01. Asbestos Risk
How Are Shipyard Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
In the United States, an estimated 3.5 million workers faced exposure to asbestos in shipyards. Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses. This includes mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related conditions.
Asbestos is known for its strength and resistance to heat and chemicals. As such, asbestos materials on ships and in shipyards were common.
The following ship components often contained asbestos:
- Equipment used in shipyards
- Hulls of ships
- Onboard safety equipment
- Piping systems
- Ship machinery
People who worked closely and frequently near asbestos were at high risk of exposure.
What Asbestos Products Put Shipyard Workers at Risk?
Asbestos products, like gaskets, cement and pipes, were widely used in shipyards. Asbestos was considered an essential component of naval ships during much of the 20th century. By 1939, the United States had classified asbestos as a critical material. This meant shipbuilders had to use asbestos in their vessels to win military contracts.
The risk of asbestos exposure in shipyards often came from ship components. Shipbuilding parts that may have contained asbestos include:
- Adhesives
- Block insulation
- Boilers
- Brake linings
- Cables
- Cement
- Fireproofing
- Flanges
- Flooring
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Machinery casings
- Paneling
- Pipe coverings
- Pipes
- Pumps
Various asbestos companies manufactured and sold these products to U.S. naval stations and shipyards. These jobsites may have compromised the health of hundreds of thousands of employees. Exposed workers have an elevated risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma.
Common Places Shipyard Workers May Find Asbestos
Shipyard workers may have encountered asbestos while working on commercial ships and military vessels, such as:
- Aircraft carriers
- Amphibious warships
- Auxiliary vessels
- Battleships
- Cruisers
- Destroyer escorts
- Destroyers
- Escort carriers
- Frigates
- Merchant Marine ships
- Minesweepers
- Oil tankers
- Submarines
Employees at shipyards may also have been exposed to asbestos in the following areas:
- Boiler rooms
- Engine rooms
- Equipment shops
- Shipping and receiving bays
Working in any of these areas could have led to asbestos exposure. There is no safe level of exposure. Enclosed areas with poor ventilation, however, can present a greater risk. Without proper airflow, fibers may become concentrated in the air. This can increase the risk of inhalation or ingestion, which can lead to asbestos illnesses.
Shipyard Workers and At-Risk Trades
Occupational asbestos exposure at shipyards was widespread. Working in shipyards may also have exposed tradespeople from other industries to asbestos.
Some at-risk trades in the shipbuilding industry include:
- Blacksmiths
- Boilermakers
- Careeners
- Carpenters
- Caulkers
- Coppersmiths
- Crane operators
- Decorators
- Dockers
- Dockworkers
- Draftsmen
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Engine fitters
- Foremen
- Insulators
- Ironsmiths
- Joiners
- Laborers
- Laggers
- Linoleum layers
- Longshoremen
- Machinists
- Masons
- Merchant Mariners
- Metal workers
- Metallurgical workers
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Polishers
- Sailors
- Ship demolishers
- Shipfitters
- Ship sprayers
- Shipwrights
- Stakers
- Stevedores
- Welders
- Veterans
Ships with asbestos-containing materials are still in service. Sailors living and working on these vessels have an elevated risk of asbestos exposure. Confined workspaces and living quarters allow for higher concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers.
Shipyard workers may unintentionally carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes or in their hair. These fibers can expose members of their household to asbestos. This type of exposure is known as secondary exposure and can lead to asbestos diseases.
02. Mesothelioma Risk
Mesothelioma Risk for Shipyard Workers
Several studies show that shipyard workers are one of the most at-risk occupations for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Their findings include:
- One analysis found 86% of the studied ship repair workers later developed asbestosis. This group included bystanders who did not work directly with asbestos materials.
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reviewed asbestos-related deaths among workers. In the study group, shipyard workers were 15 times as likely to die from asbestosis as workers in other jobs.
- An Italian study found higher cancer deaths among shipyard workers. Nearly a quarter of lung cancer deaths were linked to asbestos exposure. The types of cancer found were laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
Many asbestos-related diseases take a long time to develop after exposure. A 2007 study on shipyard workers found the median mesothelioma latency period was 42.8 years.
The consequences of asbestos use in shipyards are far-reaching. Some former shipyard workers develop related diseases as much as 50 years after exposure.
03. Compensation
Compensation for Shipyard Workers With Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Shipyard workers exposed to asbestos on the job who develop a related disease may seek compensation. This can help pay for mesothelioma treatment costs, lost income and other related expenses.
An asbestos lawsuit may end with a settlement or verdict. Verdicts are decided by a jury. Settlements are reached out of court between the victim and the company being sued.
Shipyard workers may also file claims through asbestos trust funds. Companies who have gone through bankruptcy set up these funds to compensate victims.
A lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases can explain all the different choices that fit the worker’s specific situation. Successful lawsuits may result in substantial financial awards.
Shipyard workers who wish to seek compensation can contact a mesothelioma law firm. An asbestos attorney can clarify available options based on the worker’s unique circumstances.
04. Asbestos Safety
Asbestos Safety for Shipyard Workers
Several U.S. government agencies had passed legislation by the early 1980s to regulate asbestos. For instance, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created various asbestos regulations. While many of these laws apply to all industries, some are tailored to shipyards.
These safety regulations aim to mitigate risk and reduce asbestos exposure. The complete list of OSHA shipyard industry regulations is available on the organization’s website.
