As Seattle grew into its fertile lands and bustling ports, Bremerton was growing on the other side of Puget Sound. The yard was established in 1891 as a resupply station. With the onset of World War I, the yard began constructing its own Pacific fleet of ships – submarines, submarine chasing vessels, minesweepers, and so forth. Throughout World War II, the yard focused on repairing vessels damaged in the Pacific theater. Later in its history, the yard would retrofit existing vessels, and even be home to a nuclear submarine. With so much Naval history, it’s easy to see the great benefits the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has had for this country. The drawbacks, unfortunately, are less visible.
The use of asbestos in shipbuilding is widely known. At the time of most robust construction, the danger of asbestos was also well understood. Beginning as early as the 30’s, industry leaders were finding a link between asbestos exposure and cancer. Despite this, industries failed to protect their employees. In fact, many of them didn’t even warn of the danger. Shipyards, in particular, where working spaces are tight and ventilation is low, put employees at significant risk. Asbestos is used in ship boiler rooms as insulation. Further, asbestos-based sprays and foams are used to provide fire protection to the rest of the ship. Production schedules often meant artisans of all varieties were working in the same areas, breathing the same air, all being exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos causes lung cancer, mesothelioma, and a whole variety of other respiratory ailments. This has been documented for decades. When asbestos becomes airborne, as is the case during spray installations, or as the material is cut or broken, its true danger becomes manifest. Inhaling asbestos exposes the lungs to fibers that are incredibly difficult for the body to handle. The lungs work to extract the fibers, doing damage in the process. The fibers, on their end, are very stubborn. As the lungs continue to work to vacate the alien particles, the damage accumulates. This damage can evolve into cancer given enough time. When that cancer penetrates the lining of the lungs and begins to infect the outer layers of the organs, it has become mesothelioma. It quickly spreads to other organ linings. Because of its location outside the major organs, it can be difficult to treat. Further, because it’s an infection of the chest and body cavity, attempts by the body to combat the illness result in a great deal of pain.
Respirators could have prevented most of the serious asbestos exposure experienced by workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Regulators have finally caught up with the danger of the material – however, there are countless employees who were unknowingly exposed that still deserve justice. If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, we can help you. Schedule a free consultation – we can discuss your condition and your legal options. From there, we’ll worry about the rest – you have more significant concerns.