WO-339 MC Gun — Keene Corporation
Product Description
The WO-339 MC Gun was an asbestos-containing product manufactured by Keene Corporation, a diversified industrial company that produced a broad range of construction, insulation, and fireproofing materials throughout much of the twentieth century. The “MC Gun” designation suggests this product was associated with a spray or projection application system, consistent with Keene’s involvement in spray-applied fireproofing and insulation technologies that were widely adopted across industrial, commercial, and institutional construction projects during the mid-to-late twentieth century.
Keene Corporation operated across several industrial segments, including building products and specialty materials, and supplied products to construction sites, manufacturing facilities, shipyards, and power generation plants. The WO-339 MC Gun falls within a product family that litigation records associate with multiple end-use categories, including floor tile applications, pipe insulation, refractory materials, spray fireproofing systems, and valves and steam traps — reflecting the versatility of asbestos-containing product lines during the era in which they were produced.
Because precise production dates have not been independently verified in publicly available documentation for this specific product designation, the WO-339 MC Gun is referenced in the context of Keene Corporation’s broader manufacturing history, which spans decades during which asbestos use was commonplace and largely unregulated in industrial product manufacturing.
Asbestos Content
Keene Corporation products in the categories associated with the WO-339 MC Gun — including spray fireproofing materials, pipe insulation, floor tiles, refractory compounds, and valve and steam trap assemblies — were historically formulated with asbestos mineral fibers as a primary functional ingredient. Chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite asbestos varieties were all employed in various industrial product lines during the periods in question, depending on the thermal, structural, and fire-resistance demands of the intended application.
In spray fireproofing and refractory materials, asbestos provided critical heat resistance and structural cohesion. In pipe insulation products, asbestos fibers were valued for their thermal insulating properties and durability under high-pressure and high-temperature service conditions. In floor tile formulations, asbestos was used as a reinforcing binder. In valve and steam trap assemblies, asbestos-containing packing, gaskets, and insulation components were standard for sealing and thermal management.
Plaintiffs alleged in litigation that Keene Corporation was aware, or should have been aware, of the hazards associated with asbestos-containing materials in its product lines, and that adequate warnings were not provided to workers and end users who encountered these products in occupational settings.
The specific asbestos fiber type and percentage composition of the WO-339 MC Gun have not been independently confirmed in publicly available product documentation reviewed for this reference entry. However, litigation records document the product’s classification alongside other Keene asbestos-containing materials.
How Workers Were Exposed
Industrial workers represent the primary exposed population documented in connection with Keene Corporation asbestos-containing products, including those in the categories associated with the WO-339 MC Gun. Exposure pathways varied depending on the application context, but shared a common mechanism: the disturbance, application, mixing, cutting, removal, or proximity to asbestos-containing materials that released respirable fibers into the breathing zone.
Spray Fireproofing Applications: Workers involved in the application of spray-applied fireproofing materials faced among the most intensive exposure scenarios documented in litigation and industrial hygiene literature. The spray process itself — which projected asbestos-laden material under pressure onto structural steel and concrete surfaces — generated dense fiber clouds in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. Bystander workers, including ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, and laborers working in adjacent areas, were also exposed without necessarily performing the application directly.
Pipe Insulation Work: Insulation installers and pipefitters who worked with asbestos pipe insulation products experienced repeated, sometimes daily, exposure during cutting, fitting, and finishing operations. Maintenance and repair workers who later disturbed pre-existing asbestos pipe insulation during service work — sawing, chipping, or removing deteriorated insulation — faced significant secondary exposures that litigation records document across multiple industrial sectors.
Refractory and High-Temperature Applications: Workers in foundries, steel mills, power plants, and similar heavy industrial environments who installed, repaired, or removed refractory materials containing asbestos were exposed during mixing and application, as well as during the demolition or replacement of worn refractory linings.
Floor Tile Installation and Removal: Tile setters and floor mechanics who installed asbestos-containing floor tiles using dry-cutting or abrasive methods generated substantial fiber release. Maintenance personnel who sanded, buffed, or removed existing tile installations faced comparable risks, particularly when working in enclosed spaces with limited ventilation.
Valves and Steam Traps: Pipefitters, maintenance mechanics, and boilerhouse workers who serviced, repaired, or replaced valve assemblies and steam traps encountered asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and insulating components. Removal and replacement of these components — particularly in aging industrial facilities — could release significant quantities of respirable fibers.
Across all these exposure contexts, industrial workers generally may have gone years or decades without recognizing that the materials they handled contained asbestos, as product labeling and safety disclosures were frequently absent or inadequate during the periods of heaviest use.
Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options
The WO-339 MC Gun is classified as a Tier 2 — Litigated product for purposes of this reference entry. This classification reflects that legal claims associated with this product and its manufacturer, Keene Corporation, have proceeded through civil litigation rather than through a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund established under Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Litigation records document claims filed against Keene Corporation and its successor entities by plaintiffs alleging asbestos-related disease caused by exposure to Keene products, including those in the categories associated with the WO-339 MC Gun. Plaintiffs alleged that Keene Corporation manufactured, distributed, and sold asbestos-containing products without adequate warnings, and that this conduct proximately caused diagnoses including mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease.
Individuals who believe they were exposed to asbestos through the WO-339 MC Gun or other Keene Corporation products, and who have received a confirmed asbestos-related diagnosis, should consult with a qualified asbestos litigation attorney to evaluate their legal options. Key considerations in any claim evaluation typically include:
- Diagnosis confirmation through pathology and medical records
- Occupational history documentation establishing product contact and exposure duration
- Product identification through employment records, co-worker testimony, and site documentation
- Applicable statutes of limitations in the relevant jurisdiction, which vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis or reasonable discovery of the disease
Because Keene Corporation’s litigation posture and corporate history involve complex successor liability questions, legal counsel with specific experience in asbestos product liability is essential for potential claimants seeking to understand their available remedies.
This reference article is provided for informational purposes based on litigation records and publicly available documentation. It does not constitute legal advice. Individuals with potential asbestos exposure claims should consult a licensed attorney.