Shipyards

During World War II and continuing until the early 1970's, asbestos products were extensively used in shipyards for ship construction and ship repair.  Shipyard work typically involves multiple trades working in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces.  For 50 years, asbestos products were used without any safety precautions or equipment, and the dust in this environment has been repeatedly described as heavy, uncontrolled dust which frequently looked like a snowstorm.  Asbestos products were used throughout the ships to insulate pipes, machinery and equipment, to cover the floors and ceilings, and to build the bulkheads.  Virtually every trade in the shipyards came in contact with asbestos products by either directly handling, cutting mixing these products or working in the same area where the dust from asbestos products was being created by other trades.  Supervisors, maintenance workers, skilled craftsmen and virtually anyone on board ships were all exposed to significant concentrations of asbestos without any knowledge of the potential dangers of this exposure.