Merck & Co. — Plants in New Jersey

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that they were exposed to asbestos while working at Merck & Co. plants in New Jersey. This page documents the New Jersey portion of Merck & Co.’s multi-state operations. For the full corporate summary and plants in other states, see the Merck & Co. manufacturer page.

Premises Description

Merck & Co. has been named as a premises defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation for alleged asbestos exposure across its national pharmaceutical manufacturing network — including the Rahway NJ headquarters and research complex, the West Point PA vaccine and biologics campus, the Elkton VA active-pharmaceutical-ingredient plant, the Danville PA sterile-injectables plant, and the Kelco / Merck Sharp & Dohme legacy facilities. Merck pharmaceutical plants are heavy industrial premises: chemical-synthesis buildings, fermentation halls, sterile-fill suites, vaccine biologics production, tablet-compression and coating rooms, powerhouse steam plants, and on-site refrigeration and utility systems.

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that pre-1980 Merck plant premises involved asbestos through:

  • Asbestos pipe covering on pharmaceutical steam mains, sterilizer feeds, and fermentation-tank heating lines
  • Asbestos sheet gaskets at reactor, fermenter, autoclave, and process-piping flanges
  • Asbestos block, cork, and cold-chain insulation on vaccine and biologics refrigeration equipment
  • Asbestos rope packing on pharmaceutical pumps, valves, centrifuges, and mixers
  • Asbestos refractory and gaskets at Merck powerhouse boilers and API dryer ovens
  • Asbestos sprayed fireproofing on structural steel in multi-story pharmaceutical manufacturing halls
  • Asbestos millboard, arc chutes, and panel materials in plant switchgear and motor-control centers
  • Asbestos lab bench tops, fume-hood liners, and glove-box insulation in Merck research and QC labs

Workers Exposed

Plaintiffs allegedly worked at Merck & Co. Rahway NJ, West Point PA, Elkton VA, Danville PA, and other Merck pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in trades including:

  • Insulators (HFIAW) applying and removing asbestos pipe covering and block on steam and process lines
  • Pipefitters (UA) breaking asbestos-gasketed flanges on reactors, fermenters, sterilizers, and process piping
  • Boilermakers servicing asbestos-refractory-lined powerhouse boilers
  • Millwrights rebuilding pharmaceutical pumps, centrifuges, and tablet-press equipment
  • Refrigeration mechanics working on cork-insulated vaccine and biologics cold-chain equipment
  • Electricians and IBEW workers on plant switchgear and motor-control centers
  • Sheet metal workers (SMART) on HVAC and cleanroom duct systems
  • Merck operators, chemists, and maintenance personnel around asbestos-fireproofed manufacturing halls

If You Worked at Merck

If you or a family member worked at a Merck & Co. pharmaceutical manufacturing plant — Rahway NJ, West Point PA, Elkton VA, Danville PA, or any other Merck facility — before 1980 and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956