The Navy and Asbestos Thermal Insulation

Asbestos was once used in U. S. Navy shipboard pipe and machinery thermal insulation and in many other shipboard products. It was also used throughout the country in thousands of commercial products and in some products it remains in use today. The health hazards of asbestos have resulted in an increasing number of lawsuits that involve, among many others, manufacturers of Navy hardware. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits include many who were exposed to asbestos while serving in Navy ships built during and following WWII. Because the materials are dry, friable, and easily accessible, the most likely source of their Navy shipboard exposures was thermal insulation. In this article the evolution of thermal insulation systems in WWII and post‐WWII ships is described, Navy and national asbestos consumption patterns are compared, the asbestos industrial hygiene environment of the times are described, and a perspective on asbestos concerns from a hardware manufacturers’ standpoint is provided. The liability situation regarding asbestos may be seen as a pattern causing Navy manufacturers to seek some form of waiver of liability or other relief from the Government for all hazards arising from their Navy work. Naval engineers have a responsibility to understand the background surrounding the use of asbestos, particularly as they continue to deal with new systems and materials that could potentially impact the future health of those who come in contact with them.