Phillyship shipyard is located in Portsmouth, Virginia and serves as one of the many facilities in the area that works on ship and marine building. Phillyship is a facility with hundreds of employees who oftentimes work under hazardous conditions to get their work done in a timely and cost efficient manner.
Employees at the Phillyship shipyard work in a variety of fields including:
- Welding
- Fireproofing
- Insulating
- Coating
Workers at many shipyards, including Phillyship, risk being exposed to asbestos since they are working in close-quarters with products that typically contain the material. Asbestos has been deemed a cancer-causing substance and is, in fact, the only known cause of a fatal cancer known as mesothelioma.
The Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Phillyship Shipyard employees are among the workers that are most susceptible to asbestos exposure since they often work with and around products containing asbestos. Before the dangers of asbestos became evident, the material was commonly and extensively used in the building of ships as insulation and a fire retardant.
For those that are exposed to asbestos fibers, the risks can be high and the effects can be fatal. The most common illnesses linked to asbestos are mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Many shipyard workers can also unknowingly put their loved ones at risk of secondhand exposure by carrying asbestos fibers home on their clothing.
Many shipyard workers aren’t aware of their exposure to asbestos until it is too late since symptoms of illnesses like mesothelioma don’t become apparent until decades after the initial exposure. For this reason, many shipyard workers often aren’t even aware that they’re being exposed to a toxic substance until they are diagnosed years later in their life.
Living with an Asbestos Related Illness
Living with an asbestos related illness can typically be a mentally and physically straining experience. Although there is no cure for illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis, researchers and doctors are continually looking to find better treatments for those who have become victims of asbestos exposure.
If you are a former employee of a Phillyship and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related illness, please contact us today to learn more about the options available to you and your loved ones.
