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San Francisco Drydock

The San Francisco Drydock was built in 1978 by the United States Marine Repair Company. It became the largest shipyard ever built in the San Francisco area, and was primarily used to repair vessels from the Naval Fleet.

Workers at the San Francisco facility unknowingly spent time around a very hazardous material called asbestos. This is a mineral that was commonly used to produce a large number of products for nearly a century, until it was found to be toxic. The mineral is comprised of tiny fibers that cling together, but often break apart and become airborne. As the fibers float in the air, people can breathe them in, and once they are taken internally there is no known way to remove them.

Asbestos fibers are responsible for doing a great deal of damage to the respiratory system. They can cause great difficulties with normal breathing, and produce various disorders and diseases. Perhaps the most well known disease that is often a direct result of asbestos exposure is Mesothelioma. This cancer has affected thousands of people who worked at facilities such as the San Francisco Dry Dock, and has claimed the lives of many. There is no cure, and not even a practical treatment for Mesothelioma.

Manufacturers in the United States used asbestos for hundreds of products prior to the 1970's, until its usage began to be regulated by government agencies. For many years almost every type of insulating product was made out of asbestos, and every shipyard has need for a large amount of insulation to keep the hot running machinery operating properly. Asbestos is well known to be strong, durable and able to hold up under extreme temperatures. It is also resistant to fire, which made it even more beneficial for industrial sites such as shipyards. Although the San Francisco facility was officially opened in 1978 as a dry dock plant, the site was originally established back in 1885 by Union Iron Works. It contained many products that were made with asbestos, so the workers who were hired after 1978 were still subjected to exposure of this hazardous material.

The San Francisco Dry Dock is still in operation as a ship building and repair facility. By now all traces of asbestos have been removed, and it is a safe work environment.

Last modified: December 09 2009.