Ship Scrappers | Asbestos Exposure

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• History of asbestos exposure in ship scrappers
  

Ship Scrappers and Asbestos Exposure in the Ship Building Industry

Engaged in one of the more potentially lethal occupations involved in the shipbuilding trade - solely due to asbestos exposure and the amount of asbestos used in the construction of large ships, particularly before 1980 – ship scrappers remove salvageable equipment, metals, large parts and other valuable supplies from ships before those ships are destroyed or converted for other uses. Especially during times of war in America, when large battle ships returned to port for repairs during World War II and the Korean War, ship scrappers experienced significant, ongoing and intense exposure to asbestos, which can lead to asbestos-related diseases and conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer many years after exposure.

Due to the nature of asbestos, which has powerful heat-shielding and insulating capabilities, the mineral was used extensively in the construction of naval ships for battle and transportation until the federal government placed a moratorium on most asbestos products in the early 1970s. Installation and use of these products continued through the seventies and even into the 1980s. As a result, ship scrappers working in shipyards in the 1940s - 1970s had particularly high chances of encountering the mineral physically as they removed boilers, furnaces, hot water and steam pipes; reactors, and heat-insulating walls from naval vessels. Damaged equipment and ship structures that had ruptured or been torn asunder in battle posed particularly dangerous exposure levels, as the asbestos covering or coating the surfaces was loose and often airborne after being damaged. During the removal of parts and equipment, ship scrappers inhaled asbestos on a regular basis, often unknowingly collecting the fibers within their lungs, leading to devastating results years and even decades later.

Because asbestos exposure does not lead to mesothelioma oftentimes for many years, a good deal of the men and women formerly employed as ship scrappers and other shipyard workers are only now experiencing the effects of their prolonged exposure to asbestos. Manifesting as three different forms of mesothelioma – a form of cancer that causes malignant cells to develop in the protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs – as well as lung cancer and asbestosis, asbestos exposure most often leads to life-threatening and lethal illnesses. Unfortunately, most of the men and women who served as ship scrappers had no idea they were exposed to and inhaled the deadly particles and fibers. Although asbestos use in building materials and as a heat shield has been significantly reduced in new construction and is under serious governmental and environmental regulation today, many ships and buildings still contain asbestos from far in the past.

If you or a loved one has been employed as a ship scrapper and feel you have been exposed to asbestos during your work history, particularly if you know of other ship scrappers who have contracted mesothelioma, it is highly recommended that you seek counsel about your health condition and treatment and legal options. The Simmons firm cares about your situation and wants to help you with guidance and information. For the past decade, we have been assisting clients afflicted with mesothelioma in all its forms – we understand the pain a mesothelioma diagnosis can cause and truly desire to be of assistance to victims and families struggling with this disease. In numerous cases, those in charge of the shipbuilding process knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure, but did little to inform workers of the potential dangers involved with working with asbestos, and did not provide protective clothing or ventilation equipment for their workers.  Contact us today to learn more about treatment and diagnosis options.