Georgia reports approximately 60 mesothelioma diagnoses per year, driven by the state's significant military presence, wartime industrial history, and power generation sector. Georgia's military installations — including Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Robins Air Force Base, and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base — exposed thousands of service members and civilian employees to asbestos in base construction and equipment maintenance. The Lockheed Martin aircraft facility in Marietta (formerly Lockheed Georgia) was also a significant aerospace industry exposure site.
Asbestos Exposure History in Georgia
Georgia's asbestos exposure history spans military, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, one of the largest air logistics centers in the Air Force, maintained and repaired aircraft using asbestos-containing components for decades. Lockheed's Marietta facility — which produced C-130 and C-5 transport aircraft — used asbestos in aircraft components and manufacturing facility construction during its peak production years. During World War II, the Brunswick Shipyard in coastal Georgia produced Liberty ships using standard asbestos insulation, exposing a generation of workers. Georgia Power Company's statewide network of coal-fired power plants also exposed utility workers to asbestos boiler and turbine insulation.
Key Asbestos Exposure Sites in Georgia
- Brunswick Shipyard (Brunswick, WWII)
- Fort Benning / Fort Moore (Columbus)
- Robins Air Force Base (Warner Robins)
- Georgia Power plants (statewide)
- Lockheed Martin Marietta (Marietta)
- Hercules Chemical (Brunswick)
Top Industries for Asbestos Exposure in Georgia
- Military Installations
- Textile Manufacturing
- Power Generation
- Shipbuilding (Brunswick)
- Chemical Plants
Georgia Mesothelioma Laws & Filing Deadlines
Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations for both personal injury and wrongful death asbestos claims. Georgia courts have handled mesothelioma cases particularly relating to military and aerospace exposure. Fulton County (Atlanta) and Chatham County (Savannah/Brunswick) are the primary venues for Georgia asbestos litigation.
* Filing deadlines are based on state law at time of publication. Always verify current deadlines with a licensed mesothelioma attorney in Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions — Mesothelioma in Georgia
Yes. Civilian contractors who worked on Air Force bases are subject to the same asbestos exposures as military personnel and government workers, and can file product liability claims against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used at the base.