Product Description
Sherwin-Williams allegedly manufactured asphalt- and rubber-based automotive undercoating products that, according to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, incorporated asbestos fiber as a sound-deadening, anti-chip, and abrasion-resistance additive. Undercoating was spray-applied to wheel wells, rocker panels, floor pans, and frame rails to protect against stone chips, road salt, and rust. During rust repair, collision work, or restoration, workers routinely scraped, ground, and wire-brushed aged undercoating off of vehicle underbodies — a process that allegedly released respirable asbestos fibers from any dried asbestos-containing formulation.
Workers Exposed
Auto body technicians, collision repair workers, auto body shop laborers, muffler shop workers, and used car reconditioning workers allegedly encountered Sherwin-Williams undercoating during both application (overspray) and removal (dry scraping, grinding, sandblasting). DIY auto restoration hobbyists allegedly applied consumer aerosol and brush-on undercoating at home and scraped rusted undercoating off classic cars during weekend restoration projects, often lying underneath vehicles as debris fell onto their clothing and face.