Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard: 18,235 Workers Exposed During WWII, Asbestosis Deaths 16 Times Higher Than General Population
Executive Summary
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard represents one of the most catastrophic occupational health disasters in American industrial history, where over 18,000 workers built and repaired the Pacific Fleet's vessels while unknowingly inhaling lethal doses of mesothelioma-lawyer/california/ asbestos that would claim their lives decades later.[1] Operating on San Francisco Bay from 1867 through 1974, this 979-acre facility served as the backbone of American naval power in the Pacific, repairing over 600 vessels during World War II, loading the atomic bomb components onto the USS Indianapolis for Hiroshima, and housing the nation's largest nuclear research laboratory. According to epidemiological studies, shipyard workers at this facility experienced asbestosis mortality rates 16 times higher than workers in other occupations, with mesothelioma cases continuing to emerge today among former workers and their families.
The scale of asbestos contamination at Hunters Point was staggering. Surveys revealed that 139 of 145 buildings contained asbestos materials, and naval vessels contained between 30 and 500 tons of asbestos insulation each.[2] Industrial hygiene measurements documented exposure levels of 40 to 150 fibers per cubic centimeter during insulation work, representing concentrations up to 1,500 times current OSHA permissible exposure limits of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter. Workers in virtually every trade faced catastrophic exposure: insulators, pipefitters, electricians, welders, boilermakers, and even laborers performing general maintenance breathed deadly fibers throughout their shifts.
The workforce composition at Hunters Point created a distinct demographic impact that continues affecting communities today. During World War II, the shipyard recruited over 6,000 African American workers from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas as part of the Second Great Migration, expanding San Francisco's Black population by 665.8 percent between 1940 and 1945.[3] These workers, comprising over one-third of the peak workforce, faced housing discrimination that concentrated them in Hunters Point projects and the surrounding Bayview neighborhood. Their descendants continue experiencing elevated rates of respiratory disease, with a 2006 San Francisco Department of Public Health survey finding that 86 percent of babies born in Bayview developed severe asthma before kindergarten.
The legal and financial consequences of Hunters Point's asbestos crisis have generated settlements and verdicts ranging from $1 million to $34 million per individual case, drawing from over $30 billion currently available across 60-plus asbestos trust funds.[4] Former Hunters Point workers and their families can pursue multiple compensation pathways including trust fund claims averaging $300,000 to $400,000 in total recovery, mesothelioma lawsuits against surviving companies, VA benefits for military personnel, and wrongful death actions for surviving families. The 2008 case of Ulysses Collins, a welder at Hunters Point from 1960 to 1973 who died from mesothelioma, resulted in a $10.038 million verdict against Plant Insulation Company, demonstrating that substantial compensation remains available for victims willing to pursue their legal rights.
Key Facts
| Key Facts: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure |
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What Types of Asbestos Exposure Occurred at Hunters Point?
Asbestos contaminated virtually every aspect of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard operations from the 1930s through the 1970s, creating exposure conditions that rank among the most hazardous in American industrial history.[5] The facility stored 30,000 pounds of asbestos materials on-site, while the naval vessels serviced there contained between 30 and 500 tons of asbestos insulation each. During 1990 cleanup operations alone, crews removed over 220,000 square feet of asbestos-containing materials from buildings, illustrating the massive scale of contamination that workers encountered daily for decades.
Asbestos insulation was used extensively throughout the shipyard in thermal insulation for piping and boilers, mechanical insulation for turbines and pumps, thousands of gaskets throughout ships, fireproofing for hulls and bulkheads, and electrical system components.[6] Plant Insulation Company served as the exclusive Northern California supplier of thermal insulation products manufactured by companies including Pabco/Fibreboard and Johns-Manville, delivering materials that would eventually generate billions in liability claims against those manufacturers.
| ⚠ Statute of Limitations Warning: Filing deadlines vary by state from 1-6 years from diagnosis. Texas allows 2 years from diagnosis or discovery. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve your rights. |
What Compensation Is Available for Hunters Point Workers?
The legal aftermath of Hunters Point's asbestos crisis has generated substantial compensation for victims and their families, with settlements and verdicts ranging from $1 million to $34 million per individual case.[7] Former workers can access multiple compensation pathways simultaneously, and pursuing one type of claim does not reduce eligibility for others.
Primary Compensation Sources:
Asbestos trust funds currently hold over $30 billion across 60-plus active trusts established by bankrupt asbestos companies.[8] Trust fund claims typically process within 90 days and average $300,000 to $400,000 in total recovery across multiple trusts. Major manufacturers linked to Hunters Point through litigation include Armstrong, Babcock & Wilcox, Fibreboard, Owens Corning, Pittsburgh Corning, and Western MacArthur, many of which established bankruptcy trusts paying median claims of $180,000.
