Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant: Novatex and work-history evidence
Shoreham has an unusually dense public record: a NIOSH investigation identifies a named asbestos-containing product and work practices, while later New York court decisions preserve an individual steamfitter and welder history from the construction period.
What the public record tells us
Novatex contained chrysotile asbestos
NIOSH analyzed Novatex used at the Shoreham construction site and reported chrysotile asbestos in the sampled product. The report describes uses including wrapping stainless-steel pipe and insulating welded pipe joints during heat stress.
A pipefitter personal air sample
NIOSH reported a personal air sample associated with a pipefitter at 0.16 fibers per cubic centimeter, above its then-recommended 0.1 fibers/cc criterion. The value of that number is the specific task-and-time context in the report.
Steamfitter and welder, 1978–1982
In 2024, a New York court described Thomas McLaughlin’s work as a steamfitter and welder during Shoreham construction from 1978 through 1982, including welding hangers and pipes. A 2025 appellate decision likewise describes asbestos-exposure claims arising from his Shoreham construction work.
How to use these records
Public records can narrow a work-history investigation when they are connected to the person who was actually there. The most useful next details are usually the worker's years, employer or contractor, department, trade, daily tasks, nearby crews, equipment and remembered materials.
What contractor and trade?
Pipefitters, welders and other trades may have encountered different materials and tasks; employer and union records can help distinguish them.
Was the work around pipe or welding?
Stainless-steel pipe, welded joints, heat-stress work and remembered Novatex use are particularly useful details in light of the NIOSH report.
What years and work area?
NIOSH’s measurements and the court records are time-bounded. Individual dates and location within the project remain central to reconstruction.
From this workplace to the next useful question
This pathway separates what public sources document about Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant — Construction from what still must be established for a particular person.
Documented here
- EVD-NIOSH-SHOREHAM-01 — NIOSH reported that sampled Novatex used at the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant construction site contained chrysotile asbestos.
- EVD-NIOSH-SHOREHAM-02 — NIOSH reported Novatex used to wrap stainless-steel pipe, as insulating wrap for welded pipe joints during heat stress, and in several other worksite applications.
- EVD-NIOSH-SHOREHAM-03 — NIOSH reported a personal air sample associated with a pipefitter at 0.16 fibers per cubic centimeter, above its then-recommended 0.1 fibers/cc criterion.
- EVD-SHOREHAM-COURT-01 — A 2024 New York court decision described Thomas McLaughlin as working from 1978 through 1982 as a steamfitter and welder during construction of LILCO’s Shoreham Nuclear Power Station, including welding hangers and pipes.
- EVD-SHOREHAM-COURT-02 — A 2025 Appellate Division decision described McLaughlin’s prior asbestos-exposure claims arising from his 1978–1982 steamfitter and welder work at construction of LILCO’s nuclear power station and later mesothelioma diagnosis.
- What exact years place the person at Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant — Construction?
- What job title, department, contractor, crew or work area can narrow the history?
- Which remembered detail best fits: 1978–1982 construction period, steamfitter, welder or pipefitter work, stainless-steel pipe, welded joints or Novatex?
- What employment, union, coworker, maintenance, specification or other record can connect the person to the correct time and place?
Primary and authoritative sources
Continue the investigation
New York City and Long Island research → Pipefitter and steamfitter research → Jobsite investigation →
This workplace appears in an official DII site list
The DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust’s official Exhibit A list identifies Long Island Lighting Co. – Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant in Shoreham, New York. The source-listed relationship is HAL 1977-01-01–1982-12-31.