The Niagara Mohawk Corporation owned and maintained many powerhouses and utility substations throughout New York State.  The Niagara Mohawk Huntley Station was once considered to be the largest steam generator plant in New York.  Asbestos was used extensively in the utility industry as insulation for high-heat temperature equipment, including turbines, large boilers, pumps, steam lines, and valves.  Asbestos insulation literally covered every piece of equipment at the Huntley Station. These coal-fired plants contained miles of steam pipelines that were lined with asbestos insulation. Asbestos could also be found in gaskets and in the block insulation that covered boilers and turbines.

There were numerous units at the Huntley Station, both aging equipment and newer units, all of which contained a boiler and a turbine, and all of which were insulated with asbestos.  As a result, workers were constantly exposed to asbestos from the removal and application of asbestos on these boilers and turbines, and pumps.  Exposure to asbestos was a regular occurrence during scheduled maintenance shut-downs and upgrades because toxic asbestos fibers became airborne as workers inspected, installed, repaired, replaced, and performed normal maintenance duties.   In addition, electricians were at high risk of asbestos exposure because they were constantly crawling over the insulated piping and equipment to run lines.  Most workers were not aware of the dangers of exposure to the asbestos dust, and carried it home on their work clothes, exposing family members and loved ones to hazardous asbestos fibers.

As a result of asbestos exposure at the Niagara Mohawk utility stations, many workers developed mesothelioma, cancer that is only caused by exposure to asbestos.  We have represented many employees who worked at the Huntley Station location including electricians, maintenance workers, millwrights, steamfitters, and boiler workers.  If you or a loved one were once employed at a Niagara Mohawk power station and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.