Unfortunately, retirees from nearly all shipyards, including the Avondale Shipyard in Westwego, Louisiana, have a higher risk profile for developing mesothelioma cancer.
Because ocean-going vessels, especially military vessels, must mitigate the threat posed to them by fire, shipyards were a major user of asbestos as insulation and fireproofing.
Since a shipboard fire can be utterly catastrophic and result in significant loss of life, components throughout ships were often made from asbestos-containing composite materials, or insulated directly with a spray-on asbestos compound or asbestos wrapping.
Even in more recent decades, older vessels that were being retrofitted still presented significant risk of asbestos exposure, and if safety equipment was inadequate or damaged, workers and even their families may have been exposed to asbestos.
Lawsuit Compensation And Benefits For Employees And Families Suffering Because Of Asbestos Exposure From The Avondale Shipyards
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of a matrix of small, rigid fibers.
The danger to those who work in contaminated areas is that the fibers can easily become airborne and inhaled or swallowed.
Once in the body, they can become stuck in deep airways or capillaries, where they irritate nearby cells.
Over time, those cells can become inflamed and eventually turn cancerous, as in mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma’s only known cause is asbestos fibers in the body, and people who worked in environments like the Avondale Shipyards in Westwego should be sure that their doctors know of their exposure history to asbestos so appropriate care can be given if symptoms of mesothelioma develop.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working at the Avondale Shipyards in Westwego, Louisiana, you may be entitled to compensation.
Under Louisiana law, workplace injuries can be pursued even when the injuries take decades to present.
The attorneys at The Gertler Law Firm work with Louisiana families who are suffering based on workplace exposure to asbestos during their careers. Call us today at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation with an experienced Louisiana mesothelioma attorney.
