⚓ Military Yards and Asbestos Exposure
How Shipyards, Motor Yards, and Supply Yards Exposed Veterans to Deadly Asbestos Dust
⚠️ Overview: Asbestos Use in Military Yards
U.S. military yards—including military salvage yards, shipyards, motor pools, vehicle yards, and supply storage yards—were central to military readiness and logistics. From the 1930s through the 1980s, these facilities were built and operated using countless asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) to insulate, protect, and fireproof equipment, buildings, and infrastructure.
Unfortunately, service members, civilian workers, and mechanics who spent time in these yards were routinely exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, especially during maintenance, welding, repair work, or vehicle overhaul. Today, many of these individuals are facing diagnoses of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
🛠️ Types of Military Yards With Asbestos Hazards
| Yard Type | Common Asbestos Exposure Sources |
|---|---|
| Shipyards | Boiler insulation, pipe lagging, fireproof panels, engine room gaskets |
| Motor Pools & Vehicle Yards | Brake pads, clutch linings, gaskets, engine insulation |
| Ammunition & Supply Yards | Insulated storage containers, roofing panels, fireproofing |
| Aircraft Maintenance Yards | Heat shields, brake systems, aircraft engine parts |
| Depot Yards | Industrial furnaces, repair facilities, electrical panels |
| Utility Yards | Asbestos cement piping, electrical wiring insulation |
🧱 Common Asbestos Materials Used in Military Yards
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Thermal insulation on pipes, turbines, and boilers
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Brake and clutch components in military vehicles
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Floor tiles and adhesives in maintenance buildings
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Roofing materials on storage sheds and hangars
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Gaskets and valves in engines and plumbing
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Spray-on fireproofing in machine shops and ship holds
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Asbestos cement panels on walls and ceilings
🧍 Who Was at Risk?
| Role | Exposure Risk |
|---|---|
| Shipyard workers | Engine room repairs, insulation replacement, welding work |
| Vehicle mechanics | Replacing brakes and clutches, sanding gaskets |
| Welders & pipefitters | Worked around insulated piping and flanges |
| Electricians | Contact with arc chutes, switchgear, and wiring insulation |
| Storage crews | Handling contaminated containers or old building materials |
| Supervisors & military personnel | Long-term exposure inside contaminated yards and offices |
Even brief assignments in these areas could result in exposure, especially during repairs, demolition, or poorly ventilated work in engine compartments.
🏗️ Notable Military Yards With Known Asbestos Exposure
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Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Virginia) – Major site of asbestos exposure in ship repair and retrofitting
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Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Washington) – Repair yards for submarines and surface ships
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Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (Hawaii) – Used asbestos in vessels and building structures
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Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (Pennsylvania) – Ship construction and overhauls
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San Diego Naval Base (California) – Repair yards with heavy insulation usage
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Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (California) – Vehicle and machinery overhaul
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Red River Army Depot (Texas) – Truck and tank refurbishment with brake and clutch exposure
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Anniston Army Depot (Alabama) – Maintenance of tracked and wheeled vehicles with asbestos-containing parts
🏭 Asbestos Companies That Supplied Materials to Military Yards
Many manufacturers knowingly supplied asbestos-containing products used in military yards:
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Johns-Manville – Pipe insulation, cement panels, fireproofing
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Raybestos-Manhattan – Brake linings, clutch facings
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Owens Corning – Thermal insulation and duct wrap
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W.R. Grace & Co. – Spray-on fireproofing for structural steel
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General Motors (AC Delco) – Brakes and engine gaskets
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Armstrong World Industries – Asbestos flooring in offices and shops
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National Gypsum – Wallboard and ceiling tiles
🩺 Health Risks from Yard-Based Asbestos Exposure
Military yard exposure can lead to:
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Mesothelioma – Cancer of the lung lining or abdominal cavity
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Asbestosis – Scarring of lung tissue from fiber inhalation
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Lung Cancer – Often occurring years after high-level exposure
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Pleural Diseases – Thickening and fluid buildup in the lungs
Symptoms may not appear until 20–50 years after initial exposure, making early legal and medical assistance crucial.
📞 Support and Help
If you or a loved one worked in a military yard or depot and later developed an asbestos-related illness, free legal and medical help is available. You may be entitled to substantial compensation, even decades after leaving service.
👨⚖️ How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help
An asbestos attorney can help by:
• Identifying job sites and yard locations where exposure occurred
• Investigating which products and manufacturers were present
• Filing claims against asbestos trust funds or lawsuits
• Representing surviving families in wrongful death claims
• Meeting all legal deadlines
• Charging no fees unless compensation is awarded
⚡ Free Legal Help for Veterans Who Develop Mesothelioma
If you or a loved one served or worked in a military yard and developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
📞 Call Now: 800.291.0963
• No upfront costs
• No fees unless we win
• We identify asbestos products and job site exposure
• Help for yard workers, mechanics, electricians, and veterans
📩 Or request help online 24/7