Rochester New York Mesothelioma Attorneys > Job Sites > Rochester, New York > Canandaigua VA Medical Center

Canandaigua VA Medical Center

The Canandaigua Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center was established in 1933, as part of the newly created Veterans Administration. Located on Fort Hill Avenue in Canandaigua, New York, it provides inpatient and outpatient medical services to United States military veterans living in Western New York. The Canandaigua VA Medical Center is comprised of 14 buildings on 150 acres of land. Prior to federal regulations placed on asbestos in the late 1970’s, asbestos could be found as a component of insulation and building materials. During construction and maintenance projects at the VA Medical Center, asbestos-containing insulation was utilized on boilers and pipes. Workers who handled materials that contained asbestos or worked in the vicinity of others who did are at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Asbestos-containing pipe covering and insulating cement were applied to steam and water pipes throughout the VA Medical Center. Handling or cutting lengths of pipe covering emitted asbestos-containing dust and fibers into the air. Due to wear and tear on some of the pipes, asbestos-containing pipe covering required repair and maintenance. Worn asbestos insulation was dismantled and replaced. Removing and replacing asbestos-containing pipe covering was an extremely dusty process and created enormous dust clouds.

Three boilers located in the powerhouse building at the VA Medical Center were used to provide heat and hot water. These boilers were covered with asbestos block insulation. Similar to pipe covering, workers cut block insulation with hand saws to accommodate rounded or irregular parts of the boilers. Cutting block insulation also emitted asbestos fibers and dust into the air.

Inhaling dust and particles from the application and maintenance of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing serious health problems. Even those who were not in direct contact with asbestos materials remain at risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases. If you or a loved one were once employed in connection with construction projects at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.