Shipyards: Were They Infested With Asbestos?

Those involved with the construction and repair of materials containing asbestos are considered most at risk for contracting Mesothelioma. Civilian janitors, maids and construction workers are among the most likely to endure the most exposure to asbestos when working with materials and in environments built prior to the 1980s. It is well known that thousands of war veterans suffer from the cancer of the mesothelium, but another group at risk are those who worked on vessels in the shipyards. A Mesothelioma lung cancer attorney can advocate on behalf of retired shipyard workers. Data from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine reports that 86% of shipyard workers with twenty or more years of experience working on Navy vessels have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer or other forms of asbestos diseases. That ratio is too hard to pass off as coincidence, and fighting for the rights of ship yard workers has become a necessity.

The levels of asbestos were extremely dangerous in Navy shipyards due to the nature of how asbestos is contracted. The dusty air created by the repair and construction of vessels containing asbestos is one of the easiest ways to inhale large amounts of the toxic substance. Mesothelioma doctors insist inhalation is the easiest way for asbestos to accumulate inside your body. Tear out jobs were the most dangerous and created the most dust. Tons of asbestos were used in Navy vessels because it was cheap, plentiful and had fire-resistant properties. It could be used in anything from cloth and insulation, to cement.

During the 1970s when asbestos use was at its height, manufacturers failed to warn workers about the known dangers of their products. Simple measures could have been used for workers to protect themselves, yet they were not given this opportunity. Some workers have reported that asbestos dust literally caked the ground, so imagine what the inside of their lungs looked like after 20+ years! A pleural mesothelioma lawyer can help retired shipyard workers fight for the treatment and compensation they deserve.