Asbestos in Florida

Florida workers may face ongoing exposure risks at certain jobsites. Old equipment and building products may still contain asbestos materials. Age and wear and tear can cause these materials to release asbestos fibers into the air.

Power Plants

At least 14 Florida power plants have documented asbestos exposures. Asbestos helped insulate pipes, boilers and turbines. Boiler workers, electricians and pipefitters faced occupational exposure risks.

Oil Platforms

U.S. offshore and deepwater oil drilling began in the Gulf of Mexico, which Florida borders. Since 1942, thousands of offshore drilling structures have been installed in the Gulf. The highly flammable nature of drilling operations means that many offshore rigs likely contained asbestos products. Floridians who worked on these rigs may have been exposed.

Sugar Cane Refineries

Sugar is an important crop in Florida. By the mid-1960s, the state had hundreds of thousands of acres dedicated to growing it. Companies like Florida Sugar and Food Products Company processed the crop at mills. Sugar mills often used asbestos equipment as part of the sugar refining process.

03. Shipyards

Asbestos Shipyards in Florida

Florida is home to a number of commercial and naval shipyards. Historically, shipyards are associated with high levels of asbestos use. As a result, Floridian workers and U.S. Navy personnel faced asbestos exposure risks at these locations.

Atlantic Dry Dock

Atlantic Marine Inc. opened Atlantic Dry Dock in the 1960s. Workers at the jobsite repaired ships and drilling rigs. The dry dock was equipped to service large vessels, including yachts and Navy ships.

Dry dock facilities like this one put workers in contact with a number of asbestos products used in ship construction. For example, shipbuilders and repair workers faced exposure risks when inspecting and repairing hulls.

Hendry Corporation

Hendry Corporation began in 1926 in Tampa, where its main shipyard is located. The shipyard repaired government and commercial ships. Over the years, potentially thousands of workers have been exposed to asbestos from repair work done at Hendry’s shipyards.

Naval Air Station Pensacola

Naval Air Station Pensacola provided air training to naval personnel. Trainees from the base have served in both World Wars and the Korean War. Thousands of aviators received training at this base’s navy yard and other facilities.

Military personnel, their families and civilians faced asbestos exposure risks from working and living on the base.

Naval Station Mayport

The United States commissioned Naval Station Mayport in 1942. The base is located near Jacksonville. It harbors ships and has a runway to accommodate aircraft. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the base grew its ship and aircraft capabilities.

Navy veterans and other personnel at the naval station faced asbestos exposure risks.

Tampa Shipbuilding

Tampa Shipbuilding was founded in 1917 as Tampa Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. For a period of time, it was the largest employer in Tampa. In the 1940s, the company built a wide range of ships, including:

• Cargo ships
• Destroyer escorts
• Landing ships
• Minesweepers
• Passengers ships
• Repair ships

Workers at Tampa Shipbuilding also performed conversions and repairs. The location is now owned by Gulf Marine Repair, a Hendry Marine Industries company.

04. Exposure in Florida Cities

Asbestos Exposure in Florida Cities

Provided below is a list of Florida cities with known asbestos use in workplaces. Click on a city to see more details about specific jobsites where asbestos exposure occurred.

• Jacksonville
• Miami
• Orlando
• Pensacola
• Tampa

05. Other Work Sites

Asbestos Risks at Other Florida Jobsites

Asbestos exposure also occurred at jobsites outside the Florida cities listed above. Below are many known asbestos jobsites in the state. People who have worked at these sites should discuss possible exposures with their doctor. Early mesothelioma diagnosis is associated with better patient outcomes.