General Electric constructed a plant in Brockport, New York, in 1948 in order to manufacture plastic component parts for some of its small household appliances. The plant was located on State Street in Brockport and sat on 28.6 acres of land. Workers manufactured plastic parts for retail housewares, such as all-purpose food mixers, blenders, electric can openers, an electric knife, knife sharpeners, food processors, electric skillets, sauce pans and other small kitchen appliances. At the height of the Brockport plant’s operations, it is estimated that General Electric employed as many as 1,100 workers. The 150,000-square foot Brockport facility operated as General Electric Housewares Division until 1984 when it closed its doors. Black and Decker purchased the property and continued operations there through 1986.

Prior to the early 1980s, asbestos was a component of high heat temperature, raw, plastic molding materials. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos-containing plastic molding compounds were used in the process of making hard plastic component parts for the various small appliances manufactured at G.E. Brockport Housewares Division. Asbestos posed a high health-risk danger to mold shop workers who molded plastic parts from asbestos-containing plastic molding compounds, as well as to mold shop workers who drilled and sanded finished plastic parts made from asbestos-containing molding compounds. When asbestos-containing molded plastic products are manipulated, drilled or sanded, asbestos dust and fibers can easily become airborne and inhaled or ingested. Even workers who did not have direct contact with asbestos-containing plastic molding compounds, but worked in an area where it was manufactured or molded, are at risk for developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.

The attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC have gathered a vast amount of information concerning the type and variety of asbestos-containing products used at General Electric Brockport Housewares Division. We have represented former and retired General Electric workers in their legal claims for mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed at General Electric Brockport Housewares Division and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.


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