www.bergmanlegal.com Open in urlscan Pro
141.193.213.11  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content
Call us today, phones answered 24/7
206-957-9510
 * ABOUT US
   * Seattle Office
   * Portland Office
   * Settlements & Verdicts
   * Testimonials
 * ATTORNEYS
   * Matthew P. Bergman
   * Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund
   * Chandler H. Udo
   * Brendan Little
   * Justin Olson
   * Erica Bergmann
   * Ruby Aliment
   * Glenn S. Draper
 * MESOTHELIOMA
   * Washington Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Oregon Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Mesothelioma Compensation
     * Asbestos Trust Funds
 * ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
   * Occupational Asbestos Exposure
     * Construction Workers
     * Electricians
     * Foundry and Metal Workers
     * HVAC Workers
     * Plumbers and Pipefitters
   * Asbestos Job Sites in the Pacific Northwest
     * Foundries
     * Oil Refineries
     * Paper Mills
     * Power Plants
     * Shipyards
   * Asbestos Products
   * Asbestos and Lung Cancer
 * VETERANS & MESOTHELIOMA
   * VA Mesothelioma Benefits
   * U.S. Air Force
   * U.S. Army
   * U.S. Coast Guard
   * U.S. Marine Corps
   * U.S. Navy
 * RESOURCES
   * Blog
   * News
   * FAQs
   * Doctors and Treatment Centers
   * Newsletter
 * CONTACT

Menu
 * ABOUT US
   * Seattle Office
   * Portland Office
   * Settlements & Verdicts
   * Testimonials
 * ATTORNEYS
   * Matthew P. Bergman
   * Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund
   * Chandler H. Udo
   * Brendan Little
   * Justin Olson
   * Erica Bergmann
   * Ruby Aliment
   * Glenn S. Draper
 * MESOTHELIOMA
   * Washington Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Oregon Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Mesothelioma Compensation
     * Asbestos Trust Funds
 * ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
   * Occupational Asbestos Exposure
     * Construction Workers
     * Electricians
     * Foundry and Metal Workers
     * HVAC Workers
     * Plumbers and Pipefitters
   * Asbestos Job Sites in the Pacific Northwest
     * Foundries
     * Oil Refineries
     * Paper Mills
     * Power Plants
     * Shipyards
   * Asbestos Products
   * Asbestos and Lung Cancer
 * VETERANS & MESOTHELIOMA
   * VA Mesothelioma Benefits
   * U.S. Air Force
   * U.S. Army
   * U.S. Coast Guard
   * U.S. Marine Corps
   * U.S. Navy
 * RESOURCES
   * Blog
   * News
   * FAQs
   * Doctors and Treatment Centers
   * Newsletter
 * CONTACT

Call us today, phones answered 24/7
206-957-9510
 * ABOUT US
   * Seattle Office
   * Portland Office
   * Settlements & Verdicts
   * Testimonials
 * ATTORNEYS
   * Matthew P. Bergman
   * Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund
   * Chandler H. Udo
   * Brendan Little
   * Justin Olson
   * Erica Bergmann
   * Ruby Aliment
   * Glenn S. Draper
 * MESOTHELIOMA
   * Washington Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Oregon Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Mesothelioma Compensation
     * Asbestos Trust Funds
 * ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
   * Occupational Asbestos Exposure
     * Construction Workers
     * Electricians
     * Foundry and Metal Workers
     * HVAC Workers
     * Plumbers and Pipefitters
   * Asbestos Job Sites in the Pacific Northwest
     * Foundries
     * Oil Refineries
     * Paper Mills
     * Power Plants
     * Shipyards
   * Asbestos Products
   * Asbestos and Lung Cancer
 * VETERANS & MESOTHELIOMA
   * VA Mesothelioma Benefits
   * U.S. Air Force
   * U.S. Army
   * U.S. Coast Guard
   * U.S. Marine Corps
   * U.S. Navy
 * RESOURCES
   * Blog
   * News
   * FAQs
   * Doctors and Treatment Centers
   * Newsletter
 * CONTACT

