Buffalo & Lackawanna Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

Buffalo and the neighboring city of Lackawanna were the center of one of the great steel-producing regions in American history. Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna Plant — at its peak one of the largest steel mills in the world — employed over 20,000 workers and used asbestos insulation throughout its blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, and steam infrastructure. The plant’s closure in the early 1980s ended an era, but the asbestos exposure legacy continues to produce mesothelioma diagnoses in western New York.

5+Major exposure sites

~20,000Estimated exposed workers

3 YearsNew York filing deadline

$0Upfront legal costs

Buffalo / Lackawanna Area Exposure Map

Documented Exposure Sites

#	Facility	Industry	Active Period	Risk
1	Bethlehem Steel Lackawanna Plant	Integrated Steel	1902–1983	Critical
2	Republic Steel Buffalo	Integrated Steel	1930–1984	High
3	Chevrolet / GM Tonawanda Engine Plant	Auto Parts Manufacturing	1938–present	High
4	Niagara Mohawk Power (Buffalo area)	Electric Power Generation	1920–1985	High
5	Buffalo Forge Company	Industrial Equipment Manufacturing	1878–1983	Moderate

Bethlehem Steel Lackawanna: One of the Most Documented Steel Exposure Sites in the Northeast

Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna plant, located just south of Buffalo on the Lake Erie shore, operated from 1902 through 1983 as one of the most productive steel mills in the country. At peak production, the plant employed over 20,000 workers across blast furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, rolling mills, and finishing lines. Asbestos insulation was used throughout — on boilers, steam pipes, hot-blast stoves, and the massive blast furnace systems. Maintenance trades (pipefitters, boilermakers, millwrights, bricklayers) had the highest direct exposure, while production workers breathed asbestos-laden air throughout mill buildings.

The plant closed in stages between 1977 and 1983. Workers who developed mesothelioma following exposure at the Lackawanna plant have filed claims against multiple asbestos product manufacturers, and several trusts — including the Armstrong World Industries trust and the Owens Corning/Fibreboard trust — hold reserves specifically for steel industry claimants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Bethlehem Steel workers in Lackawanna develop mesothelioma?▼

Yes. Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna plant is one of the most documented asbestos exposure sites in western New York. Asbestos insulation was used on virtually every major heat-generating system in the mill, and maintenance workers who repaired boilers, steam lines, and hot-blast equipment had the heaviest direct exposure. Mesothelioma claims from Lackawanna steelworkers continue to be filed and resolved through trust fund claims against the manufacturers of the asbestos products used at the plant.

What is New York’s statute of limitations for Lackawanna steel mesothelioma claims?▼

New York provides 3 years from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit under CPLR §214-c. Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years of the date of death under EPTL §5-4.1. While 3 years is longer than many states, contact an attorney immediately — identifying all exposure sites and defendants in a complex industrial case requires time, and evidence from former co-workers and union records becomes harder to gather as time passes.