Strong Memorial Hospital

Strong Memorial Hospital was established in 1926, through funding provided by Kodak founder George Eastman and the heirs of former Kodak president Henry A. Strong. Owned and operated by the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital is part of the University of Rochester Medical Center. As a teaching hospital, Strong provides education and training to current and prospective health professionals.

As demand for Strong Memorial Hospital’s services increased throughout the years, the hospital completed numerous expansions and renovations. Prior to federal regulations placed on asbestos in the late 1970s, asbestos was incorporated into dozens of building materials used in the construction and maintenance of Strong Memorial Hospital. Fireproof insulation, pipe covering, insulating cement and joint compound (mud) contained asbestos. Workers who handled these materials, or worked in the vicinity of those who did, are at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Fireproof insulation is a mix of asbestos, cement and waste materials from linen mills. This material came packaged in bags, which was dumped into a machine, mixed with water and sprayed onto Strong Memorial’s steel substructure. During the application process of fireproofing material, large clouds of dust and fibers were emitted into the air. Fire proofers who applied asbestos-containing fireproofing materials are at high risk for developing asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

Even long after fireproofing material was applied, the smallest vibrations had the potential to dislodge fibers into the air. In addition to fire proofers, iron workers, plumbers and electricians who worked with rebar and conduits on or in the vicinity of fireproofing material, were also put at risk for exposure to asbestos fibers and dust.

Asbestos-containing pipe covering, insulating cement and joint compound or mud, were also used in the construction process of Strong Memorial Hospital. Inhaling dust and particles from the application and maintenance of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk of 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, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

If you or a loved one were once employed in connection with the construction projects at Strong Memorial Hospital and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.