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Asbestos Exposure at Centralia Power Plant

The Centralia Power Plant used numerous asbestos-containing materials, including insulation and acoustic plaster. Many people were exposed to the toxic mineral and have developed asbestos-related diseases, entitling them to financial compensation. Workers may not know they are affected until years after their exposure. If you or a loved one worked at Centralia and has mesothelioma, contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little. Our legal team can determine whether you can file a lawsuit and fight for your rights.

Washington state is home to numerous electricity-generating power plants, including the Centralia Power Plant in Lewis County. The only commercial coal-fired power plant in Washington, Centralia Power Plant generated enough energy at its peak to power Los Angeles. The plant is expected to close permanently in 2025 under a 2011 bill and agreement signed by Governor Christine Gregoire.

The Centralia Power Plant was built with asbestos products to shield the machinery from heat and prevent fires. Pipes, boilers, and turbines are especially likely to contain asbestos. As a result, many workers at the Centralia Power Plant ingested or inhaled asbestos, causing them to develop asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos Found at Centralia Power Plant

The Centralia Power Plant used asbestos thermal insulation before 1985 to manage heat and the risk of fire created by coal-fired boilers and steam-driven machinery. Over time, the asbestos products deteriorated, requiring repair or overhaul and putting many workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Families of workers were also put at risk from asbestos brought home on workers’ clothing. From 1985 to 2000, Washington State Certified Asbestos Inspectors identified and removed asbestos from the plant on numerous occasions.

However, there is no clear evidence that all the asbestos was removed even after 2000. This means people who worked at Centralia Power Plant before 2000 had a high chance of asbestos exposure, but those who worked at the plant after 2000 may also have ingested or inhaled asbestos.

Centralia Power Plant workers may have also been exposed to asbestos through the following products:

  • Acoustic plaster offered noise reduction inside the power plant. Asbestos was added for additional fireproofing properties.
  • Asbestos blankets were used to control heat, prevent burns, and prevent fires in power plants.
  • Asbestos pipe coverings were used to control heat and prevent burns and fires.
  • Boilers contained asbestos insulation, packing, and gaskets.
  • Asbestos-containing cement was used for many products, including fireproof covers for electrical equipment and heat-resistant asbestos cement pipes.

Pipefitters, insulators, maintenance workers, welders, and electricians had the highest risk of exposure. They directly handled asbestos by fitting, sanding, drilling, and cutting products that released asbestos fibers.

These workers may have exposed their loved ones to asbestos by returning home with fibers attached to their skin, hair, and clothes.

Additionally, engineers, managers, and others who did not work directly with asbestos were at risk of exposure.

Risks of Mesothelioma for Steam Plant Workers

Asbestos exposure is the sole known cause of aggressive cancer mesothelioma, which grows in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue surrounding most of your abdominal organs.

In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos can also cause other forms of lung cancer and asbestosis, a condition involving lung tissue scarring and stiffening that leads to breathing difficulties.

Legal Help for Steam Plant Workers Exposed to Asbestos

Medical costs for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can be costly, especially if you need multiple treatment types. If you or a loved one has mesothelioma due to working at a power plant, talk to an experience asbestos lawyer as soon as possible.

Our lawyers have represented asbestos-exposure and mesothelioma victims throughout the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years. We have litigated hundreds of mesothelioma cases, including appeals and jury trials. Our lawyers are skilled, experienced, and dedicated.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal options. We have offices in Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

OUR OFFICE LOCATIONS
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Seattle Office
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
Portland Office
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS
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$13 Million
VERDICT FOR A VICTIM OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
$11.2 Million
TO A MAN DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA AT AGE 75
$10 Million
VERDICT FOR A 79-YEAR OLD MESOTHELIOMA VICTIM AND HIS WIFE
$8.3 Million
TO A MAN DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA AT THE AGE OF 79
$6.8 Million
TO A WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA AT AGE 37
$6.3 Million
TO A MAN DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA AT AGE 61
Contact The Firm
Representing Asbestos and Mesothelioma Clients Throughout the Northwest.
Seattle Office

520 Pike St.
#1125
Seattle, WA 98101

Portland Office

1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204

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