The Southwest Marine Shipyard, located in San Diego, California, has been a ship repair facility since it was purchased from Bethlehem Steel Corporation in the early 1980s. Half of the shipyard in San Diego is old and vacant, while the other half is covered with buildings that are still standing from World War II.

With the threat of war looming in 1940, many shipyards began to prepare for large-scale mobilization. Southwest prepared by expanding their efforts to include both building and repairing ships, which would increase their profits. The enormous amount of work received by this shipyard was unheard of. At their peak, they could repair and return at least two vessels to working condition per day. Once the war ended, this facility focused mainly on repairing vessels. The decline of steel production forced Bethlehem Steel to sell and in the 1980s, Southwest Marine Shipyard was able to transform the facility into a top-notch repair facility.

Unfortunately, many of the employees working in this facility today are still at risk of illnesses related to asbestos exposure. The large amount of work undertaken by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation during World War II has likely left many ill with lung cancer or mesothelioma, a form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Because asbestos was relatively cheap and worked exceptionally well against extreme heat, it was the preferred method for shipyards across the country, particularly in a growing shipyard like Southwest Marine. Pipe fitters and insulators were exceptionally prone to inhaling asbestos fibers due to the sanding and cutting of asbestos pipes.

Because asbestos-related illnesses take a long time to present themselves, many shipyard workers have been infected and are unaware. Today, there are safety regulations in place to decrease asbestos-related diseases, but many facilities such as Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego are still using the same World War II facilities. As long as asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are present, there is a risk that someone will inhale the harmful particles.

Attorneys are available for workers of Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego that are or may be affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other health problems relating to asbestos exposure.

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