Product Description

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that the Y-12 National Security Complex — operated by Union Carbide Nuclear Division from 1947 through 1984, then Martin Marietta Energy Systems, then Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, and later BWXT / Consolidated Nuclear Security under DOE / NNSA — allegedly specified, installed, and maintained asbestos-woven fabric electrolytic cell liners, asbestos-block thermal lagging on COLEX (Column Exchange), ELEX (Electrical Exchange), and OREX (Organic Exchange) lithium isotope separation columns, and asbestos-fabric wrap on mercury and lithium-hydroxide process piping across the Y-12 lithium enrichment complex (Buildings 9201-2, 9201-4, 9201-5, and 9204-4). Asbestos gasket sets were allegedly used at column and cell flanged joints.

Plaintiffs alleged that Y-12 lithium facility asbestos-containing materials remained in service across the operating contractor successions, requiring repeated tear-out and re-lagging during column rebuilds, and again during the mercury cleanup and D&D campaigns of later decades.

Workers Exposed

Plaintiffs allegedly exposed to Y-12 lithium facility asbestos-containing components include:

  • DOE contractor lithium separation operators on COLEX / ELEX / OREX columns
  • Uranium enrichment operators on the Y-12 EMIS / calutron legacy systems
  • DOE facility pipefitters on mercury and lithium-hydroxide process piping
  • DOE facility insulators re-lagging column shells and cell liners
  • DOE facility maintenance mechanics on column and cell rebuilds
  • DOE facility instrumentation techs on lithium process controls
  • Radiation control technicians and health physics staff on Y-12 process floors
  • Y-12 mercury cleanup and D&D crews on legacy building demolition