The Willow Island Power Station asbestos exposure crisis remains one of the most significant yet underreported industrial hazards along the Ohio River in West Virginia. Located near St. Marys and adjacent to the Pleasant Power Station, this facility employed countless workers during the height of America’s coal-fired energy production boom. But with that work came exposure to dangerous asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) — insulation, gaskets, boilers, pipe lagging, and turbine components were all common sources.
If you or a loved one worked at the Willow Island Power Station, asbestos exposure could have caused more than occupational harm. Many families of workers were unknowingly placed at risk due to take-home asbestos exposure, a tragic consequence of dust brought home on work clothes.
Asbestos on the Jobsite: A Known Danger
Asbestos was valued for its heat resistance and insulating properties — both essential in a power generation setting. Unfortunately, its microscopic fibers, once airborne, are easily inhaled and can become embedded in the lungs or abdomen, leading to mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer decades later. Maintenance personnel, insulators, pipefitters, and electricians at Willow Island Power Station faced heightened risk.
Asbestos remained in use well into the 1980s, and even post-regulation, old equipment and building materials continued to pose exposure threats during routine repairs or decommissioning.
The Hidden Hazard: Take-Home Asbestos Exposure
Workers weren’t the only ones affected. Spouses and children often laundered contaminated uniforms or hugged workers who’d just come home from the plant. This “para-occupational” or take-home asbestos exposure was especially dangerous because it went entirely unregulated. If your family member worked at Willow Island Power Station, and you later developed an asbestos-related illness, you may have a right to pursue compensation.
Read more about take-home exposure here and how legal precedent supports these claims.
Other Known Ohio River Jobsites Near St. Marys
The Willow Island facility is part of a larger legacy of industrial sites along the Ohio River with known asbestos issues — from Ormet in Hannibal to the chemical plants in Parkersburg. Many of these locations share overlapping workers and contractors, amplifying risk across communities.
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We’re Here to Help
If your family has been impacted by Willow Island Power Station asbestos exposure, or you suspect that take-home exposure may have caused illness in someone you love, now is the time to act. We’re currently accepting cases for asbestos-related diseases linked to Ohio River Valley jobsites.
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