Braswell Services Group
Charleston, South Carolina was the home of a major ship yard that contributed greatly to the maritime industry of that state. The yard was operated by the Braswell Services Group, and it was heavily involved in the repair and maintenance of large vessels.
Over the years many people spent their careers laboring at the Charleston based facility, and they put their skill, knowledge and strength to the test each day in this difficult and dangerous occupation. They dealt with large equipment that operated at intense temperatures and needed to be kept cool with powerful insulating materials. Much of this insulation was made with a mineral called asbestos, because it is able to endure even the most intense heat.
Asbestos also has several other beneficial qualities. It is strong and yet able to be molded into most any form or shape. The mineral is found in large deposits, which makes it both easy and inexpensive to mine. In fact, it had so many good aspects to it that American manufacturers often referred to it as a miracle material. All of these attractive traits caused many companies to continue using the mineral, even after they were informed of one overwhelming drawback - asbestos is poisonous.
When the employees of the Braswell Services Group went to work, they did so knowing that they worked in dangerous conditions, but were not aware that many of the products they dealt with on a daily basis included a mineral that could make them very ill, or even claim their lives. As they worked around the insulation and other goods that contained asbestos, they often ingested small amounts of the mineral that had become airborne. After breathing the material in, the victims would become likely to experience tissue scarring, respiratory troubles and even various types of cancer. Asbestos eventually became a well known cause of the potentially deadly disease Mesothelioma, which plagued workers at shipyards and other work sites all across the county.
The maladies that are caused by asbestos exposure typically take many years to develop to the point where they are even noticeable. Unfortunately many of these illnesses are incurable, and very difficult to even treat. Anyone who worked at the South Carolina based shipyard may have been subjected to ingesting asbestos, so anyone who did is urged to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider for a check up at their earliest convenience.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
