Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos Lawsuit [2026 Update]

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From the 1920s to the 2020s, Occidental Chemical Corporation’s (OxyChem) plants used asbestos-containing diaphragm cells and other materials to make caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrogen. As a result, workers and their families were exposed to asbestos fibers that can cause mesothelioma. Former Occidental Chemical workers are filing lawsuits because they have developed mesothelioma and were not properly warned about the health risks associated with mesothelioma.

On this page, you will learn about Occidental Chemical’s asbestos use, how that asbestos use has harmed the health of some workers, and which OxyChem plants may have exposed workers to asbestos.

This article also discusses which OxyChem positions were most at risk of asbestos exposure and why. This page concludes by describing the health risks of asbestos exposure at Occidental Chemical, how former OxyChem workers can file a lawsuit, and what compensation is available.

About the Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos Lawsuit

Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawsuit Updates

January 2, 2026: Berkshire Hathaway Completes Acquisition of OxyChem

Berkshire Hathaway has completed its acquisition of OxyChem, paying $9.7 billion in cash for the chemical company. However, an Occidental subsidiary called Environmental Resource Holdings, LLC (ERH) will retain OxyChem’s asbestos and other tort claims, as well its environmental liabilities.

October 2, 2025: Berkshire Hathaway Announces Plan to Buy Occidental Chemical (OxyChem) for Nearly $10 Billion

Berkshire Hathaway (owned by Warren Buffett) plans to purchase Occidental Chemical (owned by Occidental Petroleum) for about $9.7 billion. Reports indicate that the sale of Occidental Chemical may help its parent company manage its debts. Occidental Chemical is a decade’s-old company that has acquired other smaller chemical companies (such as Hooker Chemical, Diamond Shamrock, and Durez Plastics). Historically, Occidental Chemical has relied on asbestos diaphragm cells to produce chlorine and caustic soda. Dozens of former Occidental Chemical workers have developed asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma, and they believe working at the OxyChem plants was the cause.

August 19, 2021: Occidental Chemical’s Niagara Falls Plant Closes, Former Workers Speak Out About Plant’s Heavy Asbestos Use

Occidental Chemical has closed its Niagara Falls chlor-alkali plant, which was formerly owned by Hooker Chemical Company. The Niagara Falls, New York, chlor-alkali plant used asbestos-containing diaphragms and other materials to insulate against heat, pressure, and fire in the chemical reactions used to make chlorine and other chemicals. Former workers at the Hooker Chemical/OxyChem site in Niagara Falls have described unsafe conditions where dried asbestos slurry would coat the lunch trailer, floors, and elsewhere throughout the factory.

February 18, 2019: Not-for-Profits File Lawsuit Against EPA, Alleging Indiscrections About Asbestos Imports

Several organizations, including The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (“ADAO”), American Public HealthAssociation (“APHA”), Center for Environmental Health (“CEH”), Environmental Working Group (“EWG”), and Environmental Health Strategy Center (“EHSC”) have filed a lawsuit against the EPA and its administrator. In their complaint, these organizations allege that Occidental Chemical Corporation is using an existing EPA loophole to import large amounts of asbestos.

June 28, 2000: Occidental Chemical (OxyChem) and Olin Forge Chlor-Alkali Partnership, Asbestos Exposure Cases Increase

Occidental Chemical and Olin joined forces to create an estimated $1.2 billion chlor-alkali venture in 2000. Occidental Chemical uses asbestos-based diaphragm cells to contain the powerful electrolysis reaction required to make chlorine and related byproducts. This combination may increase the number of workers who are exposed to asbestos at Occidental Chemical’s plants. This joint venture was later abandoned.

