Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure

For decades, shipyard workers showed up, put in the work, and never imagined that the air around them was slowly embedding a deadly carcinogen into their lungs. Asbestos, once considered an industrial miracle material for its heat resistance and durability, was used throughout shipyards at a scale that placed workers among the most heavily exposed populations in the country, and the consequences continue to emerge today.

If you worked in a shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, we want you to know your legal options. At The Williams Law Firm, P.C., we represent shipyard workers and their families throughout New York, New Jersey, and nationwide. Among the many occupations with asbestos exposure risk, shipyard work has historically been one of the most dangerous, and we have built our practice around fighting for workers who never should have been put at risk.

How Shipyard Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos was a cornerstone of the shipbuilding industry for much of the 20th century. Its fire-resistant properties made it especially valuable on naval vessels, where fire at sea could be catastrophic. From insulation and gaskets to paints, cables, and hydraulic assemblies, asbestos-containing materials were embedded throughout ships and the facilities that built them.

The hazard was not limited to workers who directly handled asbestos. Poor ventilation meant that fibers released by one trade could be inhaled by everyone in the vicinity. When workers swept up dust or used compressed air to clean work areas, they inadvertently spread fibers throughout enclosed spaces. According to the CDC, 2,669 mesothelioma cases were reported in the United States in 2022 alone, with asbestos exposure identified as the cause of most of them.

Common Asbestos-Containing Materials in Shipyards

Shipyard workers encountered asbestos in many forms throughout their workday. The following materials frequently contained asbestos:

Insulation: Pipe, boiler, and engine insulation required effective heat resistance, making asbestos the material of choice for decades. Workers who installed, repaired, or removed this insulation routinely disturbed the fibers.
Gaskets and packing: Shipbuilding materials, including gaskets, packing, and flooring tiles, regularly contained asbestos.
Protective gear: Ironically, some protective clothing meant to shield workers from heat, including gloves and aprons, contained asbestos fibers that could deteriorate and become airborne over time.
Other materials: Adhesives, cables, cement, paint, coatings, and textiles also contained asbestos throughout much of the industry’s peak production years.

Those who worked in naval shipyards between World War II and the Vietnam War were particularly at risk, as the U.S. Navy’s use of asbestos-containing thermal insulation was not phased out until the early 1970s.

Which Shipyard Jobs Carried the Highest Risk

While any worker present in a shipyard could have been exposed to asbestos, certain roles placed workers in direct and repeated contact with asbestos-containing materials. Insulators and pipe fitters frequently cut and shape asbestos insulation around pipes and other components, releasing clouds of fine dust. Welders and metal workers often disturbed existing asbestos materials through the heat and friction of their work. Electricians encountered asbestos in electrical panels, wiring insulation, and other components during routine installation and repair work.

Maintenance workers faced a less obvious but equally serious risk. Sweeping or using compressed air to clean areas contaminated with asbestos dust spreads fibers throughout workspaces, exposing not only themselves but everyone else in the area. Understanding OSHA’s asbestos worker safety standards makes clear just how little protection most shipyard workers had before regulations were put in place in the late 1980s, decades after many workers had already accumulated years of exposure.

Shipyards With a History of Asbestos Use

Numerous shipyards across the country relied on asbestos-containing materials for insulation, fireproofing, and other applications well into the 1980s. Many of the workers now diagnosed with mesothelioma can trace their exposure to one of these facilities:

Brooklyn Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Charleston Naval Shipyard
Bethlehem Steel Shipyards
Todd Shipyards

This is not an exhaustive list. Many private and commercial shipyards throughout New York, New Jersey, and across the country also used asbestos extensively during this era.

Your Legal Options After Shipyard Asbestos Exposure

If you were exposed to asbestos in a shipyard and have since developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may have several paths to compensation. If the company responsible for your exposure is still active, a personal injury claim may be appropriate. If the company has since filed for bankruptcy, compensation may be available through an asbestos trust fund established for that purpose. Our New York mesothelioma attorney will evaluate the details of your case to identify which claim type fits your situation.

U.S. Navy veterans may also have access to compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are well-versed in working alongside the VA and have helped many veterans navigate both benefits claims and civil litigation simultaneously. If you are a veteran who served aboard naval vessels and has since received a mesothelioma diagnosis, learn more about military occupations and asbestos exposure to understand how your service history may support your claim.

Contact The Williams Law Firm, P.C. About Your Shipyard Asbestos Claim

Mesothelioma has a latency period that can range from 20 to 50 years, which means many shipyard workers are only now beginning to feel the effects of exposures that occurred early in their careers. The time to act is now. We treat every case as our cause, and we will fight for every dollar of compensation you deserve, including coverage for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Joseph P. Williams has more than 30 years of experience handling asbestos exposure cases, and he has never lost a mesothelioma case. He will personally meet with you, evaluate your situation, and build a case tailored to your circumstances. To learn more about what sets us apart, visit our firm, and when you are ready to take the next step, complete our contact form to schedule your free consultation today.