Washington Navy Yard
The land where the Washington Navy Yard was built was purchased in 1798, and transferred to the Navy in 1799. Two additional lots were bought in 1801. The historic facility is the Navy's oldest shore establishment in operation since the beginning of the 19th century.
Over the years it has been in service, the Washington Navy Yard has had many functions. Originally it was a shipbuilding center and then it became a plant for the manufacture of guns and ammunition. Currently, it is the administrative center for the Navy. The Chief of Naval Operations is located there as well as many naval commands, and it is also the headquarters for the Naval Historical Center.
Considering how long the yard has been in operation, asbestos has been a concern at this shipyard over many decades, tracing back to the early 20th century. Even as recently as 1999, asbestos remediation has been conducted at the yard, highlighting the ongoing issue asbestos contamination can present in shipyards. Unfortunately, asbestos exposure common among shipyards has led to workers developing terminal illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos Use in the Early 20th Century
In a manual prepared by the Washington Navy Yard in 1918 for seamen gunners, the explanation of how gas check pads (which were used in the metal blocks that shut the opening at the back of bag-loading cannons) are fabricated. A cake of 65 percent asbestos and 35 percent tallow was created and cooled, and then molded. This not only created asbestos exposure for the gas check pad maker, but also the personnel firing the cannons.
That wasn't the only instance of asbestos exposure associated with gun making. Electric boosters, which were cylinders with fire-brick asbestos insulation, were used to heat a gun to the right temperature to insert its liner. Asbestos fireproof paint was used as a sealant around the mica washer inserted between the ignition cup and the plunger cup in the stock of a gun. Additionally, the hole in the ignition cup through which the prolonged plunger cup vent passes was also sealed with asbestos fireproof paint.
Even the equipment used in gun making contained asbestos. The heating furnaces used in the creation of gun jackets were vertical cylinders made of fireproof brick insulated with asbestos.
During World War II, the yard was employed as a manufacturing installation for 16-inch battleship guns, and it became known as the U.S. Naval Gun Factory in December 1945. It maintained its role as a weapons manufacturer until 1961. Three years later it was re-designated the Washington Navy Yard and the factory buildings onsite were converted to office use.
Asbestos Still a Concern
In June 1999, the Navy Public Works Center (PWC) Lead and Asbestos Abatement Team began reducing the presence of lead and asbestos in the shipyard using ice blasting technology. This technique is favored in the cleaning of historic structures because it decreases the amount of hazardous waste produced.
The traditional method of cleaning involved the use of abrasive compounds and chemical strippers to prepare the surface of the structure for the sealer coat, which was applied to prevent further flaking. However, the levels of dust created from this type of cleaning could reach dangerous levels for workers. The ice blasting methodology reduces the level of dust generated during the cleaning process by 95 percent, helping to protect workers from asbestos and lead dust.
Have you been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease after working at Washington Navy Yard or any other shipyard? The Mesothelioma Center's Doctor Match Program can connect you with a specialist to help you achieve the best treatment possible for your diagnosis. Simply fill out the form on this page to request more information.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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