In 1922, Lance Nicholson and Thomas Hall founded the Nicholson & Hall Boiler & Welding Corporation in what is now called the Cobblestone District of Buffalo, New York. With easy access to the Buffalo harbor, Nicholson & Hall originally serviced boilers onboard Great Lakes steamships. With the loss of shipping traffic into Buffalo Harbor due to the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, Nicholson & Hall gradually shifted its focus to land-based boiler construction and repair in power plants and industrial sites. At its peak, the company employed around 300 boilermakers and other tradesmen, and its shop was located at 41 Columbia Street in Buffalo, New York. In 2013, Nicholson & Hall permanently ceased operations, yet its building has been renovated to accommodate office spaces.

Up until the late 1970s, asbestos-containing insulating materials were utilized aboard ships, in power plants and at industrial sites. Workers who handled materials that contained asbestos or those who worked in the vicinity of others who did are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Laborers who worked for Nicholson & Hall repaired and maintained boilers and associated equipment at numerous industrial sites throughout Western New York, including Niagara Mohawk’s Huntley and Dunkirk stations. Ships, power plants and industrial sites were primarily powered by steam produced in boilers. Pipes within the steam system were covered with asbestos-containing pipe covering and insulating cement. Asbestos block insulation covered steam boilers. During maintenance to the steam system, workers removed worn asbestos insulation. New asbestos insulation was applied after the maintenance or repair procedures were completed. Applying and removing asbestos-containing insulation released asbestos dust into the air, which workers inhaled.

In the process of representing workers and their families, we have gathered a vast amount of information regarding the type and variety of asbestos-containing products to which our clients were exposed. Our clients understand the importance of securing legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed by Nicholson & Hall and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, please contact us regarding your legal rights.