Asbestos in Shipyards
Over 100 shipyards relied on asbestos-containing materials to build vessels during the 20th century. Many shipyard workers have since developed lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases decades after serving. Learn more about the risks of asbestos in shipyards and how to get help after a lung cancer diagnosis.
About Lung Cancer & Asbestos Exposure in Shipyards
Shipyards frequently used asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s to construct thousands of Navy and civilian vessels. As shipyard workers built, demolished, and repaired ships, they risked exposure to asbestos fibers.
At the time, shipyard workers didn’t know that asbestos could cause serious illnesses like lung cancer decades years after exposure. The risks were hidden by manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.
As a result, thousands of former shipyard workers develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related illnesses each year.
Shipyard Asbestos Exposure & Lung Cancer Quick Facts
- Asbestos products used in shipyards: These included boilers, engines, gaskets, concrete tiles, pipes, insulation, electrical systems, protective gear, and much more.
- Number of shipyard workers exposed: Over 4.5 million were exposed to asbestos in shipyards during World War II alone. More than 3,300 U.S. Navy ships built and serviced in shipyards through the early 1980s contained asbestos products, exposing workers regularly.
- Shipyards known for exposure: Both civilian and Navy shipyards relied on asbestos. These included Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Bayou Black Shipyard, Lockheed Shipyard, and many more.
Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now for help if you or someone you love became ill from working with asbestos in shipyards.
- Understand risk factors
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How Does Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Cause Lung Cancer?
Since asbestos could be found in nearly all areas of a shipyard, workers were constantly exposed. This put them at a daily risk of breathing in asbestos dust and fibers.
The asbestos fibers could get trapped inside the lungs, causing long-term scarring and irritation. After 10-50 years, this could trigger the development of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious illnesses.
In a report from The New York Times, it was found that “asbestos dust was so pervasive that one often could not see across a room” in World War II-era shipyards, meaning exposure was virtually inevitable.
Asbestos in shipyards can also contribute to a lung cancer diagnosis even among workers who smoked. This is because asbestos fibers worsen the damage that smoking does to the lungs, increasing the odds of cancer.
Use of Asbestos Products in Shipyards & Shipbuilding
Asbestos-containing products were used throughout shipyards and on vessels due to their durability, availability, and affordability.
Asbestos products used in shipyards and shipbuilding include:
- Boilers
- Electrical systems
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Glues
- Flooring and tiling
- Insulation
- Roofing material
- Piping
- Protective equipment
- Sealants
- Valves
Asbestos products resisted fire, water, corrosion, and sound, helping ships to remain sturdy at sea. However, as shipyard workers handled asbestos-containing materials, they could easily breathe in or swallow stray fibers without even knowing.
Shipyard Jobs at High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Anyone working in a shipyard could have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. However, those at the highest risk handled asbestos on an everyday basis.
Shipyard jobs at high risk of asbestos exposure include:
- Boiler room workers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Engine room workers
- Insulators
- Machinists
- Maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Repairmen
- Steamfitters
- Tinsmiths
- Welders
U.S. Navy veterans who served in shipyards before the early 1980s are at an especially high risk of asbestos exposure. This is because the government required the use of asbestos aboard all military ships for decades due to the perceived benefits.
Call (877) 446-5767 now for help if you developed asbestos lung cancer from shipyards. You may qualify for compensation to cover treatment expenses and any other bills.
Secondhand Shipyard Asbestos Exposure and Lung Cancer Risks
Those working with asbestos in shipyards not only unknowingly put themselves at risk, but their families too.
Shipyard workers could come home with their hair, clothes, and tools covered in asbestos dust. As a result, loved ones may have breathed in or swallowed the fibers. This is known as secondhand asbestos exposure.
Over 10% of wives whose husbands worked at Los Angeles-area shipyards for 20 years or more had signs of asbestos diseases, according to the American Journal of Public Health. The report concluded that it was likely “asbestos exposure in the household places [put] these family members at risk for mesothelioma and lung cancer.”
If a loved one worked in a shipyard decades ago and you now have lung cancer or mesothelioma, it could be the result of this secondhand asbestos exposure.
List of Shipyards That Used Asbestos
There were over 100 shipyards around the United States where workers risked exposure to asbestos-containing products.
Shipyards known to have used asbestos include:
- Alabama Dry Dock in Alabama
- Bayou Black Shipyard in Louisiana
- Bethlehem Steel Shipyards in New York, California, Maryland, and Massachusetts
- Charleston Naval Shipyard in South Carolina
- Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi
- Lockheed Shipyard in Washington
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California
- National Steel Shipbuilding in California
- Newport News Shipyard in Virginia
- New York Shipbuilding Corporation in New Jersey
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington
- San Diego Naval Shipyard in California
- Todd Shipyards in Washington, California, Texas, New York, and other states
- Washington Navy Yard
You may have been exposed to asbestos in shipyards, even if yours isn’t listed above. Additionally, many shipyards have changed names or ownership over the years, making it harder to trace exposure without legal help.