1990: Occidental Chemical Partner Announces Its Creation of Asbestos-Free Polyramix for Use in Chlor-Alkali Plants

Occidental Chemical’s partner, OxyTech, has developed an asbestos-free diaphragm cell to be used to produce chlorine, caustic soda, and other chemical byproducts. According to the company, Polyramix lasts about as long or longer than most asbestos-based diaphragms and is much safer than asbestos diaphragms. OxyTech said it began using its patent-pending Polyramix diaphragms at one of its facilities to test the new technology, and that the results have been successful. However, Occidental Chemical continued to use asbestos diaphragms in its other facilities, despite acknowledging the connection between asbestos exposure and cancer.

Occidental Chemical Corp and Its History of Asbestos Use

The chlor-alkali industry is the one of the last industries using imported asbestos in the United States. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), almost 100% of present-day asbestos consumption occurs at chloralkali plants. Like other plants, OxyChem uses chrysotile asbestos to manufacture nonreactive semipermeable diaphragms. These diaphragms prevent chemicals mixing during chemical reactions.

OxyChem (Occidental Chemical Corporation) is part of Occidental Petroleum, and it produces caustic soda, chlor-alkali, bleach, hydrogen, and other chemical-based goods. Occidental purchased Hooker Electrochemical Company in 1968. In 1987, the company consolidated/gathered chemical activities into Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem).

Hooker Electrochemical Company was founded in 1903 and pioneered the use of electrolytic diaphragm cells to produce chlor-alkali in the 1920s. These electrolytic diaphragm cells were lined with asbestos and placed in drums to make caustic soda (for things like aspirin and paper) and chlorine (a disinfectant).

The asbestos-coated metal screen protected the drum’s contents from coming into contact with each other and exploding during the chemical reaction to produce these substances. Hooker Chemical’s facilities heavily relied on and incorporated asbestos into its operations, and workers described asbestos dust being found in the facilities. In 2021, OxyChem was reported to be one of the largest and longest-running users of asbestos, beginning in the early 1900s and continuing into the 21st century.

Which Occidental Chemical Corp Plants Had Asbestos Exposure?

Occidental Chemical’s plants use asbestos-based components in their facilities, including insulation, diaphragm cells, gaskets, and pipe lagging. Occidental Chemical’s plants in New York, Kansas, Louisiana, and Texas all used asbestos, potentially exposing employees at these facilities.

Niagara Falls, New York (Hooker Chemical Chlorine Plant)

Hooker Chemical’s chlorine plant in Niagara Falls, New York, is located at 4700 Buffalo Avenue and was a significant asbestos user until the plant closed in 2021. Asbestos-based practices began under Hooker Chemical’s ownership and continued when the plant was acquired by OxyChem in 1968.

According to a 2018 report issued by Healthy Building Network, Occidental’s Niagara Falls location produced 335,000 tons of chlorine using asbestos-based diaphragms per year as of 2006. Former Hooker Chemical chlorine plant workers describe asbestos dust floating in the air, being sprayed in the facility, and collecting on surfaces.

Some of these deposits were several inches thick, according to workers, and these conditions persisted into the 2020s. ADAO, an asbestos advocacy group, noted that there were ​​56,594 asbestos-related deaths in New York between 1991 and 2019, and the group believes many of these deaths are from work-related asbestos exposure.

North Tonawanda, New York (Durez Plastics Plant)

The Durez Plastics Plant in North Tonawanda, New York, is owned by OxyChem and uses asbestos in its operations. According to first-person accounts, workers at the plastics site would regularly handle raw chrysotile asbestos to make screens for diaphragm cells. Clogged asbestos-containing diaphragms would be pressure-washed with water, which would disturb and spread asbestos fibers throughout the facility. These screens would then need to be recoated with wet asbestos sprays.

According to allegations, nearby residents were also exposed to blue asbestos fibers that would blow out of the Durez Plastics Plant and scatter onto Little League fields, windowsills, and elsewhere. Workers from the North Tonawanda plant recall blue asbestos fibers getting into their hair and clothes and spreading essentially everywhere they went.

