Goodyear Atomic Corporation (GAT) cascade axial compressor and converter asbestos-fabric lagging, asbestos-block piping wrap, and asbestos gasket sets at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (Piketon OH)

Product Description

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Goodyear Atomic Corporation (GAT) — as prime DOE (and predecessor AEC/ERDA) operating contractor at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon OH from 1954 until succeeded by Martin Marietta Energy Systems in the mid-1980s — allegedly specified, installed, and maintained asbestos-woven fabric lagging and asbestos-block thermal insulation on cascade axial compressors, converters, coolers, seal assemblies, and UF6 process piping runs across the Portsmouth cascade. Asbestos gasket sets were allegedly used at compressor and converter flanged joints.

Plaintiffs alleged that GAT-era cascade asbestos-containing lagging and gasket materials remained in service at Portsmouth from 1954 through the cascade improvement program of the 1970s and into 1980s maintenance cycles, requiring repeated tear-out and re-lagging during compressor overhauls and barrier tube changeouts.

Workers Exposed

Plaintiffs allegedly exposed to Goodyear Atomic Portsmouth cascade asbestos-containing components include:

• DOE contractor cascade operators and uranium enrichment operators at Portsmouth
• DOE facility pipefitters on UF6 process piping and coolant tie-ins
• DOE facility insulators re-lagging cascade compressors and converters
• DOE facility maintenance mechanics performing compressor rebuilds
• DOE facility instrumentation techs on cascade process controls
• Radiation control technicians and health physics staff on process floors
• Cascade improvement program (CIP) construction crews in the 1970s
• Later D&D and decommissioning crews on GAT-era legacy insulation