Nuclear-qualified Electrician’s Mates — EM(N) — operated and maintained the electrical distribution systems, turbo-generators, motor controller groups, and electrical equipment in the engineering spaces of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. After completing Nuclear Power School and prototype training alongside nuclear Machinist’s Mates, nuclear EMs were assigned to the same nuclear vessels where their primary watch stations were in the engine room (submarines) or the main engineering spaces (carriers) — the same compartments containing asbestos-insulated secondary steam components in early nuclear vessel construction.

Engine Room Watch Station and Asbestos Exposure

Nuclear EMs maintained electrical distribution equipment and stood electrical watch in the engine room and associated engineering spaces of nuclear vessels:

  • Turbo-generator watch stations — nuclear EMs were responsible for monitoring turbo-generator operation and managing electrical load distribution, with their primary watch station position at or near the turbo-generator sets in the engine room where asbestos-insulated turbine casings were present in early nuclear vessels
  • Electrical distribution equipment in engineering spaces — motor control centers, switchgear, and electrical distribution panels in nuclear engineering spaces were located in the same compartments as asbestos-insulated steam system equipment
  • Engine room environment — nuclear EMs shared the same engine room watch environment as nuclear Machinist’s Mates, present in proximity to asbestos-insulated secondary steam piping, turbine casings, and auxiliary steam equipment throughout each engineering watch

Electrical Equipment Asbestos

Some electrical equipment in nuclear engineering spaces used asbestos-containing materials in addition to the ambient asbestos from steam system insulation:

  • Motor lead insulation on large electric motors driving feedwater pumps, reactor coolant pumps, and auxiliary systems used asbestos-insulated electrical leads in older construction
  • Switchgear arc chutes in some motor control equipment used asbestos-containing arc-quenching materials in electrical fault interruption components
  • Electrical panel construction in older nuclear vessel electrical panels used asbestos-containing materials in panel construction and thermal protection

Prototype Training Exposure

Nuclear EM trainees at land-based prototype reactor plants trained in the same prototype reactor plant environments as nuclear MM trainees — with secondary steam components using asbestos insulation in the prototype plants in use before the mid-1980s.

VA Claims for Nuclear EM Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure for Navy nuclear engineering personnel. Nuclear Electrician’s Mates who stood engineering watches in nuclear vessels built before the mid-1980s asbestos phase-down and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.