Menu
 * ABOUT US
   * Seattle Office
   * Portland Office
   * Settlements & Verdicts
   * Testimonials
 * ATTORNEYS
   * Matthew P. Bergman
   * Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund
   * Chandler H. Udo
   * Brendan Little
   * Justin Olson
   * Erica Bergmann
   * Ruby Aliment
   * Glenn S. Draper
 * MESOTHELIOMA
   * Washington Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Oregon Mesothelioma Lawyers
   * Mesothelioma Compensation
     * Asbestos Trust Funds
 * ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
   * Occupational Asbestos Exposure
     * Construction Workers
     * Electricians
     * Foundry and Metal Workers
     * HVAC Workers
     * Plumbers and Pipefitters
   * Asbestos Job Sites in the Pacific Northwest
     * Foundries
     * Oil Refineries
     * Paper Mills
     * Power Plants
     * Shipyards
   * Asbestos Products
   * Asbestos and Lung Cancer
 * VETERANS & MESOTHELIOMA
   * VA Mesothelioma Benefits
   * U.S. Air Force
   * U.S. Army
   * U.S. Coast Guard
   * U.S. Marine Corps
   * U.S. Navy
 * RESOURCES
   * Blog
   * News
   * FAQs
   * Doctors and Treatment Centers
   * Newsletter
 * CONTACT


MARITIME WORKERS AND MESOTHELIOMA

Military and commercial ships often contain products made with asbestos. For
decades, manufacturers used this dangerous material to produce machinery and
parts for the maritime industry. Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses,
including a rare cancer form known as mesothelioma.




Maritime workers and members of the Navy play a vital role in protecting their
country and helping the supply chain run smoothly. Unfortunately, building,
operating, and repairing ships also can threaten workers’ safety and cause
permanent health damage. 

Many ship materials contain asbestos, a carcinogen popular in manufacturing
throughout much of the 20th century. This material can cause serious and
potentially fatal illnesses, including mesothelioma. Berman Oslund Udo Little is
dedicated to protecting the rights of workers exposed to asbestos. Thus, we
offer this information about the risks past and present maritime industry
workers face from asbestos exposure.


MARITIME WORKERS AND ASBESTOS

Until the 1980s, manufacturers commonly used asbestos in construction materials
and machinery for commercial and military ships. Navy veterans, shipyard
workers, and crew members who helped build, maintain, and load these vessels
often encountered asbestos as they performed their duties. 

Asbestos fibers can remain in a person’s lungs for years or decades, causing
significant scarring and inflammation. This damage may eventually develop into a
more serious illness, such as mesothelioma, a form of cancer that affects the
lungs. 

People with mesothelioma experience shortness of breath, coughing, pain, and
sometimes respiratory failure. Studies show that ship and shipyard workers have
some of the highest mortality rates among all mesothelioma patients because of
their heavy exposure.

Besides mesothelioma, maritime workers may also experience other health issues,
including: 

 * Asbestosis
 * Lung cancer
 * Cancer of the digestive organs, such as the colon
 * Cancer of the ovaries

Although the effects of these illnesses are often severe, they usually don’t
appear immediately. According to the Mayo Clinic, victims might live between 20
and 60 years before their mesothelioma or other asbestos-related symptoms
develop.




HOW ARE SHIP WORKERS EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS?

Asbestos was practically everywhere on ships and shipyards, including in the
cargo, machinery, floors, and walls. Until regulators intervened, many industry
workers faced regular and extended exposure with devastating effects. 


ASBESTOS PRODUCTS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY

Because of its heat resistance, manufacturers used asbestos in an array of
products on ships, where even small fires can mean disaster. Some of the items
that contained asbestos include: 

 * Insulation for boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes 
 * Gaskets and valves 
 * Paint, adhesives, plaster, and cement
 * Bulkhead systems and panels 
 * Electrical coils 
 * Brakes
 * Vinyl tile in decking and flooring
 * Engine room machinery

Many workers touched these materials while constructing ships or performing
maintenance and repairs. Workers who loaded, unloaded, and transported cargo
also risked exposure to the materials.


