Located in Mobile, Alabama, this shipyard was one of the largest in the country during the last century. It was founded in 1917, and the activity of Alabama Drydock substantially expanded during World War II. As a consequence, there were 30,000 people employed at the company during the conflict. Despite the outstanding ships the company built, it heavily exposed workers to asbestos, as the mineral was fundamental for shipbuilding between the 1920s and the 1980s. Employees would inhale and ingest asbestos fibers when cutting and sanding various asbestos materials to fit in the ships. Since asbestos companies were striving to hide the negative health effects of asbestos exposure, shipyard workers were not given protective gear to wear on the job.
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