Wichita, Kansas (Chlor-Alkali Plant)

OxyChem acquired Vulcan’s chlorine and caustic soda plants in 2005, which included Vulcan Chemical’s facility in Wichita, Kansas, and two additional locations. Vulcan Chemicals’ Wichita plant used asbestos diaphragms to produce chlorine and other substances, and asbestos was also used in many different aspects of the plant’s operations.

Because of this, OxyChem’s Wichita workers have used and breathed in asbestos fibers from the diaphragms and asbestos-containing materials at the facility. Contamination was so widespread at the Wichita location that the EPA conducted investigations about asbestos and other toxins in the 1980s. In 2018, the EPA published an action plan to clean up the OxyChem site in Wichita, Kansas, including inspection and remediation of an on-site asbestos landfill.

Convent, Louisiana (Chlor-Alkali Plant)

Chrysotile asbestos diaphragms were used at Occidental’s chlor-alkali plants in Louisiana, including its Convent facility. One organization estimates that about 22,953 people died in Louisiana from asbestos exposure between 1991 and 2019. Many of those deaths are thought to be from work-connected asbestos exposure. A 2018 report indicated that Occidental’s Convent facility produced 353,000 tons of chlorine using asbestos diaphragm cells each year. Cell renewal technicians, mechanics, diaphragm operators, and others may have been routinely exposed to asbestos fibers while working with and servicing contaminated materials.

Taft / Hahnville, Louisiana (Chlor-Alkali Plant)

Occidental Chemical’s chlor-alkali plant in Taft (Hahnville), Louisiana, has produced chlorine and potash (potassium hydroxide). The chlorine was manufactured using asbestos diaphragms and membranes. The facility produced 438,000 tons of chlorine using asbestos diaphragms, according to a 2018 report.

That same report noted that this facility produced about 2.8 million pounds of toxic waste in 2007, making it “the third-largest generator of hazardous waste” in the United States that year by volume. That report also found that Occidental Chemical’s Taft plant dumped about 40,492 pounds of asbestos into landfills between 2012 and 2015.

In 2022, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Foundation hosted an event in Louisiana to educate communities about the risks of asbestos exposure, where they might be exposed, how to protect themselves, and what could happen if they are exposed. The organization chose to hold this event in Louisiana because four plants there use asbestos-based materials to produce chlorine. Meanwhile, workers from the Taft plant owned by Occidental Chemical, who were already exposed to asbestos, continue to be diagnosed with related diseases.

Ingleside / Corpus Christi, Texas (Chlor-Alkali Plant)

Occidental Chemical also has several chlor-alkali plants in Texas, including one in Ingleside (near Corpus Christi and Gregory). The facility is a chlor-alkali plant that produces chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer, and other substances using asbestos-based diaphragms.

Between 2012 and 2016, Occidental Chemical’s Ingleside/Corpus Christi location released about 80 pounds of asbestos dust into the air, “more than all other chlor-alkali plants in the US combined.” Healthy Building Network’s 2018 report found that the Ingleside facility produced about 570,000 tons of chlorine using asbestos diaphragms. Another organization reported that there were 60,889 deaths from asbestos in Texas between 1991 and 2019. Many of these asbestos-related deaths are thought to be from occupational asbestos exposure.

Deer Park, Texas (Chemical Facility)

Occidental Chemical’s Deer Park, Texas, plant produces chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer, PVC, and other substances. The plant used asbestos diaphragms and (until 2008) mercury-based cells. Public reports indicate that the Deer Park facility produced 295,000 tons of chlorine using asbestos diaphragm cells each year.

Additionally, those same reports noted that Occidental Chemical’s Deer Park plant disposed of 123,049 pounds of asbestos into the Allied Waste landfill on McCarty Road in Houston, Texas, between 2012 and 2015. Occidental Chemical’s plant in Deer Park disposed of about 24,610 pounds of asbestos each year between 2012 and 2016 using various disposal methods.