Mesothelioma lawsuits against surviving companies have produced substantial verdicts for Hunters Point workers. The 2008 case of Ulysses Collins, a welder at Hunters Point from 1960 to 1973 who died from mesothelioma, resulted in a $10.038 million verdict against Plant Insulation Company.[9] California juries have awarded numerous multi-million dollar verdicts in shipyard asbestos cases.
| ✓ Good News for Veterans: Navy veterans and civilian workers at Hunters Point may qualify for VA benefits including disability compensation exceeding $3,700 per month, healthcare through VA medical facilities, and Aid & Attendance benefits for those requiring assistance with daily activities. These benefits are separate from and in addition to trust fund claims and civil lawsuits. |
Wrongful death actions allow surviving family members to pursue compensation after a loved one's mesothelioma death. California law permits recovery for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship. Workers' compensation claims provide another avenue for those who developed mesothelioma during their employment at Hunters Point.[10]
Why Is the Superfund Cleanup at Hunters Point Controversial?
The EPA's 1989 Superfund designation of Hunters Point reflected contamination extending far beyond asbestos to include radioactive materials from nuclear operations, chemical contamination from decades of industrial activity, and naturally occurring serpentine asbestos in soil.[11] The Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory's operations left widespread radioactive contamination, while routine shipyard operations deposited petroleum fuels, pesticides, heavy metals, PCBs, and volatile organic compounds throughout the 866-acre site.
The cleanup process became mired in scandal when Department of Justice investigations revealed that Tetra Tech EC Inc., the primary remediation contractor, had falsified radiation data between 2006 and 2012. Two supervisors received prison sentences in 2018, and Tetra Tech paid a $97 million settlement in January 2025 after whistleblowers exposed that up to 97 percent of data from certain parcels was fraudulent.[12] This fraud wasted over $250 million in taxpayer funds and destroyed community trust in the cleanup process.
CalEnviroScreen ranks Bayview-Hunters Point among California's most pollution-burdened communities, with residents experiencing higher rates of cancer, lung disease, and cardiovascular conditions alongside lower life expectancies. Current remediation continues with underwater Parcel F work scheduled for 2027 at over $30 million, while rising sea levels from climate change threaten to mobilize buried contamination that could affect future generations.
How Can Hunters Point Workers and Families Pursue Claims?
If you or a family member worked at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard between 1939 and 1974, you may be eligible for substantial compensation even decades after exposure occurred.[13] The prolonged latency period for mesothelioma means that workers who left the shipyard in the 1970s are now entering the peak risk period for diagnosis, and claims remain viable many years after employment ended.
Documents That Strengthen Your Claim:
Employment records from Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, including dates of service, job titles, and work locations, provide the foundation for establishing exposure history. Military service records (DD-214) document naval service for veterans who worked at the facility. Medical records including pathology reports with mesothelioma diagnosis, imaging studies, and treatment documentation establish the connection between exposure and disease. Coworker testimony from others who worked alongside you can corroborate exposure conditions when written records are incomplete.[14]
| "When families first contact us after a mesothelioma diagnosis, they're often overwhelmed by medical decisions and don't know where to begin with legal questions. We start by gathering employment records and building a complete picture of exposure history—work that helps identify all the companies whose products contributed to the disease and whose trust funds may provide compensation." |
| — Michelle Whitman, Attorney, Danziger & De Llano |
Experienced mesothelioma attorneys work with industrial hygienists and medical experts to document exposure patterns and establish the connection between workplace conditions and disease development.[15] Legal representation typically operates on a contingency basis, meaning families pay no upfront costs and attorney fees come only from successful recoveries.
Get Help Today
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🛡️ Free Confidential Case Review for Hunters Point Workers If you or a loved one worked at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from multiple sources including trust funds holding over $30 billion. 📞 Call Today: (866) 222-9990 ✅ Start Your Free Case Review → No upfront costs • Nationwide representation • Decades of shipyard case experience |
Related Wiki Articles
Naval Shipyards:
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
High-Risk Occupations:
- Insulation Workers
- Boilermakers
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Electricians
- Welders
- Marine Engineering Workers
Resources:
References
- ↑ VA Asbestos Exposure, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- ↑ Learn About Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- ↑ Asbestos Toxicity: What Is Asbestos?, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- ↑ Mesothelioma and Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts Guide, Danziger & De Llano
- ↑ Asbestos, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- ↑ Asbestos, CDC/NIOSH
- ↑ Mesothelioma Settlements, Danziger & De Llano
- ↑ Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Basics - Asbestos Trusts, United States Courts
- ↑ Cancer Stat Facts: Mesothelioma, NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program
- ↑ 2024 VA Disability Compensation Rates, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- ↑ Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, EPA Superfund Site Information
- ↑ Search Superfund Sites Where You Live, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- ↑ How to File a VA Disability Claim, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- ↑ Get Your Military Service Records, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- ↑ Top-Rated Mesothelioma Lawyers, Danziger & De Llano