What is Shipbuilding?
Among its work with ships, the Lockheed Shipyard was primarily a shipbuilding facility, meaning that workers did everything from electrically outfit a ship to welding the ship’s very frame. This type of construction work put shipbuilders at the Lockheed Shipyard in regular contact with asbestos, as it was used in: • boiler rooms and incinerators • drywall and insulation • gaskets • fire breaks and fireproofed equipment • linings, sealants and sprays • shingles, pipes and tiles • textiles, such as rope • water tanks In addition to being surrounded with materials made from asbestos, it’s important to note that shipbuilders tend to be exposed to higher levels of asbestos due to the enclosed, poorly ventilated nature of their working environments. As a result, shipbuilding has been known for being dangerous, intense work, as shipyard workers are regularly exposed to asbestos and other harmful materials in extremely confined quarters.