La Porte/Battleground, Texas (OxyVinyls / Chemical Operations)

Occidental Chemical’s operations in La Porte, Texas (near Battleground) used asbestos diaphragm cells to make chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer, and other compounds. The company purchased the plant from Diamond Shamrock. Occidental Chemical reported that its La Porte facility put about 11,010 pounds of asbestos into landfills between 2012 and 2015. The facility in La Porte also released about 4,047 pounds of asbestos each year from 2012 to 2016.

Geismar, Louisiana (Chlor-Alkali Plant, Pre-1993 Asbestos Use)

Until 1993, the Geismar, Louisiana, chlori-alkali plant owned by Occidental Chemical used asbestos diaphragms. The plant transitioned to an asbestos alternative (Polyramix) membrane around that time. Occidental Chemical invented the Polyramix diaphragm technology in 1988 and started selling and using it shortly thereafter. In a 1988 publication, Occidental Chemical indicated that Polyramix cells could last about 4 to 5 years, had three times the life of modified asbestos diaphragm cells, and posed a much lower cancer risk to exposed workers. However, Occidental Chemical did not transition most of its U.S.-based facilities to Polyramix.

Which Occidental Chemical Jobs Were at the Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Occidental Chemical workers in many different positions encountered high levels of asbestos. At-risk professions who may have been exposed to asbestos at Occidental Chemical include:

• Chlorine cell operators
• Maintenance mechanics
• Pipefitters
• Electricians
• Insulators
• Resin operators
• Janitors
• Millwrights
• Equipment loaders and unloaders
• Contractors

These and other Occidental Chemical employees would work directly with asbestos fibers or would be in spaces where asbestos dust was in the air.

Chlorine Cell Operators and Diaphragm Shop Workers

Chlorine cell operators and diaphragm shop workers work directly with the asbestos-containing equipment used to produce chlorine. They would mix, apply, and move raw asbestos slurry, including applying the slurry to the metal screens in the diaphragm cells. The workers would also breathe in asbestos fibers circulating in the plants, and there are reports that asbestos dust would collect in heaps at some Occidental Chemical plants.

Maintenance Mechanics, Millwrights, and Repair Technicians

Maintenance mechanics, millwrights, and repair technicians would service, install, and remove asbestos-containing equipment at Occidental Chemical’s plants. For example, workers would tighten, replace, or fix asbestos-containing pumps, compressors, valves, gaskets, and related equipment and parts. Occidental Chemical’s workers in these roles would also cut, scrape, pack, remove, and install insulation from pipes, walls, boilers, and other components at the plants. Asbestos fibers that were disturbed could then float in the air, and maintenance mechanics, millwrights, and repair technicians at Occidental Chemical could inhale them.

Pipefitters, Boilermakers, and Steam/Utility Workers

Pipefitters and boilermakers worked in places where asbestos lagging was used to insulate high-heat steam systems. The asbestos lagging would fall apart as the systems aged or were repaired, freeing asbestos fibers that would be breathed in by Occidental Chemical workers in the facility. Pipefitters, boilermakers, and utility workers would routinely encounter asbestos-based materials, including pipe lagging. They could inhale fibers while working directly with asbestos, and they could also inhale fibers that accumulated in their work environments.

Electricians and Instrument & Controls Technicians

Electricians and instrument and control technicians (I&C technicians) at Occidental Chemical serviced asbestos-insulated wiring, electrical panels, cable trays, and switchgear. Employees in these positions would also interact with asbestos blankets and insulation, making these fibers enter the air where unprotected workers may be. Asbestos dust could also collect on fixtures in Occidental Chemical employees’ workspaces, exposing them to asbestos even when they were not working with asbestos-containing products.

