Based out of Long Beach, Consolidated Steel was the result of a merger between three iron companies (Baker, Union, and Llewellyn Iron Works), which took place in 1929.

Following a government contract, the company set up a shipyard in Wilmington; also in  California. Originally a 4-waterway yard, Consolidated Steel evolved into an 8-waterway facility at the height of the Second World War. During that busy time, twelve thousand people were working at the shipyard.

When the war was over, Navy contracts disappeared, and the yard had to be shut down. Asbestos was a common material used in the construction of Consolidated Steel´s facilities, as well as the material of choice for ship´s boilers and piping. Shipyard employees were, back then, commonly exposed to the dangerous inhalation of asbestos fibers.

For a long time, the symptoms connected to asbestos contamination were largely misdiagnosed. The existence of fluid inside of the lungs was mistakenly perceived as pneumonia, while pain in the chest was misconstrued as being related to a heart condition. 

In reality, the individuals whose conditions were misdiagnosed were all suffering from one of three asbestos diseases: mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis. Since they can take up to fifty years to manifest themselves, people who think they are free from the effects of asbestos contamination might be terribly wrong. 

It is very likely that anyone employed at a shipyard during the Second World War was dangerously exposed to asbestos. If you are in this position, you should immediately contact your physician. Additionally, you should seek legal counsel, in order to have a specialist evaluate your chances of filing an asbestos claim. With 20  years of experience in the field, the Weitz & Luxenberg Asbestos Lawyers are prepared to give you a complimentary case assessment.