Military Shipyard Personnel Asbestos Exposure

Full Role-by-Role Guide

From the 1930s through the late 1980s, U.S. naval shipyards—Norfolk, Puget Sound, Long Beach, Portsmouth, Philadelphia, San Diego, Mare Island, Charleston, and Coast Guard shipyards—were heavily contaminated with asbestos.

Shipyard workers repaired and overhauled:

• Navy ships

• Submarines

• Coast Guard cutters

• Marine landing craft

• Auxiliary vessels

• Propulsion systems

• Boilers & steam plants

• Electrical and mechanical systems

Confined ship compartments made asbestos exposure extremely dangerous.

Where Shipyards Contained Asbestos

Common Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) in Shipyards

• Pipe insulation & lagging

• Boiler brick & refractory

• Turbine insulation

• Gaskets & packing

• Fireproof bulkhead panels

• Electrical cable insulation

• ACM cement, tile & adhesives

• Spray-on fireproofing

• Valve insulation

• Pump housings

• Engine room insulation

Shipyard Engineering & Mechanical Trades

Machinists (Machine Shop & Shipboard)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Repairs pumps, valves, compressors, engines, and mechanical systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Valve packing

• Pump gaskets

• Turbine insulation

Boiler Makers / Boiler Repairmen

Typical Duties

🛠️ Rebuilds, removes, and installs ship boilers and steam plants

Asbestos Exposure

• Boiler refractory materials

• Pipe lagging

• Heat-resistant gaskets

Pipefitters / Steamfitters

Typical Duties

🛠️ Installs and repairs steam lines, valves, and heating systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Pipe insulation (lagging)

• ACM cement

• Valve packing fibers

Welders / Metal Fabricators

Typical Duties

🛠️ Welds steel structures, piping, and ship hull components

Asbestos Exposure

• Fireproof welding blankets

• ACM-coated bulkheads

• Pipe insulation near weld zones

Shipfitters

Typical Duties

🛠️ Cuts, shapes, and fits metal for ship structures

Asbestos Exposure

• Fire-resistant structural coating

• ACM adhesives

• Insulated compartments

Electrical Trades in Shipyards

Electricians

Typical Duties

🛠️ Installs wiring, panels, circuits, and electrical systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Asbestos cloth insulation

• Switchgear arc chutes

• Cable insulation

Electronics Technicians

Typical Duties

🛠️ Repairs ship electronics, navigation, radar & communication systems

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM wiring

• Electronic panel insulation

• Inhalation of dust in sealed compartments

Insulation & Fireproofing Trades

Asbestos Insulators (“Laggers”)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Applies and removes insulation from pipes, boilers & machinery

Asbestos Exposure

• Cutting insulation

• Spray-on fireproofing

• Wrapping steam lines

(Highest exposure of any shipyard occupation.)

Fireproofing Applicators

Typical Duties

🛠️ Applies fireproof coatings to bulkheads and steel structures

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM spray insulation

• Fire-resistant cement

• Coating degradation dust

Hull & Structural Repair Trades

Painters / Coaters

Typical Duties

🛠️ Paints ship interiors, hulls, and equipment

Asbestos Exposure

• Sanding ACM coatings

• Old paint removal dust

• Insulation fibers trapped in compartments

Carpenters / Joiners

Typical Duties

🛠️ Installs walls, floors, ceilings, and interior structures

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM ceiling tile

• Decking adhesives

• Wallboard paneling

Shipwrights

Typical Duties

🛠️ Builds and repairs ship structures and interior spaces

Asbestos Exposure

• Lagging dust

• ACM fireproofing

• Insulated panel cutting

Shipboard Maintenance & Overhaul Personnel

Engine Room Repair Crews

Typical Duties

🛠️ Overhauls engines, turbines, boilers & propulsion systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Engine insulation

• High-temp gaskets

• Turbine lagging

Damage Control Technicians

Typical Duties

🛠️ Repairs bulkheads, firefighting systems & watertight integrity

Asbestos Exposure

• Fireproof asbestos cloth

• Damaged insulation

• Smoke-laden ACM debris during fire drills

Riggers

Typical Duties

🛠️ Moves heavy machinery, installs equipment, supports repairs

Asbestos Exposure

• Fiber release in mechanical rooms

• Moving old insulated components

Dry Dock & Shipyard Yard Workers

Crane Operators & Deckplate Laborers

Typical Duties

🛠️ Moves materials, equipment, and parts around shipyards

Asbestos Exposure

• Contaminated dust in open-air yards

• Residue from dismantled insulation

• Ship hull sanding debris

Sandblasters & Abrasive Blasters

Typical Duties

🛠️ Removes paint and coatings from ship surfaces

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM coatings

• Hull insulation dust

• Fireproofing residues

Civilian Shipyard Workers (EXTREME Exposure)

(Most Navy shipyards used civilian labor.)

Civilian Electricians, Welders, Pipefitters, Machinists, Carpenters

Typical Duties

🛠️ Assist in shipbuilding, repair, overhaul, and modernization

Asbestos Exposure

• Cutting, sanding, and removing ACM insulation

• Confined compartment work

• Legacy ships built with heavy asbestos use

Why Shipyard Personnel Faced Extreme Asbestos Risk

Key Reasons

• Navy ships were loaded with asbestos, especially pre-1980

• Confined compartments trapped fibers for decades

• Cutting, grinding, welding, and insulation removal released fibers

• Overhauls commonly disturbed ACM in every room

• No respiratory protection required until the mid-1980s

• Demolition of WWII-era ships created massive fiber exposure

Compensation Options for Shipyard Personnel

VA Disability Benefits

Most mesothelioma cases qualify for 100% VA disability.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over $32 billion available nationwide.

Shipyard Asbestos Lawsuits

Claims target asbestos manufacturers, not the Navy or DoD.

Free Case Review for Military Shipyard Personnel

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for a free, confidential case review.