Located on a 33-hectare site on Bayou Boeuf near Morgan City, LA, McDermott Shipyard was established in 1959 to construct various vessels for service offshore and inland waterways. Due to its heat-resistant characteristics, asbestos was widely employed in many shipyards around the country, including McDermott Shipyard. Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, and have since developed asbestos-related diseases. These workers include pipefitters who frequently encountered asbestos lagging around pipes and boilers, carpenters who frequently used asbestos boards as insulation and for ceiling tiles, and electricians who came into contact with asbestos materials when insulating against fire risks.
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