Asbestos in the Navy

Over 300 asbestos products were used on essentially every ship commissioned between the 1930s and 1970s. The amount of heat generated in the confined areas in these vessels made asbestos the go-to insulating and fireproofing material of choice.

Unfortunately, asbestos materials used in any confined space results in exposure that may eventually cause mesothelioma or other asbestos related cancers.

Fortunately for Navy veterans with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers, these companies have been forced to set aside money in asbestos trust funds.

Asbestos use wasn’t limited to specific vessels. It had applications in virtually every ship from small patrol boats to aircraft carriers. Essentially, asbestos was used in almost every part of the ship.

Regardless of the type of vessel, asbestos was used in:

• Engine and Boiler Rooms
• Insulation
• Deck Tiles
• Firewalls and Doors
• Pipe Lagging and Pipefittings
• Gaskets, Valves and Pumps
• Wardrooms and Berthing Spaces
• Pump rooms
• Galleys and Mess Decks

This puts most Navy veterans at some level of risk to asbestos exposure, especially if they served prior to 1980. Finally, in the late 1970’s, the EPA and OSHA began implementing and enforcing safety standards for asbestos. As a result, asbestos was no longer produced in large capacities for Navy usage, but previous asbestos was still present and was slowly phased out of existing ships.

Learn more about asbestos exposure among Navy vets in our free Mesothelioma Guide.

Shipyard workers and sailors stationed on vessels going through overhaul are at the greatest risk for asbestos exposure in the Navy. This is because of the industrial nature of shipyard work. Everyone, from the Commanding Officer to the lowest ranking Seaman, would have had an increased risk during a shipyard availability period.

Work in shipyards tends to produce a large amount of asbestos dust, which puts everyone at risk regardless of whether they worked with asbestos personally. Similarly, many occupations onboard vessels would naturally have an increased risk.

Common Navy occupations, which have higher risks of asbestos exposure are:

Development of mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure is higher for these workers. The exposure rate is compounded due to working in confined spaces and the duration of exposure.

Navy Veterans are the largest single group of mesothelioma diagnoses in the country. Luckily, resources to help Navy veterans are widely available. Veteran Service Representatives are available to help with VA Claims.

Our VA Accredited Claims Agent, LCDR Carl Jewett, is a retired Navy veteran having spent most of his 24-year submarine career in the Engine Room. He is an expert at filing, and getting veterans approved for VA benefits for asbestos illnesses. Learn more about what Commander Jewett has to say in our free Veteran’s Support Guide.