cabell Circuit Court against Steel of West Virginia, Kost USA, Houghton Canada and Woodford Oil Company.

Cline says he worked for Steel of West Virginia as a machinist from 1987 to 2007.

While he operated the machines, Cline says many of them used metal-working fluids to cool the machine parts and the fluids would vaporize into a mist.

The complaint says that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has said that these fluids, when vaporized, create a risk of a person developing occupational asthma.

In September 2007, a physician at Marshall University diagnosed Cline with occupational asthma and linked the condition with his former job, the complaint says.

Cline says he had to leave his job because of this diagnosis and has suffered lost wages and is restricted in what kind of job he performs because of his shortness of breath and periodic episodes of hyperactive airways.

Cline alleges deliberate intent and negligence.

He's seeking compensatory and punitive damages

John H. Skaggs is representing the plaintiff. The case is before Cabell Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 09-C-231