The American Shipbuilding Co. was established in 1888 as Cleveland Shipbuilding. The company eventually acquired shipyards in Toledo, Ohio; Superior, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Buffalo, New York; and Wyandotte and West Bay City, Michigan. By World War II, American Shipbuilding had become the largest shipbuilding company on the Great Lakes, based in Lorain, Ohio.
Most Active During WWII
The American Shipbuilding Co. was quite active during World War II. The Lorain yard was the main facility, having two 1,000-long dry docks that could handle the huge ore carriers that traverse the Great Lakes.
The Lorain Yard was shut down in 1984 after crippling labor disputes. The yard site is being developed now for upscale housing.
Asbestos Exposure
The men and women who worked over the years at an American Shipbuilding yard in any of the locations listed above may have been at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that was used widely throughout the shipbuilding industry.
Asbestos-containing ship components and construction materials had a widespread presence in shipyards around the world. Before the stringent asbestos regulations were implemented in the 1980s, many shipyard employees inhaled asbestos fibers on a regular basis.
Asbestos exposure has been proven to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, among other types of illness. Shipyard workers have a significantly higher rate of mesothelioma compared to the general population.
Former American Shipbuilding Employees
If you're a former employee of the American Shipbuilding Company and you have concerns about asbestos exposure, contact us today and get the answers you need.
