Westlake, Louisiana

The city of Westlake is a suburb of Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Located on the Calcasieu River, Westlake has a population of about 4,600. Settled in the 19th century, and incorporated in 1945, Westlake industries have ranged from agriculture and lumber to petrochemicals. Current employers include Air Products, Biolab, Inc., and Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC. ConocoPhillips also operates the Lake Charles Refinery, at a former Continental Oil Company plant which was used to make aviation fuel during World War II.

Westlake was settled in the early 19th century, and became part of Imperial Calcasieu Parish in in 1840. Imperial Calcasieu later split into five parishes, with Westlake and five other towns remaining in Calcasieu Parish. Cotton, radishes and other crops were grown for trade, but Westlake's biggest early industry was lumber. The Calcasieu valley's large stands of longleaf yellow pine and river access supported companies such as the Perkins and Miller Lumber Company, Krause & Managan Lumber Company, Ltd., Edgewood Land & Logging Company, and Lock, Moore & Company, Ltd. Huge sawmills sprang up around Lake Charles to produce pine boards for construction and ferry service between Westlake and Lake Charles was established in 1879. By the mid-1920s, however, yellow pine stocks in the area had been depleted. Following World War II, petrochemical factories took over as the prominent industry in Westlake. Conoco Chemicals built a specialty chemical plant in 1961 which was acquired by CONDEA Vista Chemical Company in 1984, and is currently operated by Sasol North America. Westlake Chemical is housed in a former Cities Service Company polymer plant and Georgia Gulf Lake Charles manufactures vinyl resin in a 1960s plant built by Conoco VCM.

Westlake's history of heavy industry and construction makes asbestos exposure an ongoing concern. Asbestos-containing materials were widely used in the 20th century for insulation and construction. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you were exposed to asbestos in Westlake, you may benefit from seeking the advice of a mesothelioma lawyer.

Large Jobsites in Westlake where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has compiled information obtained from a number of sources to identify the following large job sites in Westlake where asbestos exposure was known to have occurred. These sites are listed below. Click on them to get more detailed information.

Other Jobsites in Westlake where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

These additional jobsites in Westlake, LA have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.