If you worked for the military before the late 1970s, you were exposed to high amounts of asbestos. The dangerous products were used in virtually every area of navy ships, including areas you wouldn’t expect it to be used such as on mess decks. Asbestos was also used in other areas military personnel worked in.
Gunmen, boilermen, and firemen working and living aboard ships were highly susceptible to inhaling asbestos. Those who had the highest exposure, though, are the people who built the ships, tradesmen such as:
- Pipefitters
- Mechanics
- Shipfitters
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Welders
- Boilermakers
Areas of The Military Where Asbestos Products Were Most Likely Found
- Airships
- Amphibious ships
- Auxiliary ships
- Battleships
- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Cruisers
- Destroyers
- Destroyer escorts
- Escort aircraft carriers
- Frigates, minesweepers
- Patrol boats
- Submarines
Risk of Asbestos Exposure on Ships
| High | Engine & boiler rooms Damage control & pump rooms |
| Medium | Ward room Powder & shot hoist Powder & shot magazine Turrets 1, 2 & 3 |
| Low | Junior officer quarters Anchor windlass room Pilot house Captain's sea cabin Mess deck Admiral's cabin Battery directors |
Commonly Used Military Products That Contain Asbestos
- Instruments
- Meters
- Panels
- askets
- Insulating Materials
- Packing Material
- Prefabricated-forms
- Tubes
- Cables
- Capacitors
- Paper-dielectric capacitors
- Mixes
- Block Insulation
- Pipe covering
- Adhesives
- Insulation felts
- Thermal materials
- Deck covering materials
- Refractory
- Mortar
- Aggregate mixtures
- Rods
- Valves
- Boilers
- Grinders
- Bonds
- Compounds
- Bedding compounds
- Coatings
- Packing assemblies
- Hydraulic assemblies
- Cement
- Brake linings
- Roof shingles
- Flooring products
- Textiles
