Legal help for maritime asbestos exposure: Jones Act protections for crew spending extended time at sea

Seamen and crew members face significant risks to their health as they are confined to a sea vessel with toxic chemicals for weeks or months at a time. Most safety regulations and limits for chemical exposure are based on standard work schedules, which typically include 8-hour shifts and 5-day workweeks. However, these standards fail to protect maritime workers who sleep and eat aboard vessels during their work. Continuous exposure to asbestos, even at low levels, may have lasting consequences. If you developed mesothelioma or other linkable cancers after being exposed to asbestos, you might be eligible for a Jones Act claim.

Living with toxic chemicals: Cumulative asbestos exposure for maritime workers

Asbestos is among the most hazardous materials in the transportation industry and is found in both older and modern vessels. A survey of vessels from 2011 to 2020 found that more than 65% of ships in service still contained asbestos. Half of the new builds were still found to contain asbestos despite prior regulations. Even for ships built without any trace of asbestos, spare parts could still be brought on board from areas where asbestos was not yet banned. Seamen who worked on ships for an extended period may be exposed to asbestos through the following materials:

• Gaskets: White asbestos (chrysotile) and blue asbestos (crocidolite) were used in manufacturing gaskets for nearly a hundred years. If you were involved or working nearby when a gasket was being replaced or scraped off, you might have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
• Bulkhead panels: Asbestos was used in the construction of bulkhead panels as effective fireproofing and insulation. You may have been exposed to asbestos fibers during the installation or repair of bulkhead panels.
• Insulation and packing materials: Asbestos-containing packing materials were used until the 1980s. Due to constant motion and vibration in ships, you may have been exposed to detached asbestos fibers.
• Pipe coverings: Asbestos was used for pipe coverings as insulation. If you regularly encounter pipes in your duties, you may have been exposed to asbestos dust from pipe coverings.

Jones Act: Protecting ship crew members who develop cancer from asbestos exposure

If you developed mesothelioma or other cancers from asbestos exposure on ships, we highly encourage you to get legal help from an attorney. If your employer or the vessel owner is proven to be negligent in providing a reasonably safe workplace, you may file legal action against them under the Jones Act. This federal statute allows seamen to get compensation for catastrophic injuries and occupational illnesses, including cancers from asbestos exposure. ELG Law evaluates claims for seamen who have been exposed to asbestos and developed any of the following diseases:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Throat cancers (laryngeal, pharyngeal, esophageal)
• Colon and rectal cancer

Contact ELG Law to file a Jones Act claim for asbestos exposure

Getting compensation for occupational illness is complicated, especially when you have to prove that your asbestos exposure on the ship caused your illness. When you file a Jones Act claim, you will need competent legal representation to strengthen your case. ELG Law has over 35 years of experience assisting victims of asbestos exposure. Our attorneys are ready to review your documents and evaluate your claim. If eligible, we can file your Jones Act claim for an asbestos-related illness on your behalf. We urge you to contact us as soon as possible after your diagnosis.