Conveyor Belt Systems — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk
What This Equipment Is
Industrial conveyor belt systems move bulk materials — coal, ore, aggregate, raw material, intermediate product — across long distances within mining operations, steel mills, cement plants, power plants, and bulk-handling terminals. A typical coal-fired power plant coal-handling system runs miles of conveyor belt from rail-car or barge unloading to plant storage silos.
Historical belt construction used rubber compound covers reinforced with woven fabric and steel cord. From the 1940s through the 1970s, some belt formulations used asbestos fiber in the rubber compound as a heat-resistant filler — particularly for high-temperature service belts carrying hot clinker, sinter, hot coke, or hot pellets. Belt splicing cements used in field repair also historically contained asbestos.
Roller assemblies, idler bearings, and drive-pulley housings used standard industrial gaskets and surrounding insulation in heated installations.
Asbestos Products Historically Used Around Conveyor Belt Systems
| Product Category | Where on the System | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Belt rubber compound (high-temp) | Belts carrying hot material | Asbestos fiber as heat-resistant filler |
| Splice cement | Field belt repair | Asbestos-bearing splice formulations |
| Drive-pulley housings | Gearbox and drive components | Surrounding insulation and gaskets |
| Bearing-housing gaskets | Roller and idler bearings | Asbestos sheet gasket material |
| Conveyor enclosure insulation | Heated transfer chutes, hooded sections | Block insulation, asbestos cloth |
| Brake-band material | Conveyor stop brakes on inclined belts | See Brake Linings |
Why Conveyor-Belt Work Was an Asbestos Exposure Pathway
Belts wear out. Long conveyor runs require recurring splice repair, full-belt replacements every few years, and routine roller and pulley maintenance. Belt-splice work on heated-service belts disturbed the asbestos-bearing rubber matrix and used asbestos splice cement. Demolition of legacy conveyor systems exposed bulk asbestos-containing belt material in volume.
In coal-handling at power plants, the combination of conveyor belt work and adjacent Ash Handling and pulverizer (see Coal Pulverizers) work meant maintenance crews encountered multiple asbestos product families across a shift.
Manufacturers Named in Conveyor-Belt Litigation
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber — industrial belt products
- U.S. Rubber / Uniroyal — belt products
- B.F. Goodrich — belt products
- Goodall Rubber — belt and splice products
- Continental Tire / Continental Belting — belt products
- Johns-Manville — splice cement and related products
Documented Product References
Images sourced from publicly available product-identification reference materials. Inclusion does not constitute a finding of liability against any company.
Trust Funds That May Apply
- Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust
- Various rubber-products-manufacturer trusts depending on specific named entities
Trades Most Exposed at Conveyor-Belt Work
Conveyor-system mechanics and splicing crews (the primary specialty), mining workers, power-plant coal-handling operators, mill maintenance mechanics, bulk-handling terminal workers, demolition crews.
Jobsites in the Network
- Coal-handling areas at every coal-fired Missouri power plant in the network
- Missouri steel mills and mining operations
- See companion pages: Coal Pulverizers, Ash Handling, Mine Ventilation, Brake Linings
Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, MSHA / OSHA inspection records, and industry-publication histories. Product and company references reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed litigation. This page does not constitute a finding of liability against any company. Not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.