Bremerton WA Asbestos Exposure | Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS)

Bremerton & Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) in Bremerton is the largest naval maintenance facility on the Pacific Coast — and one of the most significant asbestos exposure sites in the Pacific Northwest. Workers who repaired nuclear submarines and surface ships at PSNS faced intense asbestos exposure in insulated engine rooms, boiler compartments, and pipe systems throughout the Cold War era.

1891PSNS established — still operating

15,000+Peak civilian workforce

3 YearsWashington statute of limitations

$0Upfront legal costs

PSNS and Kitsap County Exposure Sites

#	Facility	Type	Active Period	Risk
1	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS)	Naval Ship Repair & Overhaul	1891–present	Critical
2	Naval Base Kitsap (Bremerton)	Naval Operations & Maintenance	1944–present	High
3	Naval Base Kitsap (Bangor)	Submarine Base / SSBN	1977–present	High
4	Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport	Weapons Testing	1914–present	Moderate

PSNS: The Pacific Northwest’s Most Significant Exposure Site

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has continuously operated since 1891, maintaining and overhauling virtually every class of Navy vessel from battleships to nuclear submarines. Asbestos was standard insulation on all Navy vessels through the early 1970s — packed into steam pipe systems, boiler lagging, engine room insulation, and bulkhead linings.

Civilian PSNS workers — including pipefitters, insulators, boilermakers, electricians, and painters — worked in close proximity to asbestos materials during ship overhauls. The confined spaces of Navy vessels made asbestos dust exposure especially intense.

Two Separate Legal Paths for PSNS Workers

Civilian federal employees at PSNS can file Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) claims through the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) — separate from any lawsuit against product manufacturers. FECA benefits cover medical costs and wage replacement.

Civil lawsuits against the asbestos insulation and product manufacturers (not the U.S. government) remain available within Washington’s 3-year statute of limitations from diagnosis.

Navy veterans who served aboard ships repaired at PSNS can file VA disability claims at any time, with no statute of limitations.

Can civilian PSNS workers file mesothelioma claims?▼

Yes. Civilian federal employees at PSNS have two compensation paths: (1) FECA claims through the Department of Labor for occupational disease caused by federal employment, and (2) civil lawsuits against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were used at the shipyard. These paths can be pursued simultaneously. Washington’s 3-year statute of limitations applies to civil claims from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis.