Mesothelioma is a common disease in shipyard workers. This is because the U.S. shipbuilding industry had their employees use hundreds of asbestos-laden products as components of the ships they were building, especially during the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Mesothelioma in shipyard workers is a direct result of the asbestos exposure that the employees received day after day, often for years or even decades at a time.

Asbestos in Shipyards

Mesothelioma in an individual shipyard worker begins when he or she inhales the tiny asbestos fibers that are released into the air when the asbestos is disturbed. Sometimes that release is caused by a manufacturing process, or by manipulation of the product (including asbestos removal), and especially by the aging and deterioration of asbestos. Asbestos is particularly dangerous when it is crumbling, or "friable."

Installation, Repair, Removal

Thousands of shipyard workers have dealt with asbestos in its varied states. Sometimes an asbestos-containing product such as boiler or plumbing insulation must be installed on a ship, repaired or replaced, or removed from an old ship. These times provide the opportunity for toxic asbestos fibers to be released into the air.

Shockingly, some former shipyard workers remember moving through actual "clouds" of asbestos dust on their jobs. Many know of coworkers who have already died from mesothelioma. Nowadays, shipyard workers are often acutely aware of the incidence of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

Many Shipyard Jobs Involve Asbestos

Shipyards are the facilities that make and repair commercial or military ships that are at least 65 feet long. Building a ship involves tasks such as:

• Boilermaking
• Plumbing
• Pipefitting
• Electrical work
• Sandblasting
• Machine work
• Welding
• Painting
• Steel fabrication
• Carpentry
• Engineering

Military and Civilian Shipyard Workers

All of the shipyard workers in these professions may have been exposed to asbestos, whether in a civilian or military capacity. In recent years, mesothelioma is being diagnosed in shipyard workers at an alarming rate. This is because is usually takes decades for mesothelioma to develop and be diagnosed. Thousands of shipyard workers are now showing the symptoms of mesothelioma.

Learn More about Mesothelioma in Shipyard Workers

If you worked in a shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or if your loved one has had a similar experience, it's a good idea to learn more about the resources available to you. Contact us today to learn more.