The company was established in 1896 and was located in Orange, Texas. Sadly, like nearly all the other shipyards in the country, it made use of plenty of asbestos. Because asbestos is resistant to fire and durable, it rapidly became the favorite material in the shipbuilding industry, as it was also cheap to purchase and widely available. Nonetheless, the presence of asbestos posed a great threat to the health of employees, and, to make matters worse, workers had to work with asbestos by handling products containing it that released toxic dust when disturbed by cutting or sanding. If you had a job at Consolidated Shipbuilding before the 1980s, you should pay close attention to your health and seek medical attention as soon as you notice any unusual symptoms.