TYPES OF MARITIME JOBS THAT ARE AT RISK

Unfortunately, anyone who has worked in the maritime industry may have
encountered asbestos. However, exposure is especially prevalent for people in
certain roles. 

SHIPYARD WORKERS

Workers of every kind can come across asbestos in shipyards, even if they never
stepped onto a boat. If they’re involved in constructing ships or performing
maintenance or repairs, they may inhale asbestos fibers as they work on the
floors, walls, and machinery. Likewise, shipyard workers who load or unload
materials and parts containing asbestos might inhale fibers on the contents or
the wrapping materials. 



SHIP MAINTENANCE

Ship workers, including welders, pipefitters, and engine room workers, often
handle and use products containing asbestos. They operate, maintain, and repair
different vessel parts and work in enclosed areas with poor ventilation.
Materials containing asbestos include insulation, paint, and plaster. When these
materials are disturbed, the harmful fibers become airborne, and workers can
inhale them.



NAVY PERSONNEL

Navy members spend weeks or months confined to their ships, leaving them at an
extremely high risk of asbestos exposure. Sailors working in engine and boiler
rooms are among the most vulnerable. However, all Navy personnel could touch
asbestos-containing products or structures at sea. 



LONGSHOREMEN

Longshoremen and dock workers are responsible for loading and unloading ships,
putting them near machinery and structures that might contain asbestos.
Insulation, turbines, and electrical cables are some of the items that pose
dangers. In the past, asbestos also was often present in the cargo handled by
longshoremen. 



MERCHANT MARINES

As with other ships, builders used asbestos-containing materials to construct
Merchant Marine vessels. These ships transport cargo and passengers during
disasters and wars. Workers who constructed, repaired, and operated them may
become sick from asbestos exposure.




SECONDARY ASBESTOS EXPOSURE TO FAMILY MEMBERS

One of the most tragic aspects of maritime industry asbestos exposure is its
potential impact on workers’ family members. Secondary asbestos exposure occurs
when people who work in an environment with asbestos unknowingly bring the
fibers home on their clothing, skin, and hair. Their loved ones might inhale
these fibers and become ill with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related
diseases. 


HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY

The use of asbestos in ships was unchecked for decades until government agencies
and regulatory bodies worldwide finally intervened in the 1970s. The
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974 is one of the
most significant regulations because it limited and later prohibited
asbestos-containing products and materials on all vessels. 

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the
Environmental Protection Agency also have implemented rules and standards for
asbestos in the maritime industry. Although the government has not completely
banned the use of the mineral, it’s generally illegal for new vessels to contain
materials or products made with asbestos.

Regulators may no longer allow asbestos in shipbuilding, but that doesn’t mean
the danger is gone. For example, exposure is still possible for sailors who
spend extended periods living and working on older ships where asbestos is still
present. 




LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPING
MESOTHELIOMA AS A MARITIME WORKER

Maritime industry manufacturers were aware of the dangers of asbestos for many
years before they stopped using it. Asbestos-exposure victims can hold these
companies accountable for reckless and negligent behavior that ultimately
affected the health of thousands of workers.

If you’ve become ill from asbestos, you deserve support and compensation.
Patients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can seek a legal
settlement from the manufacturers responsible for creating and distributing
these dangerous products.  


SPREADING AWARENESS FOR MARITIME WORKERS

Whether someone worked in the maritime industry 50 years ago, is currently
employed on a ship, or plans to become a sailor, they must know about the
dangers of asbestos. When workers understand the potentially deadly effects of
asbestos, they can take a more proactive approach to protecting themselves and
monitoring their health.

Additionally, workers who have already developed mesothelioma or another
asbestos-related illness should know their legal options. We encourage you to
share this guide with anyone who might have been exposed to asbestos or who
might later come into contact with it. 



© 2023 Bergman Oslund Udo Little, PLLC
All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy 


Scroll to Top