POWERHOUSES/POWER PLANTS
People who worked in powerhouses (power plants) were among the most heavily exposed to asbestos of all. Insulation used on the massive boilers erected at these sites, on the miles of piping, on the giant turbines and on all of the other various types of equipment at these power generating stations all contained asbestos until the 1970s. Asbestos was in the packing and gaskets that were widely used at powerhouses on pumps, valves and in pipe flanges. Asbestos blankets and asbestos paper were used throughout these plants as insulation and for welding protection. Those who worked at powerhouses have described the atmosphere at times as resembling a snow storm with asbestos swirling throughout the grated levels of these multi-storied buildings.
Whether working in-house for one of the utility companies or for an outside contractor as a member of one of the various trades that built, repaired and renovated these behemoths, asbestos dust was virtually inescapable at these plants during the 1950s through the 1970s. Among the most affected were pipe coverers (insulators), steam fitters, boilermakers, electricians and powerhouse-employed mechanics.
We have compiled a list of powerhouses and the asbestos products commonly used at them. We have developed an extensive database of information about powerhouses over the course of more than a decade representing victims of asbestos disease. If you have any questions about exposure to asbestos at a powerhouse/power plant, please contact us.
Please contact us if you have any questions about asbestos exposure at power stations. We have been helping people with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases for over a decade.