Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.
Based in Mobile, Ala., Bender was in near continuous operation between 1928 and 2009. As its workforce dwindled to only 300 employees in the first decade of the 21st century, Bender began having difficulty filling its orders. Creditors began to seek repayment and customers sought to recover payments made for vessels that were not delivered.
In 2009, the beleaguered Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. was forced into bankruptcy by creditors after it lost more than half a billion dollars worth of business due to delivery delays. In 2010, Signal International purchased the assets of Bender, including its 3,300 feet of frontage on the deep waters of Mobile Bay and 26 acres of yard facilities. The company now operates as Signal Ship Repair, LLC.
Known as Bender Welding and Machine Company until 1980, Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. manufactured and repaired thousands of vessels over the years, including liberty ships during World War II, shrimp boats, commercial tugs, push boats, casino barges, river boats and other passenger vessels. Prior the 1970s, asbestos was commonly used in the manufacture and repair of vessels at Bender.
Employees of Bender, their family members, and crew members on vessels built by Bender were susceptible to asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos is directly related to a number of diseases such as lung cancer and other malignancies like mesothelioma as well as asbestosis.
Asbestos Exposure at Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.
A number of occupations at Bender Shipbuilding and Repair were at risk for exposure to asbestos. Employees engaged in shipbuilding through the 1970s may have been exposed to asbestos. In addition, because many vessels are used for many years after they are put in service, workers in the repair of older vessels or ships outside of the United States could have been exposed to asbestos at any time during their tenure at Bender.
The occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure at the Bender shipyards include pipefitters, welders, boiler makers, painters and sanders. Examples of asbestos containing products used by Bender in the manufacture and repair of vessels include insulation materials, joint compounds and welding rods.
Risk of asbestos exposure was not limited to employees working directly with the substance. The close quarters of ship and boat hulls create a risk of exposure to airborne asbestos for anyone in the same area where the materials are being used or removed. Family members of workers who were directly exposed to asbestos while working for Bender were also at risk of exposure, as workers brought home fibers on their hair, skin and clothing.
Crew members of commercial vessels (as well as veterans of the Merchant Marines and Navy who served on liberty ships) manufactured by Bender could have been exposed to airborne or crumbling asbestos, which was used throughout the ships as pipe and boiler insulation, in crew quarters, galleys, mess areas and engine rooms. Maintenance personnel involved in painting, welding, boiler making and insulation work were particularly vulnerable to exposure.
Asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods and there is no known level of exposure that is safe. Even if years have passed and asbestos exposure was minimal, an individual is at risk for illness.
Resources for Shipyard Workers
Those who worked in Bender facilities and engaged in the building or repair of vessels, their family members and crew members of vessels built by Bender all could have been exposed to asbestos. Such individuals should inform their physicians of any concerns they may have regarding asbestos exposure and monitor their health for signs of asbestos-related illness. Those interested in more information about asbestos exposure and treatment for asbestos-related diseases can fill out the form on this page to receive reading materials in the mail or via email.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
