Bethlehem Steel Shipyard San Francisco
Like many shipyards, the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard of San Francisco had origins within the iron works industry. In the San Francisco shipyard’s particular case, its origins lie within the Union Iron and Brass Works, founded by Peter Donahue in 1849. Soon iron and brass were completely phased out and shipbuilding became the primary focus, still operating under the former name. The shipyard established itself as one of the major pre-war shipbuilders. In 1906, the yard was sold to Bethlehem Steel but still operated under the former name until 1917, when Bethlehem Steel Shipyard San Francisco was officially incorporated by Bethlehem.
At the onset of WWI, the shipyard at San Francisco harbor was called into the war building effort. To complete the lofty naval requests, Bethlehem absorbed the nearby Risdon Iron Works, a locomotive company. Through the cooperation of shipping and locomotive industry, the shipyard at San Francisco became an important construction site for war time passenger vessels, which now had to be fitted with federally mandated torpedo defense infrastructure. When WWII broke out, the facilities were switched to primarily ship repair duties, though 10 troop-transport vessels were built during this time. While some of the neighboring yards closed in the 1970’s, the San Francisco operation still functions today as the San Francisco Drydock Co.
Shipyard labor is important work in the United States. It represents a domestic backbone to our forces overseas in conflict past and present. Especially in shipyards such as the Bethlehem Steel operations, answering the wartime call, has proven to be an important aspect of their history. Unfortunately, shipyards are also fairly dangerous places. Hazards exist everywhere, seen and unseen. One of the less commonly discussed hazards is the exposure to dangerous substances on shipyard jobsites. A common toxin found in these jobsites is asbestos. Asbestos was used for many purposes in ship construction prior to being federally banned in the 1970’s. Asbestos proved to be especially versatile in insulation capacities. It was used in anything from wall insulation to pipe and electrical fixture coverings.
Shipyard employees who worked among these fixtures are potentially at risk for asbestos exposure. Vessel repair workers who labored in these areas often engaged with the materials in a hazardous way. Asbestos exposures can cause extremely serious respiratory complications, including cancer. Those who fall into the risk poor for exposure need to watch their health closely in order to assure they don’t develop symptoms. If respiratory symptoms manifest, consult a physician or cancer specialist to see what the next steps are in diagnosis of asbestos-related illness.
