Get in Touch
Have questions? Call or chat with our Patient Advocates for answers.
Written by Matt Mauney | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 23, 2024
M.H. Detrick used asbestos because it was heat-resistant, flexible, durable and relatively inexpensive.
M.H. Detrick served a number of industries to provide a wide variety of asbestos-containing suspended refractory construction materials from 1939 to 1964. Few other companies manufactured as many asbestos-containing products as M.H. Detrick.
The company’s asbestos products were supplied in various heat-resistant grades, and the applications were diverse. These products included heat-resistant castings, asbestos cement, coatings, insulating materials and pre-fired brick.
These products were used primarily in the construction of industrial furnaces, ovens and boilers. M.H. Detrick was also a supplier for the U.S. armed forces, which means many veterans were exposed to these asbestos products.
Workers and veterans who developed asbestos-related diseases after working with these products went on to sue the company for compensation to cover medical bills and lost wages.
As of 2022, M.H. Detrick continues to operate out of Frankfurt, Illinois. The company still sells refractory heat enclosures and linings for industrial purposes.
Asbestos lawsuits eventually caused M.H. Detrick to file for bankruptcy on Jan. 13, 1998.
The M.H. Detrick Asbestos Trust was established with $3 million and began taking claims on Aug. 21, 2002. The trust compensated workers exposed to asbestos products manufactured by M.H. Detrick between 1939 and 1964. The trust’s claim period ended on Feb. 10, 2011, and the trust is now closed.
Anyone who handled their products or worked for the company during its asbestos heyday still may develop serious health issues in the future because of the decades-long latency period between exposure and diagnosis.
Other forms of financial assistance may be available to help compensate these victims.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowBy the mid-1980s, M.H. Detrick was a target of thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits.
One notable case brought by Wesley Roberts Jr. named M.H. Detrick among 27 defendants. Roberts was a pipefitter from 1941 to 1981 at an Exxon oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1994 and died a year later. M.H. Detrick was one of 26 companies that settled the claim before it went to court.
M.H. Detrick manufactured, used, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products for 26 years, from 1939 through 1964.
Veterans who worked with M.H. Detrick’s products while serving in the armed forces were at risk of asbestos exposure. Boiler workers stationed on submarines may have faced the highest levels of exposure.
In 2018, a scientific study found significantly higher rates of mesothelioma among Navy veterans who worked as a boiler technician, fireman, machinist’s mate, pipefitter and water tender. Even though these jobs were held by only 20% of the enlisted naval population, veterans with these jobs accounted for 55% of all mesothelioma deaths within that population.
Recommended ReadingYour web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are looking for mesothelioma support, please contact our Patient Advocates at (855) 404-4592
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
Mauney, M. (2024, July 23). M. H. Detrick Company. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/m-h-detrick-company/
Mauney, Matt. "M. H. Detrick Company." Asbestos.com, 23 Jul 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/m-h-detrick-company/.
Mauney, Matt. "M. H. Detrick Company." Asbestos.com. Last modified July 23, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/m-h-detrick-company/.
Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families doesn’t believe in selling customer information. However, as required by the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you may record your preference to view or remove your personal information by completing the form below.