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How Can an Electrician’s Mate Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Electrician’s mates operate and repair the ship’s electrical systems, including generators, switchboards, control equipment, lighting systems and electrical equipment. They also maintain power and lighting circuits, motors, generators, frequency regulators, controllers, distribution switchboards and other aspects of the electrical system. They try to find reasons for problems with electrical systems, maintain electrical systems, rebuild electrical equipment and test for short circuits.
Asbestos was once used to insulate wires and found in switchboards and other electrical components because it is resistant to heat and helps prevent fires. Electrician’s mates would have interacted with these asbestos-containing materials on a regular basis. When they cut into walls or removed wire insulation, they could have disturbed asbestos fibers, which could become dislodged and be breathed in by electrician’s mates.
Electrician’s mates perform work on ships or in submarines or on equipment onshore installations. When they worked on ships, they often worked in confined spaces that would have increased their likelihood of breathing in asbestos fibers. They performed their routine job duties in nearly every compartment of the ship, which made it much more likely for them to be exposed to asbestos. The navy used asbestos-containing products to insulate ships, as well as generators, motors and light transformers. Practically every electrical system on ships that needed electrical maintenance required an electrician’s mate to remove and replace asbestos insulation products.
In addition to the products that they placed or took out of ships, electrician’s mates also could have been exposed to asbestos in other components of the ship since its use was so prevalent.
Regular duties of electrician’s mates include:
- Installing, operating, adjusting, inspecting, maintaining and repairing electrical equipment
- Performing regular maintenance of electrical equipment
- Performing repair of electrical equipment and appliances
- Maintaining and repairing elevator systems on ships
- Maintaining and repairing propulsion controls and auxiliary control systems
- Installing power and lighting circuits
- Repairing distribution circuits
- Installing wiring for lights and other electrical equipment
- Maintaining operating efficiency of switchboards, voltage regulators, distribution panels, current transformers, voltage transformers, switches and electric motors
- Installing and maintaining storage batteries
- Inspecting and testing electrical power equipment
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Electrician’s Mates
There are approximately 4,300 men and women who serve in the capacity as an electrician’s mate. These individuals work aboard ships and at shore stations.
Similar Occupations as Electrician’s Mates
Similar occupations as electricians include:
- Electrical and electronics engineering technicians
- Electrical and electronics engineers
- Electrical and electronics installers and repairers
- Electrical systems maintainer
- Electrical systems technician
- Electricians
- Elevator installers and repairers
- HVAC workers
- Line installers and repairers
- Power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Electrician’s Mates and Mesothelioma
While there are relatively few people who serve as an electrician’s mate in comparison to other positions, there have been a few notable cases filed by electrician’s mates.
A Philadelphia jury found Rockwell Automation, Inc. liable for the asbestos-related death of a Navy electrician’s mate in 2010. He worked for 20 years as an electrician’s mate in the Navy. During his work, he handled various engine parts and components that contained asbestos, including insulating boards and motor control units, including parts manufactured by Rockwell’s predecessor. The jury awarded $6.5 million to the man’s family.
A former electrician’s mate and machinist’s mate who served from 1961 to 1965 was awarded $14.4 million by a California jury in 2007 after holding multiple companies liable for his mesothelioma because they failed to warn him about the dangers of asbestos products. His wife also received $2.5 million.
Another former electrician’s mate and Navy veteran filed a lawsuit in 2018 against Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, alleging that his work with its asbestos products directly contributed to his mesothelioma diagnosis. The case is still pending at the time of publication.
Some veterans have been successful in obtaining VA benefits as electrician’s mates due to their exposure to asbestos as part of their job.
Studies Related to Electrician’s Mates and Asbestos
Due to the relatively low number of electrician’s mates, there have not been many studies on the health effects of this type of work. However, in a 2008 study, Italian researchers found that electricians’ high rate of exposure to asbestos increased the content of a particular biomarker in their DNA that predicted that they would be more likely to develop mesothelioma.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Electrician’s Mates
Electrician’s mates may have been exposed to products that contained asbestos, such as:
- Cables
- Wires
- Tape
- Insulation
- Glues
- Adhesives
- Sealants
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Electrician’s Mates
Some of the largest manufacturers of asbestos products that electricians and electrician’s mates may have been exposed to include:
- Crane
- Foster Wheeler
- National Gypsum
- Union Carbide
- General Electric
- Gould Pumps
- Okonite Company
- Westinghouse Electric Corp.
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
