Ships and wharf labour

Asbestos was a popular insulator used extensively on ships.  Servicemen on navy ships were commonly exposed to asbestos as a result.  Waterside workers commonly have suffered very large exposures to asbestos dust also.  Bags of raw asbestos fibres were imported and exported via ports around the country.  Wharfies required to load and unload these materials suffered exposure to asbestos when bags broke or leaked asbestos fibres.

  • Navy & merchant navy

    Thousands of ex-servicemen were exposed to asbestos during their time in the Navy. Sadly, many have gone on to develop an asbestos disease including the former Governor of New South Wales, who died of mesothelioma.

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  • Waterside workers

    Turner Freeman has acted for many waterside workers who unloaded asbestos fibre in Adelaide, as well as the ports in Victoria, Sydney and Queensland and for truck drivers who carted the asbestos fibres from ports to factories, and the finished product from factories to customers.

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