The United States Gypsum Company (USG) has been a manufacturer of building materials for decades. A part of the USG Corporation, the company has been producing products for more than 100 years. Its product line includes wall, floor, and ceiling products. The company was founded in 1901, when 30 different companies merged and consolidated.

The Great Depression caused the company to expand its product line as a way to endure the economic times, inspiring the manufacture and distribution of joint tapes, insulation boards, exterior panels, finishing products, ceiling panels and molding plaster.

Thirty years later, the company decided to further diversify and started carrying cement, paint and mica products. As the company was able to continually adapt and change, it is now the biggest manufacturer of gypsum-based products in North America.

Asbestos-Containing Products

The USG manufactured products containing asbestos from 1920 through 1978. Since asbestos was heatproof and fire resistant, it was commonly used as an insulating material and was used in plaster, paint, ceiling tiles and more. Some of the USG asbestos-containing products include:

Audicote Acoustical Plaster
Durabond Joint Compound
Glatex Asbestos Cement Siding
Imperial Gypsum Cement Plaster
Imperial Gypsum Woodfibre Plaster
Imperial Tape
Oriental Exterior Stucco Finish Coat
Perf-A-Tape Joint
Pyrobestos PC Board & Stack Lining
Red Top Basecoat Plaster
Red Top Cement Plaster
Red Top Firecode Plaster
Red Top Patching Plaster
Regular Cement Plaster
Sabinite Acoustical Plaster / Hi-Lite Acoustical Plaster
Structolite Plaster
USG Asbestos Fibre Covering
USG Asbestos Paper
USG Corrugated Wool Felt AC Covering
USG Pipecoverings
USG Range Boiler Jackets Pipe Covering
USG Rigid Block
USG Siding Shingles

Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

USG's products were primarily used in the building and construction trades, but this put a wide variety of individuals at risk of asbestos exposure and potential development of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. Asbestos-related manufacturing, chemical plants, construction, ship building, textile and utility companies were some of the hardest hit. The following includes some of the types of occupations that were put at risk as a result of exposure to USG products:

Acoustical Worker
Air Conditioning Installer / Repairman
Building Remodeler
Carpenter or Joiner
Carpenter for Railroad Buildings
Ceiling Tile Installer
Construction Superintendent
Construction Worker
Custodian / Janitor
Dry Wall Taper
Drywall Applicator
Fitter
Floor Tile and Linoleum Layer
Hod Carrier
HVAC Installer
Laborer
Lather
Maintenance
Maintenance Electrician
Maintenance Foreman
Maintenance Mechanic
Maintenance Supervisor
Marine Carpenter
Mechanical Craftsman
Metal Lather
Naval Plant Maintenance
Painter
Pipefitter
Plasterer
Plumber
Refinery Laborer
Roofer
Sander
Sheetrock Hanger
Ship Maintenance Mechanic
Ship Repairperson
Sweeper
Tile Worker
Turnaround / Production Service Operator
Woodworker

Current Events

Since there were so many occupations and workers that were placed at risk because of USG's products, many lawsuits were filed against the company. Because of this, the company declared chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001. Subsequently, the Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was formed as part of the company's emergence out of bankruptcy. The trust was formed in 2006 and started accepting claims in 2007.

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