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The latest statistics show that between 1980 and 2000, over 8,000 men and over 1,000 women died from Mesothelioma. If someone in your family has been affected by this grave disease, you may be legally entitled to financial compensation to help cover your losses.
A career in the navy has always been considered a brave and honorable choice. Many different types of careers have always been available to young men looking for a life in the navy. Numerous hazards are very well known when one is in the military which includes the incidents of war. However, there is one hazard which unfortunately was not well known to navy personnel. Many individuals were enrolled in the military during the early 20th century were exposed to the hazard of asbestos without proper warnings and safety measures in place.
The Navy was aware of the hazards of asbestos as early as the 1920’s. During the 1920’s, the Navy issued a bulletin placing workers that were exposed to asbestos in the danger occupation category. Over eighty years ago, the Navy was aware of asbestos related problems and continued to use the contaminant in their manufacturing for many years to come. During our country’s second World War, the Navy heavily boosted the manufacturing of its ships and with it, the usage of asbestos. Not until the 1970’s did the hazards of asbestos take precedence and navy personnel began to be required to wear respirators and other protective gear when working around asbestos.
During the 20th century, the U.S. Navy used asbestos in the construction of its ships mainly due to the favorable properties of the contaminant including its heat resistance and insulation capabilities. Asbestos was not only used in one section or portion of a naval ship. This contaminant was used across the ship and included areas that could seriously affect naval personnel such as sleeping quarters, mess halls, and navigation rooms. Asbestos was also used in boiler and engine rooms to better control high levels of heat that were created.
Many individual components on a navy ship such as aircraft carriers and battleships contained asbestos. Any type of component that required insulation potentially could have contained asbestos. Pipes, tubing, and cabling were normally insulated with asbestos. In sleeping quarters on many ships, navy personnel would reside right underneath large amounts of piping and cabling that would be covered with asbestos. In navigation areas, navy personnel would be exposed to asbestos containing components in the electrical equipment. In the engine rooms, countless materials contained asbestos including gaskets, valves, and hydraulic mechanisms.
Due to the fact that asbestos was used across naval ships, it became very likely that navy personnel would be exposed to the contaminant. Naval ships are always being maintained and worked on which would create the possibility of asbestos dust to be released and either inhaled or trapped onto clothing. During leaves, navy men and women could potentially transport the asbestos dust to family and friends causing them to be exposed to the contaminant.
Many modern day ships do not contain asbestos. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Navy Asbestos Control Program now prohibits the installation of asbestos containing materials on navy ships. However, this does not mean that older ships that are still in operation today do not have any asbestos materials on-board. Navy personnel are still at a risk when on these ships, especially for the technicians and engineers that work with legacy equipment that may contain asbestos. Navy personnel that are responsible for repairing or maintaining equipment such as brake mechanisms and hydraulic systems must be aware of the hazards of asbestos. These workers must make sure to protect themselves from potential exposure to asbestos, the contaminant causing mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other lung diseases. If you or a loved one is in the navy and has been exposed to asbestos, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention and then speak to an experienced asbestos attorney to understand your legal rights.