Military and commercial ships often contain products made with asbestos. For decades, manufacturers used this dangerous material to produce machinery and parts for the maritime industry. Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses, including a rare cancer form known as mesothelioma.
Maritime workers and members of the Navy play a vital role in protecting their country and helping the supply chain run smoothly. Unfortunately, building, operating, and repairing ships also can threaten workers’ safety and cause permanent health damage.
Many ship materials contain asbestos, a carcinogen popular in manufacturing throughout much of the 20th century. This material can cause serious and potentially fatal illnesses, including mesothelioma. Berman Oslund Udo Little is dedicated to protecting the rights of workers exposed to asbestos. Thus, we offer this information about the risks past and present maritime industry workers face from asbestos exposure.
Maritime workers and asbestos
Until the 1980s, manufacturers commonly used asbestos in construction materials and machinery for commercial and military ships. Navy veterans, shipyard workers, and crew members who helped build, maintain, and load these vessels often encountered asbestos as they performed their duties. Understanding the effects of Asbestos on the body here.
Although the effects of these illnesses are often severe, they usually don’t appear immediately. According to the Mayo Clinic, victims might live between 20 and 60 years before their mesothelioma or other asbestos-related symptoms develop.
How Are Ship Workers Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos was practically everywhere on ships and shipyards, including in the cargo, machinery, floors, and walls. Until regulators intervened, many industry workers faced regular and extended exposure with devastating effects.
Asbestos Products in the Maritime Industry
Because of its heat resistance, manufacturers used asbestos in an array of products on ships, where even small fires can mean disaster. Some of the items that contained asbestos include:
- Insulation for boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes
- Gaskets and valves
- Paint, adhesives, plaster, and cement
- Bulkhead systems and panels
- Electrical coils
- Brakes
- Vinyl tile in decking and flooring
- Engine room machinery
Many workers touched these materials while constructing ships or performing maintenance and repairs. Workers who loaded, unloaded, and transported cargo also risked exposure to the materials.
Types of Maritime Jobs that Are at Risk
Unfortunately, anyone who has worked in the maritime industry may have encountered asbestos. However, exposure is especially prevalent for people in certain roles.
- Shipyard Workers
- Ship Maintenance
- Navy Personnel
- Longshoremen
- Merchant Marines
See a deep description of the jobs at risk here.
Health and Safety Regulations in the Maritime Industry
The use of asbestos in ships was unchecked for decades until government agencies and regulatory bodies worldwide finally intervened in the 1970s. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974 is one of the most significant regulations because it limited and later prohibited asbestos-containing products and materials on all vessels.
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