Washington State shipyard workers were extensively exposed to asbestos.  One shipyard where workers were exposed to deadly asbestos fibers was Lockheed Shipyard which was located in Seattle near the mouth of the Duwamish River. Lockheed was one of the oldest shipyards in the Pacific Northwest when it closed in 1988.  Workers in the shipyard included boilermakers, pipefitters, insulators, welders and dockworkers.  Mesothelioma takes decades to develop.  Many older and and retired workers have developed the disease.  Lockheed constructed naval frigates, transport vessels, icebreakers and various other ships during its operations. Sadly, many workers were exposed to asbestos during their work at the shipya
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