Asbestos on Navy Ships

High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs on Navy Ships

Some Navy personnel were more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos aboard a ship. Certain jobs required that sailors work around asbestos every day for hours on end.

“It is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time.”

– National Cancer Institute (NCI)

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), all of the Navy jobs listed below had a “probable” or “highly probable” risk of asbestos exposure. These veterans are more likely to develop asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

• Boiler Technicians
• Hull Maintenance Technicians
• Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen
• Pipefitters
• Shipyard Workers

Boiler Technicians

Boiler technicians work on the steam boilers that propel Navy ships. Before the 1980s, most boilers were either made of asbestos or relied on asbestos-containing insulation and gaskets. Navy boilermakers also often wore gloves laced with asbestos to tend the boiler.

Hull Maintenance Technicians

Hull maintenance technicians (HTs) are responsible for installing and repairing valves and plumbing systems on the ships. They often worked around asbestos-containing insulation and pipe gaskets.

Many Navy HTs served as welders, often removing asbestos insulation before performing a welding repair.

Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen

Machinist’s mates and enginemen service the equipment that powers a ship. They repair turbines, valves, pumps, and heating and air conditioning systems. They also repair components of engines and generators. Working in engine rooms for long periods exposed these veterans to asbestos from piping, insulation, adhesives, and gaskets.

Pipefitters

Navy pipefitters often removed damaged asbestos pipes and installed new ones. Their work often sent asbestos dust flying into the air. Pipefitters were also at risk of exposure from the thermal insulation used in the pipes.

Shipyard Workers

Those who worked on Navy and Coast Guard vessels in shipyards were also in danger of asbestos exposure. Shipyard workers built, renovated, and destroyed ships, releasing asbestos into the air on a regular basis.

Below, see where Navy shipyards were located throughout the country.

High-Risk Asbestos Jobs on Coast Guard Ships

Asbestos materials were also used to build Coast Guard vessels between the 1930s and 1980. Because of this, Coast Guard veterans who served aboard these ships are at risk of mesothelioma.

Coast Guard members who served in the jobs listed above were more likely to have had a high rate of asbestos exposure, according to the VA.

Navy Asbestos Abatement Programs

After learning of the dangers of asbestos exposure in the 1980s, the U.S. government undertook a massive asbestos abatement effort. Asbestos abatement removed most of the asbestos on Navy and Coast Guard ships.

Asbestos abatement involves:

1. Assessment: The Navy determined how much asbestos needed to be removed from its ships. It was not time- or cost-effective to remove all of it.
2. Action: The Navy removed or encapsulated (safely sealed) damaged asbestos products on ships to prevent exposure. Not all of the asbestos on Navy ships needed to be removed. Asbestos-based products only pose a threat when damaged or disturbed.
3. Disposal: Any asbestos removed by the Navy was properly disposed of at hazardous waste sites.

Sadly, these abatement efforts took time and veterans were still being exposed to asbestos well into the 1990s.

Benefits for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

If you developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on a Navy ship, there may be VA benefits like financial compensation and free treatment available to you.

Our Veteran Support Team can help you file a VA claim to receive these benefits.

Filing a VA claim can help you:

• Access caregiver compensation and survivor pensions
• Get health care from experienced mesothelioma doctors
• Receive monthly payments that make up for lost wages or medical costs
• Save money for your family’s future

Navy veterans with mesothelioma usually qualify for a 100% disability rating. This means you may get more compensation and first priority for VA medical care.

Get help with filing a VA benefits claim now.