Start with the thing you remember
A product name is only one clue. The H&S Resource Center connects remembered materials and equipment to work tasks, industries, occupations, manufacturers and the records that may help determine what was actually present.
Product and equipment research paths
Pipe & boiler insulation
Thermal insulation, steam systems, maintenance work and deep historical manufacturer/product collections.
Gaskets & packing
Sealing materials, maintenance tasks, pumps, valves and flange work.
Pumps & valves
Equipment-centered investigation of maintenance, packing and gasket work.
Electrical equipment
Electrical systems, work areas and historically relevant materials to investigate.
Joint compound & drywall
Construction and renovation history, tasks and product identification.
Flooring & adhesives
Flooring systems, installation/removal history and product clues.
Brakes & friction
Friction-product work and the records that can help identify product history.
Personal talc
A cautious, product-specific pathway for investigating remembered talc use.
Products and materials in the research library
Manufacturers connected to current research
These manufacturers appear in current historical research. A manufacturer name is a research lead—not proof that a particular product caused an individual exposure. Product identity, formulation, place and time still require evidence.
What we look for
Identity
Brand, generic product type, package, appearance, manufacturer, supplier and remembered wording.
Time
Approximate years matter because formulations, ownership and product lines can change.
Use
Installation, cutting, repair, removal, cleanup and nearby work can create different investigative questions.
Evidence
Catalogs, specifications, purchase orders, photographs, invoices, manuals, testimony and other historical records.