赫拉克勒斯化工公司

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. was originally founded as a manufacturer of chemicals for plumbing purposes. Sam Wander, the founder, established the company in the early 1900s inNew York City。

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. produced a variety of products to help the plumbing industry, includingputties, cements, acids, wax and antifreeze. The product offering expanded and evolved as the company grew, which also meant their ingredients changed to meet consumer demands.

Starting in the 1950s, the company began producing plumbing products withasbestos。The mineral was often used in plumbing applications because it is a durable, non-flammable option that would not break down easily when exposed to water or heat.

在其最受欢迎的产品中是STA-PLAD，这是1962年在其峰值生产中的腻子。Putty用作用于水槽，排水管和水龙头的防漏密封材料。这家公司在此期间的另一家热门产品包括蒸煮/炉水泥。这些产品被称为“高温”选项，意思是石棉，以承受来自炉子和热管的高温。

该公司于1983年停止生产具有石棉产品的产品，但许多工人和消费者仍然暴露于危险的纤维。

许多人归因于诸如一款产品的曝光而提出了与之相关的索赔：Sta-Put Plumber的Putty。由于成千上万的与石棉相关的索赔，Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。于2008年提交了第11章破产。该公司两年后出现破产后，在美国破产法院批准的重组计划被美国破产法院批准New Jersey。

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. was acquired by Oatey, a manufacturing and distribution network, in 2013. Though the company is in operation today, it is still mentioned in asbestos lawsuits and uses its trust fund to pay out claimants.

02. Asbestos Products

Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。石棉产品

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. had several products that were known to contain asbestos. In plumbing applications, asbestos was typically used to mitigate wear and tear on products from water damage or excessive heat.

Furnace cementwas often used to seal and repair furnaces and boilers, as well as chimneys and other applications. Plumbers putty, another product manufactured by Hercules Chemical Company, Inc., is used to create a seal on pipes, faucets and drains. These materials often deteriorate or require repairs, upon which asbestos fibers may be released into the air and inhaled.

Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。含石棉产品包括：

• For Heat’s Sake
• 他rcules furnace cement
• 他rcules Sta-Put Stainless Putty (available in the 1950s)

Any level of asbestos exposure is dangerous, but some of the company’s products contained higher concentrations of asbestos depending on its purpose. Hercules Chemical Company, Inc.’s asbestos-containing furnace cement contained 7% asbestos, and the Sta-Put putty contained 3% asbestos.

03. Occupational Exposure

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. and Occupational Exposure

管道工是来自Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。的产品暴露于石棉的风险。当浇铸炉水泥或操纵腻子以密封管道时，工人可能已经暴露在石棉纤维上。在打磨，破坏或以其他方式扰乱含石棉的水泥或腻子时，它们也可能会暴露。

拆迁工人can also be put at risk if they are unsafely removing these materials from furnaces or pipes.

04. Asbestos Litigation

Asbestos Litigation Against Hercules Chemical Company, Inc.

Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。在其20世纪50年代使用石棉在其产品中，直到20世纪80年代，揭露了以后的疾病的数千名工人，如万博专业版。As a result, the company has faced numerous lawsuits and continues to be named. In 2008, the company filed for bankruptcy due to mounting claims. In that year, the company faced about 7,000 outstanding lawsuits from hazards associated with its asbestos products.

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. also faced lawsuits for other chemicals in its products that created serious health concerns. The company used a chemical known asAgent Orange, which has since been recognized as a carcinogen. Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. and other businesses, including Dow Chemical Company, faced numerous lawsuits fromveteransdue to the wide reach of Agent Orange. In 1984,公司面临1.8亿美元的判决，支持52名退伍军人，从而从暴露中开发癌症和其他疾病。

05.石棉信托基金

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. Asbestos Trust Fund

赫拉克勒斯化工公司, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 22, 2008. As of 2013, Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. operates as a brand of Oatey, however, the company established its own石棉信托基金2010年从破产中出现后。该信任于2011年开始接受索赔，最初资助860万美元。

截至2019年4月的付款百分比为成功索赔4.7％。该信任继续接受并缴纳Hercules Chemical Company，Inc。付款可能会有所不同，通常根据案例决定，不同的因素会影响支付，如间皮瘤的阶段万博专业版和asbestos lawyer’s experience。