Compensation for Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Victims
If you or someone you love worked around asbestos in shipyards and became sick as a result, you may be eligible for different types of lung cancer compensation.
Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used in shipyards hid the health risks for decades, meaning they can be held financially accountable for harming you.
Compensation for asbestos exposure in shipyards includes:
- Lung cancer lawsuits: It may be possible to file a lawsuit against the companies that made and sold the asbestos products you were exposed to during shipyard work. While every lung cancer lawsuit is different, some have awarded over $1 million in compensation.
- Wrongful death lawsuits: You may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit if someone you love passed away from asbestos-related lung cancer. These lawsuits also award over $1 million in some instances.
- Asbestos trust funds: Some manufacturers filed for bankruptcy to avoid lawsuits. However, they were forced to set up trust funds to pay victims. There is over $30 billion available across all trusts today.
- VA benefits: Shipyard workers who served in the Navy or another branch of the military may qualify for benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans with lung cancer or mesothelioma can receive over $4,000 a month in most cases.
An experienced asbestos lung cancer lawyer can help determine which options you qualify for and work to pursue the highest payouts available in your case.
Get a Free Case Review now to find out if you can pursue compensation for a lung cancer diagnosis.
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Help for Shipyard Workers Facing Asbestos Lung Cancer
Military and civilian shipyard workers didn’t deserve to be put at risk of life-threatening illnesses.
However, millions of workers suffered exposure to asbestos in shipyards, and thousands are diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other diseases each year as result.
Lung Cancer Group is here to support shipyard workers and their families after a devastating lung cancer diagnosis.
Work with our team to:
- Explore key treatments for asbestos lung cancer
- Get help pursuing lung cancer compensation
- Receive the justice and peace of mind you deserve
Call (877) 446-5767 or get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore how we can assist you or someone you love right now.
Lung Cancer & Asbestos in Shipyards FAQs
Is there asbestos in shipyards?
Yes, asbestos was used at more than 100 different shipyards across 11 states between the 1930s and early 1980s.
A few of the shipyards where asbestos could be found include Charleston Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
At the time, shipyard workers didn’t realize that asbestos exposure could cause serious illnesses like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Manufacturers of asbestos products used in shipyards knew of the risks but hid them for decades to make huge profits.
Can asbestos from shipyards cause cancer?
Yes, exposure to asbestos in shipyards can cause cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer 10-50 years later. Thousands of former military and civilian shipyard workers develop cancers each year as a result.
Family members of shipyard workers are also at risk of cancer due to secondary asbestos exposure.
Contact us now to get help if you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis after working in a shipyard.
Are shipyard workers exposed to asbestos?
Yes, many shipyard workers who served prior to the early 1980s risked daily exposure to asbestos. In fact, The New York Times reported that World War II-era shipyards were so clouded with asbestos dust that workers couldn’t see across them.
As a result, shipyard work was one of the highest-risk occupations for asbestos exposure before the health risks were fully understood.
Is asbestos still used in shipbuilding?
No, asbestos is typically no longer used in shipbuilding given the health risks.
“Since 1978, specifications for government-subsidized ships have required the elimination of all asbestos lagging and insulation materials,” according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report. “Current ship building activities ordinarily do not generate any worker exposure to asbestos.”
A very small number of U.S. Navy ships built before the early 1980s may contain asbestos but are monitored to keep people safe. For example, in the mid-2010s, the USS Mount Whitney underwent a major renovation to remove 2,120 tons of asbestos insulation.
What causes mesothelioma in shipyard workers?
The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Shipyard workers are at a very high risk of mesothelioma since many of them were exposed to asbestos-containing products on a daily basis.
In fact, 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients is either a Navy veteran or former shipyard worker. Many other shipyard workers have developed other serious diseases, like lung cancer and asbestosis, as a result of their exposure to asbestos.
Can I sue a shipyard for asbestos exposure?
You may not be able to effectively sue a shipyard in and of itself for asbestos exposure. Many older shipyards that used asbestos are now closed. However, you may qualify to sue the companies that made the asbestos products used in shipyards.
While every case is different, some asbestos lawsuits have awarded over $1 million to former shipyard workers facing illnesses like lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma. Lung cancer law firms can handle the work of a lawsuit for you, making the process as easy as possible.
Get a Free Case Review to find out if you may be eligible to file a lung cancer lawsuit due to asbestos in shipyards.
