Kodak Camera Works

Kodak Camera Works, now known as Kodak Office, was one of the largest subdivisions of Rochester, New York’s, Eastman Kodak plant. Kodak Camera Works is located at 343 State Street in downtown Rochester, New York, and it remains Kodak’s corporate headquarters. It is comprised of ten individual buildings, including the Kodak tower, which has become a fixture of the Rochester skyline. The buildings at Kodak Camera Works housed camera manufacturing facilities, carpentry shops, research and development departments and a large office complex.

Throughout Kodak Camera Works, drywall partitions were once the only form of separation between office spaces and complex manufacturing units. These partitions were erected using asbestos-containing joint compound. As a result of asbestos exposure at Kodak Camera Works, many workers developed mesothelioma, a cancer that is only caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-containing joint compound was sold as either ready-mix (an application-ready product) or as dry mix (a powder that requires water in order to form a paste for application). The joint compound typically used at Kodak Camera Works was delivered in a dry powder like form, which was dumped and mixed in large tubs of water. Dumping and mixing dry joint compound created clouds of airborne asbestos dust. Generally, up to three coats of joint compound were applied to the seams in-between each piece of drywall. After a coat of joint compound dried, it was sanded before the next coat was applied. Sanding joint compound emitted a tremendous amount of asbestos dust into the workspaces at Kodak Camera Works.

In addition to asbestos-containing joint compound, workers at Kodak Camera Works were also exposed to asbestos-containing thermal insulation. Asbestos-containing thermal insulation coated the steam pipes that ran throughout most of the buildings at Kodak Camera Works. Due to wear and tear, worn asbestos insulation was regularly torn-down and replaced. Insulation replacement was extremely messy and created enormous asbestos-containing dust clouds. Often, those working near the replacement process were unaware of the dangers of exposure to the asbestos dust, and carried on their work without masks or protective gear.

The attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC, have gathered a vast amount of information concerning the type and variety of asbestos-containing products used at Kodak Camera Works. Our clients understand the importance of securing legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed at Eastman Kodak, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.

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