Major Washington Asbestos Exposure Sites
| Facility | Location | Industry | Peak Era | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) | Bremerton | Naval shipbuilding, overhaul & repair (largest Navy shipyard on U.S. West Coast) | 1891–present (ACM peak 1940–1975) | Critical |
| Todd Shipyards Seattle | Seattle | Commercial shipbuilding & Navy contract repair | 1920s–1980s | Critical |
| Todd Shipyards Tacoma | Tacoma | Shipbuilding & repair | 1916–1970s | Critical |
| Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction | Seattle | Commercial shipbuilding | 1959–1986 | High |
| Hanford Nuclear Reservation | Richland / Tri-Cities | DOE nuclear weapons production (extensive asbestos in plant buildings & process equipment) | 1943–1980s | High |
| Kaiser Aluminum Smelters (Trentwood / Mead) | Spokane area | Aluminum manufacturing (asbestos in potroom insulation) | 1940s–1980s | High |
| Pacific Car & Foundry / PACCAR (Kenworth) | Renton | Truck manufacturing (asbestos brake components, exhaust insulation) | 1930s–1970s | High |
| Weyerhaeuser Pulp & Paper Mills | Longview / Cosmopolis / Everett | Pulp & paper manufacturing (boiler room, pipe insulation) | 1930s–1980s | Moderate |
| City of Seattle / Seattle City Light | Seattle | Municipal electric utility (substations & generating plants) | 1930s–1980s | Moderate |
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard — The Central Exposure Source
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) in Bremerton, Washington is the U.S. Navy’s largest shipyard on the West Coast and one of the most extensively documented asbestos exposure sites in Navy litigation. PSNS has been in continuous operation since 1891 and at its World War II peak employed over 35,000 workers.
PSNS performed construction, overhaul, and repair work on every class of Navy vessel — battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and support ships. Asbestos was used throughout these vessels in pipe insulation, boiler lagging, engine room fireproofing, sleeping quarter insulation, and deck materials. Workers in the most hazardous trades — pipe laggers (insulators), boilermakers, pipefitters, and shipfitters — worked in the enclosed below-decks spaces where fiber concentrations were highest.
Navy veterans who served at PSNS or aboard vessels overhauled at Bremerton, as well as civilian shipyard workers, have filed thousands of asbestos claims related to PSNS exposure. Veterans are eligible for VA disability benefits and VA health care for asbestos-related conditions. Civilian workers may have civil claims against insulation product manufacturers.
Washington State Asbestos Regulations
Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) / WISHA
Washington State’s asbestos regulations are administered by the Department of Labor & Industries under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA). Washington operates its own OSHA state plan, with asbestos standards at least as stringent as federal OSHA.
- Contractor accreditation: Washington requires asbestos abatement contractors to be accredited by L&I. Individual workers must hold specific asbestos worker certifications.
- Inspector certification: Asbestos inspectors must hold Washington State L&I asbestos inspector certification in addition to AHERA accreditation.
- Notification: Washington requires notification to the Local Air Authority (PSAPCA, ORCAA, EFSEC or others depending on county) at least 10 working days before any project disturbing regulated ACM.
- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA): Oversees asbestos demolition/renovation notifications for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties — the most populated area and the area of the primary shipyard corridor.
Washington State Statute of Limitations: 3 Years
Washington has a relatively generous statute of limitations for asbestos claims: 3 years from the date of diagnosis under RCW 4.16.190. This applies to both personal injury and wrongful death claims. Washington applies the discovery rule — the SOL begins when the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of the asbestos-related disease.
Even with 3 years, prompt consultation with an asbestos attorney is strongly advisable. Trust fund claims, evidence preservation, and medical documentation all benefit from early action.
Washington Mesothelioma Legal Help
Former PSNS workers and Navy veterans in Washington diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to significant compensation. Free legal consultation available.