Coast Guard Veterans and Mesothelioma

Other compensation options for Coast Guard veterans and their loved ones are:

• Filing a lawsuit: Coast Guard veterans may file a lawsuit against the companies that supplied asbestos products to the armed forces.
• Filing an asbestos trust fund claim: Some asbestos companies have trust funds to pay asbestos exposure victims. A company’s trust fund may provide payouts to veterans exposed to its asbestos products.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help veterans determine their compensation options.

Other Benefits for Coast Guard Veterans

Coast Guard veterans may also be eligible for health care benefits through the VA. At VA treatment centers, veterans can receive low-cost mesothelioma care. At some hospitals, veterans may receive treatment from top mesothelioma specialists.

Coast Guard veterans may also receive mesothelioma treatment from private hospitals. Some Coast Guard veterans may be eligible to receive care from non-VA treatment centers through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). This program enables veterans to receive care in their local area paid for by the VA.

In addition to healthcare, Coast Guard veterans have access to VA:

• Home loans
• Insurance
• Career advising

02. Coast Guard Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure in the Coast Guard

Coast Guard veterans may have experienced asbestos exposure on military bases, Coast Guard ships and in shipyards. Asbestos was used by military branches as an additive for fireproofing and durability.

Some Coast Guard workers were more likely to come into contact with asbestos products than others.

Coast Guard occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure include:

• Electricians
• Machinists
• Pipefitters
• Shipyard workers
• Technicians
• Woodworkers
• Welders

The Coast Guard is smaller than the U.S. Navy. However, Coast Guard veterans experienced exposure at a similar rate to Navy veterans.

Asbestos Exposure on Ships and Shipyards

Coast Guard members on ships and those who oversaw shipyard operations may have been exposed to asbestos.

On ships, asbestos insulation could be found in:

• Boiler rooms
• Engine rooms
• High-heat areas on the lower deck
• Pump rooms

Asbestos was also found in sleeping quarters, mess halls and other areas onboard.

The confined spaces on ships often led to highly concentrated airborne asbestos fibers. When these fibers were disturbed, they could travel through the ship and expose service members and staff.

The military stopped using asbestos products in shipbuilding in the 1970s. However, Coast Guard members continued to be exposed while repairing and demolishing older ships.

Asbestos on Coast Guard Cutters

U.S. Coast Guard Cutters (USCGC) are commissioned Coast Guard vessels with an assigned crew.

Records show Coast Guard members who served on USCGCs before 1991 may have experienced asbestos exposure. Asbestos materials on USCGCs included thermal insulation and floor tiles.

USCGC crew members may have experienced exposure during maintenance work. Examples include removing floor tiles or thermal insulation. Before the 1970s, maintenance was often done without protective equipment.

03. Coast Guard Veterans’ Mesothelioma Risk

Mesothelioma Risk Among Coast Guard Veterans

Coast Guard veterans who came into contact with asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma. After asbestos exposure, it may take up to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop. Due to the long latency period, veterans continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

According to a study of more than 4,000 civilian Coast Guard shipyard workers, shipyard workers were five times more likely to have died of mesothelioma than the general population. The study documented the mortality of workers at a shipyard from 1950 – 1965. The study concluded in 2001.

Coast Guard shipyard workers were also found to have high rates of emphysema, respiratory cancer and lung cancer. The study attributes the statistically high rates of respiratory disease to widespread asbestos exposure at the shipyard.

04. Preventing Asbestos Exposure

Protecting Coast Guard Members From Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos may still be present on some Coast Guard vessels and bases. To protect service members, the Coast Guard and other agencies have developed regulations and laws to limit asbestos exposure.

In the 1980s, the Coast Guard implemented the Occupational Medical Surveillance & Evaluation Program (OMSEP). The program includes monitoring Coast Guard personnel occupational asbestos exposures and exposures to other hazardous chemicals.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also monitors the Coast Guard to protect personnel. OSHA provides guidelines related to levels of asbestos and other contaminants in ships, shipyards and bases across the country.

OSHA regulates:

• Removing asbestos
• Providing active-duty workers with respiratory equipment when in contact with asbestos
• Ensuring workers receive medical surveillance when exposed to certain asbestos levels for more than 30 days a year

These programs aim to protect Coast Guard service members and diagnose asbestos-related illnesses early. Early diagnosis of mesothelioma and lung cancer may help service members and veterans improve life expectancy and quality of life.

Coast Guard veterans diagnosed with an asbestos disease should contact a mesothelioma law firm to discuss their potential compensation options.