⚓ San Diego Naval Base

Barracks, Workshops & Repair Risks

The Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) — often called the “Home of the Pacific Fleet” — has served as one of the U.S. Navy’s largest ship maintenance and training centers since 1922. While it played a critical role in national defense, it also became a significant asbestos exposure site for thousands of sailors, shipyard workers, and contractors. From ship repairs to housing construction, asbestos was widely used in insulation, gaskets, and building materials across the base for decades.

📞 Were you stationed or employed at San Diego Naval Base? Call 800.291.0963 today for free exposure verification and claim help.

🧭 Step 1 – Why San Diego Became an Asbestos Hotspot

San Diego’s large-scale ship maintenance operations made asbestos essential for fire and heat resistance.

Common uses of asbestos included:

• ⚙️ Insulation around pipes, boilers, and turbines.

• 🧱 Fireproof panels in ship compartments and workshops.

• 💨 Heat shielding in propulsion systems and engine rooms.

• 🏗️ Building materials for base housing and administrative offices.

Goal: Understand how widespread asbestos use created daily exposure risks throughout the base.

🏗️ Step 2 – High-Risk Areas Across Naval Base San Diego

Exposure was not limited to ship repairs — it extended across many departments.

Documented exposure zones:

• ⚓ Engine and boiler maintenance shops.

• ⚙️ Machine and pipefitting workshops.

• 🧱 Dry docks and repair slips.

• 💨 Power and utility plants.

• 🏗️ Barracks, mess halls, and base housing.

Goal: Identify which facilities or workspaces you used to strengthen your exposure record.

⚙️ Step 3 – Ships Serviced at San Diego With Known Asbestos Materials

The base hosted and repaired numerous vessels that contained asbestos.

Examples include:

• ⚓ USS Midway (CV-41): Propulsion, insulation, and control-room asbestos.

• 💨 USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63): Turbine and pipe insulation throughout the ship.

• 🧱 USS Constellation (CV-64): Gaskets, boiler lagging, and valve packing.

• ⚙️ Destroyer and Frigate classes: Asbestos in engine rooms and bulkheads.

• 🚢 Submarines and auxiliary vessels: Asbestos insulation in confined compartments.

Goal: Link your ship assignment to its maintenance history at NBSD for verified exposure.

💬 Step 4 – Occupations and Ratings With Highest Exposure

Thousands of tradesmen and Navy specialists handled asbestos materials daily.

High-risk positions:

• 🧰 Boiler Technicians (BTs) and Machinist’s Mates (MMs).

• ⚙️ Pipefitters, Steamfitters, and Shipfitters.

• 💨 Electricians and Damage Controlmen.

• 🧱 Insulators, Painters, and Welders.

• 🪖 Construction Battalion (Seabees) and Base Maintenance Staff.

Goal: Match your rating or role to known exposure categories in Navy records.

🏛️ Step 5 – Base Infrastructure and Housing Exposure

Many base buildings and residential units used asbestos materials.

Common sources included:

• 🧱 Ceiling and floor tiles in barracks and offices.

• ⚙️ Boiler-room insulation in older base structures.

• 💨 HVAC ducts and furnace linings.

• 🏗️ Asbestos cement panels and roofing materials.

• 💬 Kitchen and galley insulation in mess halls.

Goal: Document exposure both at work and in living quarters.

🩺 Step 6 – Health Conditions Linked to San Diego Exposure

Veterans and shipyard personnel from San Diego have been diagnosed with:

• 🫁 Mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal).

• 💨 Asbestosis and pleural plaques.

• ⚕️ Lung, throat, and gastrointestinal cancers.

• 🩺 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Goal: Secure medical documentation confirming asbestos-related illness from service or employment.

⚖️ Step 7 – Filing Claims for San Diego Naval Base Exposure

To file successfully:

1. 🧾 Collect DD-214 or base employment records confirming NBSD service.

2. ⚙️ Obtain pathology or imaging reports showing asbestos-related disease.

3. 💬 Include ship maintenance or base environmental records.

4. 🏛️ Submit both VA and asbestos trust-fund claims.

5. 🕊️ Add witness statements or “buddy letters” where possible.

Goal: Establish a clear link between your duties and documented asbestos exposure.

🌈 Step 8 – Civilian and Contractor Exposure

Civilians employed by the Navy or private shipyard contractors faced similar hazards.

Common roles:

• 🧱 Insulators, machinists, and repair technicians.

• ⚙️ Painters and welders.

• 💨 Electricians and maintenance staff.

• 🏗️ Ship cleaners and construction workers.

Goal: Civilian workers are eligible for asbestos trust-fund and state-level compensation.

🕊️ Step 9 – Family and Secondary Exposure

Asbestos dust was often carried home on uniforms or gear.

Secondary exposure examples:

• 💬 Family members handling contaminated laundry.

• 🏡 Living in on-base housing with asbestos ceiling or floor tiles.

• 🧱 Shared exposure from nearby shipyard renovations.

Goal: Include household exposure information in survivor or dependent claims.

💼 Step 10 – Preserving Evidence for Your San Diego Claim

Recommended actions:

• 🗂️ Request Navy or DoD environmental surveys for NBSD.

• ⚙️ Retrieve ship repair logs and maintenance documents.

• 💬 Collect photos or coworker statements from service years.

• 🧾 Maintain certified copies for both VA and trust-fund filings.

Goal: Keep all relevant records secure for successful claim processing.

🤝 Where to Get Help

Our legal and veterans’ advocates specialize in San Diego Naval Base asbestos claims, helping veterans and civilians recover full compensation for exposure-related illnesses.

📞 Call 800.291.0963 today for free case evaluation and document retrieval assistance.

🧭 Summary

For over half a century, the San Diego Naval Base was a center of U.S. naval excellence — and a major asbestos exposure site. Sailors, technicians, and civilian workers unknowingly inhaled toxic fibers that still affect lives today.

Your service protected the nation; now it’s time to protect your health and family.
800.291.0963