Insulators and Refractory Workers

Occidental Chemical workers who installed, removed, cut into, repaired, or replaced asbestos insulation could come into direct contact with asbestos fibers, increasing their risk of developing mesothelioma later. Insulator and refractory workers at Occidental Chemical would also mix, repair, and work with asbestos cloth, insulation, block insulation, pipe coverings, and mud mixes. Working with asbestos directly would increase these Occidental Chemical employees’ exposure levels over time and put them at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Resin Operators and Plastics Production Workers (Durez / North Tonawanda)

Resin operators and plastic production workers at Occidental Chemical’s plants and partner facilities (such as Durez Plastics) used crocidolite asbestos (also called blue asbestos). The blue asbestos fibers would be used in resins to make and mold plastics. Asbestos would be mixed with resin compounds to fortify them against heat, requiring workers at the Occidental Chemical facility to haul the dry asbestos fibers. Bagged asbestos may have been left on-site, continuously exposing workers to fibers disturbed by day-to-day plant activities.

Lab Analysts, Quality Control Staff, and Office Personnel

Occidental Chemical workers in managerial, laboratory, or administrative roles were also exposed to asbestos fibers. For example, asbestos dust from diaphragm cell rooms could travel in the ventilation system and reach areas where primarily desk-based workers were. Additionally, laboratory technicians, quality control technicians, and managers may have carried asbestos dust on their clothing as they went to and from areas with asbestos contamination.

Janitors, Cleanup Crews, and Housekeeping Workers

People who held janitorial roles at Occidental Chemical were also at high risk of exposure to asbestos fibers. Janitors, cleanup crews, and housekeepers would sweep up and clean areas with asbestos-containing dust and debris. Former workers at Occidental Chemical’s plants describe asbestos dust piling up on beams, floors, windows, and other structures. As a result, workers responsible for sweeping up and scraping asbestos at Occidental Chemical’s plants may have been exposed to extremely high concentrations, even if they did not service or run asbestos-containing equipment.

Outside Contractors and Third-Party Laborers

Outside contractors and laborers who were called in to work at Occidental Chemical facilities were also exposed to asbestos. For instance, they may have serviced asbestos-based equipment or worked on a contract basis to help fulfill an urgent order. Cleanup, construction, and renovation crew members may have also encountered asbestos in pipe lagging, insulation in the walls, contaminated diaphragm cells, gaskets, valves, and other materials. Sometimes, contractors and third-party laborers at Occidental Chemical may not have known they were working with asbestos or been given sufficient personal protective equipment for these temporary jobs.

Family Members Exposed Through Contaminated Work Clothing (“Take-Home” Exposure)

People who experience occupational asbestos exposure can bring the fibers into their home and expose family members to asbestos . Close family members of people who worked at Occidental Chemical and its partner facilities may have also been exposed to asbestos brought home on their loved ones’ clothes. Asbestos dust may have collected on workers’ work pants, shirts, boots, hats, gloves, and other clothing they took home.

Some former Occidental Chemical employees describe seeing blue asbestos coating their clothes, hair, skin, and cars, suggesting that anyone who came into contact with them may have inhaled asbestos, too. People who launder the Occidental Chemical workers’ contaminated clothing may also develop asbestosis, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease.

How Were Occidental Chemical Employees Exposed to Asbestos?

Occidental Chemical workers were exposed to asbestos, which was used in the chlor-alkali production process. Workers may have been exposed to asbestos at OxyChem plants when doing the following tasks:

• Handling raw asbestos slurry
• Power-washing diaphragm screens
• Removing asbestos insulation
• Inhaling airborne fibers
• Environmental contamination near plants

For example, workers would use and be in spaces with asbestos pipe lagging, insulation, gaskets, valves, and other contaminated components.

Some workers would also use, clean, re-coat, and service asbestos-containing diaphragms, including power-washing asbestos screens and relining them with fresh asbestos slurry. When asbestos products were coated, removed, cut, scraped, serviced, installed, used, or repaired, this could release fibers into the air. In some cases, asbestos dust was blown out of the facility and coated nearby fields, homes, and cars, causing people who lived or worked near the Occidental Chemical plants to develop mesothelioma.

