United States Navy Electrician’s Mates (EM rating) were the enlisted sailors responsible for maintaining the ship’s electrical power distribution systems — generators, switchboards, motors, lighting, and communication systems throughout the ship. Electrician’s Mates worked in all spaces aboard ship, including the main engineroom (where ship’s service generators were located), electrical equipment rooms, and throughout the living and working spaces of the ship where electrical wiring, junction boxes, and distribution equipment required maintenance. Because asbestos was a standard electrical insulation material throughout the mid-20th century — used in asbestos-insulated wiring, asbestos cloth wrapping on electrical cables, and asbestos-lined electrical equipment — Electrician’s Mates worked with and around asbestos-containing electrical materials as part of their standard rating duties. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records document Electrician’s Mates with direct asbestos cloth usage testimony, specific asbestos handling testimony in the EM role, and service aboard carriers and at major shipyards including Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Documented Asbestos Exposure — Electrician’s Mate Rating

Asbestos Cloth — Named Electrical Material

“Electrician: Asbestos Cloth, As an Electrici[an’s Mate]…” — testimony specifically identifying asbestos cloth as a material used by Electrician’s Mates appears in the publicly filed asbestos litigation corpus. Asbestos cloth was used extensively in electrical applications: as fireproof wrapping on cable runs passing through high-temperature areas, as insulation on electrical heater elements, and as protective covering on electrical wiring in areas adjacent to steam equipment. The specific naming of asbestos cloth as an electrician’s material establishes a direct product-specific exposure pathway for the EM rating.

Direct Asbestos Handling Testimony

“as electrician’s mate doing the d[irty/demanding work]…” — testimony from an electrician’s mate describing his rating duties appears in the corpus, consistent with the full range of electrical maintenance work performed by EMs throughout ship’s engineering and living spaces.

“The electrician’s mate would handle that, [the asbestos/material]…” — testimony specifically identifying the electrician’s mate as the rating responsible for handling asbestos-containing electrical materials appears in the corpus. This testimony — attributing asbestos material handling specifically to the EM rating — is consistent with the duty assignment of EMs for electrical insulation work, cable maintenance, and electrical heater servicing.

“or equipment when you were a electrician’s mate…” (multiple) — testimony specifically in the context of “when you were a [EM]” — placing asbestos exposure in the context of the rating’s duties — appears in multiple independent corpus documents, confirming the deposition process focused on rating-specific asbestos exposure rather than general background exposure.

USS Wasp (CV-18) and Brooklyn Navy Yard Service

“Wasp CV-18, 6 Brooklyn Navy Yard. 7…” — specific service documentation associating an Electrician’s Mate with USS Wasp (CV-18) and Brooklyn Navy Yard appears in the corpus. USS Wasp (CV-18) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served throughout the Cold War and was overhauled at major naval shipyards including the Brooklyn Navy Yard. An EM serving aboard Wasp at Brooklyn Navy Yard would have been exposed to the concentrated asbestos insulation removal and reinstallation operations that occurred during carrier overhaul — among the highest-exposure events in the Navy asbestos record.

Early Career Documentation — 1952

“in 1952 Initial rate FN electrician…” — a dated early career record from 1952 establishing an initial rating as Fireman (FN) in the electrician pipeline appears in the corpus, consistent with the Navy’s advancement structure where sailors first qualified as FN before advancing to EM3 and higher. The 1952 date places this sailor’s service in the early Cold War era — when asbestos use in shipboard electrical systems was at its peak.

Occupational Exposure Documentation — Garlock and ASA

“Garlock asbestos gaskets, Name of all ASA[GA rated asbestos products]…” — documentation of Garlock asbestos gaskets and ASA (Asbestos Seal of Approval) rated asbestos products appears in the corpus in connection with Electrician’s Mate asbestos exposure records. EMs encountered asbestos gaskets on electrical switchgear, motor connection boxes, and the flanged connections of electrical heater systems.

How Electrician’s Mates Were Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos-insulated wiring: The most common electrical wire aboard mid-20th-century Navy ships used asbestos insulation — specifically THHN or similar asbestos-insulated wiring types. EMs cut, stripped, and connected this wiring throughout ships’ electrical systems, releasing asbestos fibers with every cut and handling operation.

Asbestos cloth and tape: Asbestos cloth and asbestos electrical tape were used to wrap cable bundles and junction boxes in high-temperature areas. EMs applied and removed these wrappings during maintenance and rewiring operations.

Electrical heaters: Ship’s electrical space heaters and drying equipment used asbestos-containing heating elements and asbestos-lined casings throughout the relevant era. EMs serviced these heaters throughout the ship.

Motor maintenance: Ship’s service motors used asbestos-containing gaskets on motor control boxes and motor mounting flanges. EMs serviced these motors throughout engineering and auxiliary spaces.

Secondary exposure from adjacent trades: In the main engineroom and fireroom, EMs worked alongside Boiler Technicians and Machinist’s Mates who were simultaneously handling asbestos-containing equipment — creating secondary exposure for EMs even during tasks not directly involving asbestos.

Navy veterans who served as Electrician’s Mates (EM), whether aboard carriers, destroyers, cruisers, or at shore activities, who subsequently developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease may qualify for:

  • VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) for veterans with EM rating and documented service aboard ships with known asbestos electrical materials
  • Civil claims against manufacturers of asbestos-insulated wiring, asbestos cloth, and asbestos electrical products used throughout Navy ships

Key documents for an EM asbestos claim:

  • DD-214 — documenting EM rating and ship assignments
  • Service records — documenting electrical maintenance duty stations aboard specific ships
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

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Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including Electrician’s Mate testimony about asbestos cloth use, direct asbestos handling documentation, USS Wasp (CV-18) and Brooklyn Navy Yard service records, and 1952 early career documentation establishing Electrician’s Mate asbestos exposure in the national mesothelioma litigation record. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.