In this video, attorney Joseph T. Kremer discusses asbestos exposure at the Chevrolet Foundry on East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo. Joe explains how workers in various roles were exposed to asbestos, particularly around high-temperature equipment like furnaces, steam pipes, and refractory materials.

Hello, my name is Joe Kremer. I’m a partner here at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford. I’ve been an attorney since graduating from the University at Buffalo in 1988, and for the past 25 years, I’ve focused my practice on representing individuals who have been injured due to asbestos exposure.

Today, I want to talk to you about the Chevrolet Foundry, one of several General Motors facilities that operated in Western New York. General Motors was a major employer in the region. While they continue to operate an engine plant, they once ran additional facilities, including a forge and a foundry, each of which contained significant amounts of asbestos.

My focus here is on the foundry, which was located on East Delavan Avenue. One of its key components was a structure known as a cupola—a dome-like furnace used to melt iron for casting automotive parts. The cupola, along with other high-heat areas in the plant, required heavy use of asbestos-containing materials.

Much of the plant was insulated with asbestos. This included steam pipes, pumps, valves, and other heat-producing equipment. Refractory materials, such as bricks and mortar used in high-temperature environments, also frequently contained asbestos.

Exposure was not limited to the workers who handled insulation directly. Anyone working in or around the foundry could be exposed. Unfortunately, during that time, asbestos was not treated with the caution it warranted. Manufacturers failed to warn users about the dangers of their products, and there were few, if any, efforts in the workplace to isolate asbestos-containing materials or protect nearby workers. If insulation was being installed or removed nearby, you were likely exposed, even if you weren’t performing the work yourself.

We hope this information is helpful to you. No one wants to see a loved one diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, but sadly, it has happened all too often—including in my own family.

At Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, we are here to help. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness and worked at one of these facilities, please contact us. We’re happy to visit your home, provide a free consultation, and explain your legal options.

Thank you.

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Since 1995, the attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC have been helping clients in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, NY, who have been injured due to asbestos exposure. Through our tireless efforts, we have helped to shape and reform asbestos laws throughout the state of New York. We have a full team of lawyers devoted to representing people exposed to asbestos.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, please contact us today and we will schedule an appointment to come to your home and meet with you and your family to explain your legal rights.