Health Risks Linked to Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure at Occidental Chemical’s plants is believed to have caused some former workers, nearby residents, and their families to develop mesothelioma. [trusted_sourcelink_text=”Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining (mesothelium) of organs (usually the lungs)” link_url=”https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375022″ source_name=”Mayo Clinic” source_sentence=”The Mayo Clinic is a medical research facility that treats and researches mesothelioma.”][/trusted_source]. It is an aggressive cancer that can cause severe breathing problems and other complications. Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, and exposure can lead to a mesothelioma diagnosis up to 50 years later.

Who Qualifies to File an Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos Lawsuit?

People who worked at Occidental Chemical as an employee or contractor and developed mesothelioma may qualify to file an asbestos lawsuit or trust fund claim. Additionally, people who were diagnosed with mesothelioma and lived with someone who worked at Occidental Chemical may be eligible for an asbestos settlement. Surviving loved ones may also file a wrongful death claim if a close relative worked at Occidental Chemical and died of an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

What Damages Can I Recover in an Occidental Chemical Asbestos Lawsuit?

Mesothelioma patients who win their asbestos lawsuit involving Occidental Chemical may be awarded money for their lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. Loved ones who file and win a wrongful death asbestos claim could receive funeral and burial costs, mental anguish, loss of relationship, and related damages. Additionally, the court may approve punitive damages if the Occidental Chemical asbestos case involves willful disregard for worker safety or similar misconduct.

How Can I File an Occidental Chemical Asbestos Lawsuit?

The process of filing an Occidental Chemical asbestos lawsuit involves the following:

• Reach out to a mesothelioma attorney who can provide a free evaluation of your Occidental Chemical asbestos claim.
• Locate records showing you worked at Occidental Chemical as an employee or contractor.
• Your attorney uses your employment records to determine how you may have been exposed to asbestos at Occidental Chemical.
• Your lawyer prepares and files legal actions and trust fund claims to seek an asbestos settlement related to your time at Occidental Chemical.
• Your legal team negotiates a fair settlement to compensate you for your losses due to asbestos exposure from Occidental Chemical.

King Law has reliable experience representing mesothelioma patients throughout the legal process. Our team can help you bring an asbestos lawsuit against Occidental Chemical or its asbestos suppliers. We can also file an asbestos trust fund claim if the asbestos product supplier has declared bankruptcy and created a fund to pay asbestos claims.

What Is the Deadline to File an Occidental Chemical Asbestos Lawsuit?

The deadline for Occidental Chemical workers and their loved ones to file an asbestos lawsuit depends on the applicable state laws. Each state has its own rules on when asbestos claims must be brought and who can file them. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help mesothelioma patients discover and meet the deadlines in cases involving asbestos exposure from Occidental Chemical. They can prove which companies are liable for your occupational asbestos exposure.

Estimated Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

The payout for Occidental Chemical-based asbestos claims depends on the patient’s losses, the strength of their case, and other variables. However, receiving a settlement or a particular amount is not a guarantee. Instead, each compensation award is personalized for that specific patient. Our legal team estimates that some patients could receive $250,000 to $1 million or more, based on historical payouts. However, this is a generalized estimate. Contact our office today to learn what your settlement could be based on your unique circumstances.

King Law Is Accepting Occidental Chemical Corp Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims

King Law is accepting new cases involving suspected asbestos exposure at Occidental Chemical. Asbestos products were widely used at Occidental Chemical’s facilities, subjecting hundreds of workers to fibers that could cause mesothelioma. Our legal team has the resources to investigate your Occidental Chemical asbestos case and pursue available legal remedies, including a personal injury or wrongful death settlement. We can also help you file a mesothelioma lawsuit on behalf of a family member.

Contact an Occidental Chemical Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyer Today

If you worked at Occidental Chemical and developed mesothelioma, call our team today at (585) 496-2648. Your time at Occidental Chemical may be where you were exposed to asbestos, and what led you to develop mesothelioma. Our asbestos attorneys are well-trained and provide free, no-obligation consultations. You only pay for our services if we secure you compensation. Our team will work to build a strong case that gives you the best chance at fair compensation.

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