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General Ship Corporation

The General Ship Corporation of Massachusetts was perhaps the biggest and most prominent shipyard in the entire state. It was used to build and repair large vessels, and kept especially busy working on naval vessels that had been damaged during a time of war.

Like so many other shipyards, the General Ship Corporation had a variety of products on site that contained asbestos, a mineral that was used within thousands of goods over the years. In the United States, asbestos was first discovered in the late 1800's, and it soon became one of the most heavily mined materials in the country. Its popularity was due to several factors: it was easy to find, inexpensive to mine, incredibly strong, pliable and it was also a natural fire retardant. This made it especially sought after for insulation materials, which were used abundantly in every ship building facility created prior to the 1980's.

Over time asbestos was no longer considered to be a viable option for insulating materials and other goods. Its use became strictly regulated, and government agencies forced many companies to stop using it entirely. This all occurred after the mineral was found to be poisonous. People who spent time working around products that contained asbestos would often breathe microscopic bits of the mineral in without even realizing it. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, and when they break apart they become airborne and can easily enter the nasal passages. Once inside the respiratory system, these fibers become a very destructive force. They frequently cause breathing disorders, tissue scarring and several types of cancer, including mesothelioma.

Because the diseases associated with asbestos exposure have no cure and are difficult to treat, many of the people who worked for the General Ship Corporation became seriously ill, or even lost their lives. Thousands of lawsuits were filed against the corporation as workers were made aware of what had caused them to get sick. Personal injury claims were brought up against companies all over the US, and the owners were forced to remove hazardous materials from the work sites. Today asbestos is regulated by the government, and is only allowed to be used in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Last modified: December 09 2009.