Harnischfeger Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and operating under the P&H brand for its crane and lifting equipment products, was a major manufacturer of industrial cranes, overhead traveling cranes, and shipyard lifting equipment used at US Navy public shipyards and at the private shipbuilding yards that built and maintained Navy vessels. P&H overhead traveling cranes were installed throughout the covered building ways and ship halls of Navy shipyards, used to position ship hull sections, lift machinery into engineering spaces, and handle weapons systems during Navy ship construction and overhaul.

Asbestos in Harnischfeger Crane Construction

Harnischfeger P&H shipyard cranes used asbestos-containing materials in cab construction and electrical systems:

  • Crane cab thermal insulation — the operator cab of large P&H overhead traveling cranes used in Navy shipyards used asbestos-containing thermal and fire insulation in cab construction to protect the crane operator from radiant heat from hot metal components and welding operations below. Crane operators and maintenance personnel working in crane cabs at Navy shipyards worked in proximity to asbestos-containing cab insulation throughout their working lives
  • Crane electrical control panel insulation — the electrical control panels and motor control centers serving P&H crane hoisting, traversing, and bridge drive motors used asbestos-containing electrical insulation board backing in high-voltage control panel construction
  • Brake lining materials — the hoisting, traversing, and bridge drive brakes on heavy P&H shipyard cranes used asbestos-containing brake lining materials in the drum brake and disc brake assemblies, generating asbestos dust during brake operation and requiring asbestos brake lining replacement during maintenance

Harnischfeger P&H cranes served critical lifting functions at Navy shipyards:

  • Ship construction lifting — the covered building ways at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and private Navy shipbuilding yards used large P&H overhead traveling cranes to position and weld hull sections during submarine and surface ship construction
  • Machine shop overhead cranes — the machine shop and manufacturing buildings at Navy shipyards used P&H overhead traveling cranes for material handling in support of ship component fabrication and repair
  • Dry dock equipment — P&H cranes at drydock facilities handled heavy machinery during ship drydocking and overhaul operations

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Harnischfeger Corporation Products

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Shipyard workers and Navy personnel who operated or maintained Harnischfeger P&H cranes at Navy shipyards and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.