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If you work with equipment that might heat up and eventually catch fire, you should know that the respective equipment needs insulation to work at maximum capacity.
One of the most used and most effective insulators in the last two centuries was asbestos. The mineral was cheap and elastic, and it was used in the shipbuilding process or during the repairs performed on ships.
Many veterans who served the country in the 19th and 20th centuries found out after 15-50 years that they have asbestos-related cancer like:
- bronchial cancer
- lung cancer
- laryngeal cancer
- gastrointestinal cancer
- pharyngeal cancer
- mesothelioma
- colorectal cancer
- esophageal cancer
- urogenital cancer
Veterans diagnosed with the abovementioned cancers qualify for compensation and may file claims with the asbestos trust funds and the VA.
An electrician's mate or instrumentman has the role of operating and maintaining the power systems located on a ship. They deal with everything that is related to the electrical components and the wiring system:
- generators
- circuits
- turbines
- switchboards
Their activity is performed in almost every department that contains wires, lights, and other electrical items. Asbestos exposure took place after many hours of working on tasks like:
- installing power and lighting circuits
- reparation of the distribution circuits
- inspecting and testing the electric power equipment
Unfortunately, their work was performed mainly indoors, so asbestos exposure was facilitated because of the poor ventilation of these rooms.
Michael B., electrician's mate on USS Oriskany CV-34, declared that this job was extremely dangerous: "While we were maintaining the electric motors, the storage batteries or the shipboard elevator systems, we were exposed to asbestos." As a consequence, he is now suffering from an asbestos-related illness.
Another testimonial from Keith C. - "I was an Electrician's Mate onboard the USS Yosemite AD 19 from 1982-84. I have spent many hours working in the propulsion spaces, standing watches, and repairing just about everything. I went on to the USS Conyngham DDG 17 as a second-class Electrician continuing electrical work throughout the ship. I have been exposed to asbestos on both ships."
We can offer assistance for Navy veterans who fulfilled duty on the ships built before 1980 by putting them in touch with skilled lawyers ready to help with their claims.