Signalmen and Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos-containing materials were present in U.S. Navy ships throughout the last century, but programs for asbestos elimination only began in the 1980s. Even though the Navy has put great effort into removing most asbestos from ships, some asbestos still remains on these vessels.

Fires were a potentially devastating threat to Navy assets and personnel, making the extensive use of asbestos insulation an essential aspect of shipbuilding. The toxic mineral was the military's first choice, given its ability to contain heat and prevent fires, and it was also a very affordable option. However, asbestos's toxicity wasn't discovered until the 1960s, and it was a secret well-kept by manufacturing companies over an extended period. By the time the Navy became aware of the deadly truth about asbestos, thousands of veterans were exposed to hazardous asbestos fibers.

Although all military branches used asbestos products, exposing former service members to various degrees, Navy veterans were the most at risk of asbestos exposure and the highest risk of developing illnesses stemming from it, including Signalmen (SM), also named "Sigs" or "Flags." One of the terrible aspects of asbestos diseases is their decades-long latency period. When the first symptoms emerge, the disease has usually reached advanced stages, with some of the cases evolving into cancerous conditions, such as:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Former naval personnel diagnosed with the malignancies listed above become immediately eligible for claims and qualify for expedited compensation if they have proof of asbestos exposure and medical documents stating one of these cancers.

Serving in the Shadow of Asbestos Exposure

With more than 300 asbestos-containing products used on all naval vessels, everyone onboard was at risk of inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos particles.

Ongoing maintenance and repairs were part of the ship's everyday life, routinely disturbing asbestos and generating the white asbestos dust many veterans remember. The most significant risk areas were the below-deck spaces, which had tight quarters and poor ventilation. This combination allowed asbestos dust to accumulate everywhere service members worked, slept, and ate.

The SM rating is one of the oldest in the Navy, existing before WW2. The ship convoys had to be silent as they moved across the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea so submarines could not detect them, and they relied on the SM's skills to send messages out because the enemy could intercept radio communications.

Signalmen were sailors specializing in visual communication and were involved in all ship communications, from setting up a beach communications station between ships and shore to signaling with the signal light for communication back and forth between vessels. It was a job that combined visual communications and advanced lookout skills and included responsibilities such as:

• using the semaphore light
• passing messages with the Morse code
• standing watches on the bridge
• identifying flags of other vessels
• operating searchlights and range finder
• keeping track of formations during maneuvering
• determining surface and air contacts
• reading ships' semaphore signals with the telescope
• sending and receiving signals by flag and blinker

The Navy disestablished the SM rating in late 2003, reassigning visual communications duties to the Quartermaster rating. Signalmen and Quartermasters were cross-trained on small ships to do each other's jobs. Thus, a QM could transmit and receive visual signals, and an SM could navigate. The SMs were used on larger ships as a visual backup to the CIC.

Permanent Health Damage After Service on Navy Ships

Asbestos's devastating impact on Navy personnel's health is reflected in the increasing number of veterans suffering from the effects of prolonged exposure to asbestos dust. Working and living around asbestos on naval vessels built before the 1980s often results in non-cancerous asbestos diseases such as:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Even though these benign illnesses don't qualify a veteran for compensation, it is best to check them periodically, as they tend to evolve into cancer. Regular chest X-rays, CT scans, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) can help discover in time if these diseases turn cancerous, and a cancer diagnosis makes veterans eligible for claims.

Chest X-rays are useful screening tools to identify lung changes resulting from asbestos exposure. In persons who were in direct contact with asbestos over a long period, scarring of the lung tissue is primarily seen on chest-X rays. PFTs and CT scans can additionally assist in the diagnostic process. Because asbestos-related health problems usually develop within decades from the initial exposure, it is essential to see the doctor immediately when you experience:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• dizziness
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• persistent dry cough
• pain with inspiration

Veterans with high or prolonged exposure to asbestos-containing materials should follow up periodically (at least every 1-2 years) with their doctor to monitor their symptoms. An early diagnosis can add years to life and ensure the proper treatment is applied. Given that asbestos illnesses are complex, and their symptoms can easily mislead doctors, asking for a second or a third opinion from a medical specialist outside the VA is the best option. You should visit a pulmonary specialist qualified to treat lung diseases caused by asbestos exposure to ensure an accurate evaluation and that you'll receive a correct diagnosis.

Offering Immediate Assistance to Navy Veterans Injured by Asbestos Exposure

Military asbestos exposure is at the root of many pulmonary affections Navy veterans struggle with. Today, it is common knowledge that the abundance of asbestos products in the vessels built before the 1980s exposed Navy personnel to the high risk of inhaling or ingesting the asbestos fibers.

If you're diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you immediately qualify for compensation from the asbestos trust funds and the VA, should you consider taking legal action and filing a claim. We can connect you with the best legal specialist for your case, who will assist with the documentation and represent you during the process so that you can dedicate your time to your treatment and recovery.