Navy Construction Electricians (CE) — the Seabee rating responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems, wiring, and power distribution equipment in military construction projects worldwide — served in Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) and Naval Construction Force (NCF) detachments throughout the WWII and Cold War eras. CE ratings installed electrical wiring, distribution panels, lighting systems, and power equipment in military construction projects ranging from advance base construction in the Pacific during WWII to NATO base construction in Europe and Southeast Asian base construction during the Vietnam War era. Construction Electricians handling electrical wire and cable during WWII and Cold War military construction projects encountered asbestos-containing electrical insulation in the wire and cable products used in military construction through the mid-1970s, and worked in buildings under active construction incorporating asbestos-containing building materials throughout the construction period.

Electrical Wiring Asbestos

CE ratings handling electrical wire in military construction encountered asbestos:

  • Asbestos-insulated electrical wire and cable — the electrical wire and cable used in military construction projects through the mid-twentieth century incorporated asbestos-containing thermal insulation as a standard component of the wire and cable insulation system for high-temperature or fire-resistant applications. CE ratings pulling wire, cutting cable to length, stripping wire insulation, and making up electrical connections in military construction projects handled asbestos-containing insulation on the electrical wire and cable during each construction installation operation. The wire stripping and insulation cutting required in making up electrical connections released asbestos fiber from the cut wire insulation during each connection operation
  • High-temperature electrical system construction — military construction projects requiring electrical wiring in high-temperature environments — boiler room electrical systems, engine room lighting, generator room wiring — used asbestos-insulated electrical wire and cable rated for high-temperature service. CE ratings installing asbestos-insulated electrical wire in high-temperature military building electrical systems handled asbestos-containing wire insulation throughout the high-temperature area electrical wiring installations

Military Construction Building Material Asbestos

CE ratings working in buildings under construction encountered asbestos in building materials:

  • Military building construction asbestos-containing materials — military construction projects during the WWII and Cold War era used military construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing building materials — asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling tile, drywall compound, roofing materials, and pipe insulation — as standard components of military building construction. CE ratings working in buildings under construction were present during the installation of asbestos-containing building materials by other construction trades, accumulating bystander asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing building materials being installed during the military construction project
  • Advance base construction in combat environments — Seabee Construction Electricians who built advance bases in the Pacific during WWII and in Vietnam during the Vietnam War era constructed electrical systems in advance bases using available construction materials, working in construction environments where asbestos-containing materials were present in the military construction specifications and available supply channels

VA Claims for Seabee Construction Electricians

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy Seabee construction operations. Construction Electricians who installed electrical systems in military construction projects using asbestos-containing wire and building materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.