Owens Corning Corporation is a global company that manufactures residential and commercial building materials. Decades of asbestos use, primarily in insulation, led to illnesses in workers in many industries. Lawsuits over asbestos exposure eventually led to bankruptcy and an asbestos trust.
With more than $30 billion currently set aside in trust funds, you may qualify for substantial compensation if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Did Owens Corning Use Asbestos?
Owens Corning and its subsidiary Fibreboard used asbestos to make construction products for decades. Asbestos was used in construction for its ability to insulate and make materials stronger. Owens Corning does not currently use asbestos.
Owens Corning Corporation History
Owens Corning was founded in 1935 with a merger of Owens-Illinois and Corning Glass Works.
- The newly formed Owens-Corning Fiberglass Company specialized in fiberglass insulation. By 1938, the company already had millions of dollars in sales.
- The need for quality fiberglass insulation increased during World War II and especially during the post-war housing construction boom. During that time, the company became the leading fiberglass and insulation company in the nation.
- In 1952, Owens Corning went public, which brought in additional customers and profits. The company continued its success throughout the next several decades. A slowdown in the construction industry affected the company in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Owens Corning bought the Fibreboard Corporation in 1997. Owens Corning and Fibreboard both used asbestos in their products for many years, leading to lawsuits. The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1978.
- The influx of asbestos-related lawsuits and declining sales led to Owens Corning filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998. As part of the process, Owens Corning established an asbestos trust fund to compensate claimants.
Owens Corning operates today as a manufacturer of roofing materials, insulation, and other construction products. It does not use asbestos in any products.
Owens Corning Asbestos Products
Asbestos use in construction products was once common. Owens Corning used asbestos to manufacture its products from the 1950s through 1972.
Owens Corning manufactured several asbestos-containing products:
- Kaylo heat insulating block
- Kaylo pipe insulation and covering
- Kaylo duct insulation
- Kaylo equipment insulation
- Kaylo cold storage systems
- Kaylo insulating roof tile
- Kaylo fiberglass ceiling boards
- Kaylo insulating cement
- Kaylo finishing cement
- One Cote Cement
- Fiberglass ready cement
- Fiberglass ready mix
- Fiberglass mastic
Owens Corning also took on liability for Fibreboard Corporation’s asbestos products:
- Floor Coating
- Gypsum board
- Insulating cement
- Insulating tape
- Paper insulation
- Pipe covering
- Roof paint
- Roofing felt
Workers Affected by Owens Corning Asbestos Products
Working with and handling asbestos products like those made by Owens Corning and Fibreboard can release fibers into the air. Once in the air, workers can inhale asbestos fibers, which, over time, cause damage and illness in some people.
Workers in Owens Corning factories faced high risks of asbestos exposure. The handling and manipulation of asbestos to make the products most likely released fibers and caused exposure.
Exposure risks didn’t end with Owens Corning employees. Many workplaces used Owens Corning asbestos products, leading to workers in various occupations in the construction industry:
- Carpenters
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Drywallers
- Painters
- Insulators
- HVAC workers
- Roofers
- Laborers
- Demolition workers
- Repair, maintenance, and renovation workers
Owens Corning asbestos products were also used in ship construction. Workers in shipyards and on ships, both civilian and in the U.S. Navy, faced high risks of asbestos exposure from these and products from other suppliers.
Today, U.S. Navy veterans have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma due to the heavy use of asbestos materials on ships.
Owens Corning Asbestos Lawsuits
Owens Corning faced thousands of lawsuits related to asbestos exposure before filing for bankruptcy. The first came in 1978. Two shipyard workers diagnosed with asbestosis filed a class action lawsuit against Owens Corning and other defendants. They worked with pipes insulated with asbestos materials.
Another example of an asbestos lawsuit against Owens Corning was filed in 1997. Three widows of construction workers filed against Owens Corning and other companies for their husbands’ asbestos illnesses. The women won $13 million in damages.
In another case, a Florida man was awarded more than $32 million in compensatory and punitive damages. He worked with Owens Corning products for decades and was diagnosed with mesothelioma. His lawyers successfully argued that the company failed to warn workers of the risks of asbestos.
Owens Corning faced controversy over cases filed in Baltimore in the late 1990s. At that time, courts decided if claimants were sick enough to proceed with their lawsuits. Owens Corning requested different, more difficult standards for Black claimants. The courts denied the race-based request.
Owens Corning Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust
Facing more than 200,000 asbestos-related cases, Owens Corning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000.
Owens Corning emerged from bankruptcy in 2006 and established the Owens Corning Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. The Trust handles all asbestos-related claims for both Owens Corning and the Fibreboard Corporation with two subfunds.
The company funded the Owens Corning Subfund with $1.5 billion and the Fibreboard Subfund with $3.4 billion. The payment percentage for Owens Corning asbestos claims is 5.9%. The payment percentage for Fibreboard claims is 4.4%.
If You Were Exposed to Asbestos in Owens Corning Products
If you worked with Owens Corning products, you might have been exposed to asbestos. Talk to your doctor about your health risks and screenings for asbestos illness.
Contact an asbestos attorney if you receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma or another asbestos illness. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer gives you the best chance of a successful claim with the asbestos trust fund.
A lawyer can also review your work history to find other sources of compensation. Most people with asbestos illnesses were exposed to products made by many different companies. You could be eligible for additional trusts or to file a lawsuit to seek damages.
Additional Resources and Help for Asbestos Victims
Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, there is a good chance you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form for your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area.
