Premises Description

Hercules Inc. (founded 1912 as a DuPont divestiture creating an independent explosives company; later expanded into specialty chemicals and polymers; acquired by Ashland Inc. 2008) was through the 20th century one of the largest U.S. explosives, specialty chemical, and polymer manufacturers. Hercules operated through the asbestos era U.S. plants including:

  • Wilmington DE — corporate headquarters and historic operations
  • Kenvil NJ — explosives plant
  • Carney’s Point NJ — chemical operations
  • Bessemer AL — chemicals
  • Hopewell VA — major Tidewater chemical complex
  • Hattiesburg MS — naval stores and rosin
  • Brunswick GA — naval stores and resin
  • Beaumont TX — major Gulf Coast chemical plant (note: this site sat in the OBLF/Provost & Umphrey TX corridor — see Hercules Powder Beaumont TX jobsite)
  • Parlin NJ, Magna UT, Pinole CA — explosives operations

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Hercules — as premises owner — exposed chemical workforce and contractor pipefitters, insulators, boilermakers, and trade workers to extensive asbestos.

Hercules Inc. has been named as a Premises Defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation.

Workers Exposed

  • USW / chemical workers at Hercules plants
  • Refinery pipefitters and millwrights working Hercules capital projects
  • Insulators (HFIAW Local members) on Hercules construction and turnaround crews
  • Boilermakers (IBB Local members) building Hercules plant equipment
  • Construction-trade workforces on Hercules EPC projects

If You Worked at a Hercules Plant

If you worked at a Hercules Inc. explosives, specialty chemical, or polymer plant during the asbestos era — including at Wilmington DE, Hopewell VA, Beaumont TX, Hattiesburg MS, or any other Hercules site — as an employee or as a dispatched contractor trade worker — and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness, you may have legal rights.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956