Quigley Company Waterproof Cement (1959–1974)

Product Description

Quigley Company manufactured a waterproof cement marketed primarily as a roofing product during the period spanning 1959 through 1974. This category of construction material was widely used across industrial and commercial building applications where moisture resistance and durable adhesion were essential performance requirements. Waterproof cements of this era served as sealants, adhesives, and coating compounds applied to roofing substrates, flashing assemblies, and related building envelope components.

The Quigley Company was a New York-based manufacturer with an established presence in the specialty construction materials market. The company produced a range of industrial compounds, and its waterproof cement product line was positioned as a heavy-duty solution for roofing and weatherproofing applications. Like many industrial sealants and cements manufactured during the mid-twentieth century, the product was formulated with asbestos as a functional ingredient, taking advantage of the mineral’s fibrous binding properties, heat resistance, and durability characteristics that were then considered industrial virtues.

The fifteen-year production window of 1959 to 1974 places this product squarely within the era when asbestos use in construction materials reached its peak in the United States. Regulatory awareness and worker protection standards had not yet curtailed the widespread incorporation of asbestos into commercial building products. Products like this waterproof cement moved through industrial supply chains with little restriction, reaching job sites across the country.

Asbestos Content

Quigley Company’s waterproof cement contained chrysotile asbestos, the most commonly used form of asbestos in commercial manufacturing during the twentieth century. Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, belongs to the serpentine mineral group and is characterized by its long, curly fibers. These fiber characteristics made chrysotile particularly well-suited to binding and reinforcing applications in cement-based and mastic-type products.

In waterproof cement formulations of this period, chrysotile asbestos typically served multiple functional purposes. The fibers reinforced the cement matrix, improved workability and spreadability during application, enhanced adhesion to roofing substrates, and contributed to the product’s resistance to weathering, temperature extremes, and moisture penetration. These properties made asbestos-containing cements attractive to manufacturers who were competing on the basis of product performance and durability.

Despite its technical utility, chrysotile asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by regulatory and scientific bodies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the National Toxicology Program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates workplace asbestos exposure under 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1001 (general industry) and 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101 (construction), establishing permissible exposure limits and mandatory protective protocols. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) further codifies federal recognition of asbestos as a hazardous substance requiring regulated handling and abatement procedures.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers generally represent the primary exposed population documented in connection with Quigley Company waterproof cement. The routes of occupational exposure associated with this product type are consistent with the physical properties of chrysotile asbestos and the manner in which cement and mastic products were typically handled on industrial and commercial job sites.

Workers applying waterproof cement products during the 1959–1974 production period would have encountered asbestos fibers through several mechanisms. Opening and mixing the product could release fiber-laden dust into the breathing zone. Spreading and troweling the cement across roofing surfaces created friction and agitation that could liberate airborne fibers. Cutting, trimming, or otherwise mechanically disturbing the cured or partially dried cement produced additional fiber release. In enclosed or poorly ventilated industrial environments, airborne fiber concentrations could accumulate to levels now understood to represent serious inhalation hazards.

Cleanup and housekeeping tasks associated with cement application also carried exposure potential. Workers who swept, disturbed, or handled waste material and dried residue from the application process could inhale fibers that had settled on surrounding surfaces. Because chrysotile fibers are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, workers had no reliable means of knowing when dangerous fiber concentrations were present in the air they breathed.

It is also important to recognize that bystander and secondary exposure was a documented risk in industrial settings where multiple trades worked in proximity. A worker who was not directly applying the waterproof cement could nonetheless inhale fibers generated by nearby application activities.

The long latency period associated with asbestos-related disease—typically ranging from ten to fifty years between first exposure and diagnosis—means that workers exposed to Quigley waterproof cement during the 1959–1974 production window may only now be presenting with illness. Diseases causally associated with chrysotile asbestos inhalation include mesothelioma (a rare and aggressive cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings), lung cancer, asbestosis (a progressive fibrotic lung disease), and other asbestos-related pleural conditions.

Quigley Company waterproof cement is a Tier 2 — Litigated product. No dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund has been established in connection with this specific product. Claims arising from exposure to this product have been pursued through civil litigation rather than through an administrative trust fund claims process.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs have brought civil actions alleging asbestos-related injury connected to Quigley Company products. Plaintiffs alleged that the company knew or should have known of the hazards associated with asbestos-containing products and failed to adequately warn workers of those risks. Litigation records document claims asserting negligence, strict products liability, and failure to warn as primary theories of recovery.

Individuals who believe they were exposed to Quigley Company waterproof cement and have subsequently developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or related asbestos-caused conditions should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation. Key documentation that typically supports such claims includes:

  • Employment and occupational history identifying job sites, employers, and time periods of potential exposure
  • Product identification records such as purchasing documents, invoices, safety data sheets, or witness testimony confirming the presence of this specific product
  • Medical documentation including pathology reports, imaging studies, and physician diagnoses confirming an asbestos-related disease
  • Co-worker testimony from individuals who can verify the use of this product in shared work environments

Because asbestos litigation involves statutes of limitations that vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis or date of discovery of the illness, prompt legal consultation is important. An attorney can evaluate exposure history, identify all potentially liable parties, and determine whether additional trust fund claims may exist based on exposure to other asbestos-containing products used in the same occupational settings.

This article is provided for informational reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals seeking guidance regarding asbestos-related illness or legal claims should consult a qualified attorney.