Overview
Longshoremen, dock workers who load and unload cargo from ships, faced asbestos exposure from multiple sources: asbestos cargo, ship interiors, dock facilities, and warehouses. The combination of handling asbestos products and working in asbestos-contaminated environments put longshoremen at significant risk.
Asbestos Exposure Sources
| Exposure Source | Description | Exposure Level |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos cargo | Raw asbestos, asbestos products | Very High |
| Ship cargo holds | Insulated bulkheads, residual fibers | High |
| Warehouse facilities | Building insulation, storage materials | Moderate |
| Dock equipment | Brake systems, insulated machinery | Moderate |
How Longshoremen Were Exposed
What handling raw asbestos cargo looked like on the docks
Longshoremen handled raw asbestos materials directly, hour after hour: burlap bags of raw chrysotile fiber from Quebec mines, pallets of asbestos-cement board, crates of pipe and block insulation, and boxed asbestos brake and clutch components bound for Ford and General Motors plants. Torn bags and damaged packaging released fibers straight into the breathing zone.
Why working inside ship cargo holds added a second layer of exposure
Working in ship cargo holds exposed longshoremen to asbestos-insulated bulkheads and piping overhead, residual asbestos dust from previous cargo settled in the corners, and deteriorating ship insulation that shed fibers as crews moved gear in and out.
Longshoremen are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), which provides special protections and benefits different from standard workers’ compensation.
Major Port Exposure Sites
Longshoremen faced significant exposure at major East Coast ports like the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Baltimore in Maryland; at Gulf Coast ports like the Port of Houston in Texas and the Port of New Orleans in Louisiana; and at West Coast ports including the Port of Long Beach in California and the Port of Seattle in Washington. Raw asbestos fiber moved through these ports from 1940 through the late 1980s.
Related Occupations
Port workers with similar exposure:
- Merchant marines, Ship crews
- Shipyard workers, Ship construction/repair
- Laborers, General cargo handling
- Operating engineers, Crane operators
Related Industries
Health Consequences
Longshoremen with asbestos exposure face elevated risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest or abdominal lining; asbestosis, a progressive scarring of the lungs; lung cancer, with risk multiplied among smokers; and pleural disease that thickens the lining around the lungs.
Legal Options
Longshoremen diagnosed with mesothelioma have multiple legal options, often pursued in parallel. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act provides medical benefits without proof of fault, disability compensation, and death benefits for survivors. Alongside the LHWCA, workers typically file asbestos trust-fund claims against manufacturers like Johns Manville and Owens Corning, third-party lawsuits against ship owners and stevedoring companies, and product-liability claims against solvent asbestos manufacturers.
Longshoremen can often pursue LHWCA benefits AND third-party lawsuits, which frequently produce the largest combined recovery.