Asbestos from the Dix Dam Hydro Plant Sickened and Killed Workers
The Dix Dam Hydro Plant started powering the Mercer area in 1925, a time when most people thought asbestos was harmless. It was used in thousands of products over the years, including on and in powerhouse equipment. Its fibers can be easily inhaled or swallowed, starting decades-long chain reactions in the body that result in deadly cancers.
Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers represent people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases who seek compensation for the harm they suffer. If this is your situation, contact us at 855-385-9532 to learn more about how we can help you obtain compensation for your injury.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of mineral fibers that are resistant to fire, heat, electricity, and corrosion. Asbestos has been used in about 3,000 products, including pipe insulation, building materials, floor tiles, cigarette filters, vehicle brakes, and clutches. These fibers are strong, durable, light, and microscopic.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos was used in thousands of products for centuries because its fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. These qualities also make them hazardous to humans. They won’t immediately cause a deadly reaction in people who inhale or swallow them, so they’re probably unaware of the danger they’re in. It may take years or decades for the damage caused by asbestos to become known.
Fibers become stuck in human tissue. The immune system tries to get rid of them, but the fibers destroy the cells meant to dissolve them instead. This leads to scar tissue, inflammation, and, over time, genetic mutations that cause cancer.
Asbestos causes or increases the risk of several cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that can affect several parts of the body. It can involve the linings covering organs (including the heart and lungs) and the chest and abdominal cavities.
What is the Dix Dam Hydro Plant?
Construction on the Dix Dam Hydro Plant in Mercer, Kentucky, began in 1923 and was completed two years later, according to PPL Corporation. It’s part of Kentucky Utilities’ E.W. Brown Generating Station. It was the world’s largest stone-filled dam at the time, and the water from the Dix River backed up to create Herrington Lake. When fully operational, it can produce 33 megawatts of power, enough to power about 20,000 homes.
Why did Power Stations Use Asbestos?
Asbestos was used as insulation for generators and turbines and sprayed on piping and conduits in hydroelectric plants, according to Factor This. Asbestos was widely used when the dam was built and wasn’t mostly regulated off the market until the late 1970s. It was used for fire-retardant coatings, concrete, pipe insulation, gaskets, electrical equipment, ceiling and floor tiles, fireproofing, and roofing.
Older hydroelectric generators used asbestos-containing brake pads, according to Western Health & Safety. They could contain from 10% to 25% chrysotile asbestos. When they were applied to slow or stop the generator’s spinning rotor, it created smoke, and asbestos fibers migrated throughout the generator.
Which Workers Would Be Exposed to Asbestos Fibers?
The greatest danger from asbestos comes when materials are applied, torn, cut, drilled into, or removed, because that’s when fibers are most likely to be released and carried into the air, where they can be inhaled or swallowed. Fibers can also come loose if the equipment the products are attached to vibrates, or due to age and deterioration.
The more often and more closely someone worked with asbestos-containing products, the greater the threat they posed. This includes employees and contractors who worked for Kentucky Hydro-Electric Co. and the Dix River Power Company (later bought by Kentucky Utilities).
Their work released clouds of microscopic fibers into the air. These workers performed these tasks without adequate protective equipment or warnings about the dangers they faced. Those in the area who are not directly working with asbestos could also be exposed as asbestos fibers drifted through the workplace.
Workers’ family members were also at risk. Those working with asbestos would return home in clothes covered in microscopic fibers that could drift through the household, where they could be inhaled or swallowed.
Why Should I Contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC?
If you or a family member is diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be received for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income and illness-related costs and expenses
- Past and future medical treatment
- The negative effects on relationships
If you have an asbestos-related condition due to asbestos exposure while you or a family member worked at the Dix Dam Hydro Plant, improve your chances of a successful claim by retaining a lawyer with the following:
- Knowledge of Kentucky and federal asbestos and railroad worker laws, deadlines, court procedures, and jury dynamics
- Access to historical industrial and asbestos litigation records
- Experience in mesothelioma litigation
- Relationships with experts who can show asbestos caused your illness, where it came from, and the harm you suffer due to your illness
- The ability to tailor strategies for your unique situation
Given the complexity and stakes of your case, you should discuss how we can help with a Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyer.
Call Us Today for A Free Consultation
If you or a family member in Kentucky suffers from an asbestos-related condition, Satterley & Kelley PLLC is the law firm you can trust. Call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.