The former Ciba Geigy Main Plant was located to the east of Glens Falls within the Town of Queensbury, New York on a 45-acre site. Starting in 1901, the facility was used by the American Wallpaper Company, Imperial Color Works, and Underwood Paper Mills for manufacturing wallpaper and later expanding to producing inorganic pigments. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Imperial Color Works became the leading manufacturer of colored pigments in the United States. In 1960 Imperial was acquired by Hercules Powder who at the time was one of the largest chemical manufacturers in the country. Hercules Pigment later became a division of Swiss chemicals giant, Ciba-Geigy in 1979. Ciba-Geigy continued to produce pigments until February of 1989 when the onsite buildings were demolished leaving 530 employees without work. Although on-site manufacturing came to a stop, significant ground pollution remains.
Asbestos was used in the Hercules Ciba-Geigy plant for its heat and flame-resistant qualities exposing employees to asbestos while working and maintaining the building. Manufacturing areas were heated by steam blast heaters, powered by steam generated by boilers. The components of the heating systems (i.e., pipes, pumps, and valves) contained asbestos gaskets and packing. Frequent removal and replacement of asbestos parts took place due to the high heat of these systems. Employees throughout the complex were exposed to asbestos, putting them at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma or lung cancer, later in life.
Workers at the Hercules/Ciba Geigy Plant were not warned about the hazards of exposure to asbestos when they performed their job duties without wearing masks or protective gear. Even workers who were not in direct contact with asbestos still remain at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease. If you or a loved one worked at the Hercules/Ciba Geigy Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, please contact us regarding your legal rights.
Top photo: The former Ciba-Geigy plant is seen off Lower Warren Street in Queensbury in the 1980s.
Courtesy of The Post-Star (file photo)
We hope that you will never be diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or suffer a catastrophic injury, but if you are, contact us at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford so we can begin the fight.
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