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

Direct Asbestos Handling Testimony

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

Early Career Documentation — 1952

Occupational Exposure Documentation — Garlock and ASA

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 service connection under VA asbestos-claim guidance 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

All consultations are free. No fee unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf.

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.