Product Description

Continental Can Company operated one of the largest metal-can manufacturing footprints in the United States and also supplied can-line closing equipment installed at customer food-processing plants. According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, Continental Can seamers and closing heads allegedly used woven asbestos-fabric drive belts, asbestos-containing seamer packing, and asbestos gaskets at steam-heated warmer and hot-fill stations. Belts and packing allegedly generated respirable fiber as they glazed, frayed, or were cut to length during scheduled maintenance.

Workers Exposed

Cannery workers and canning-line operators allegedly ran Continental Can seamers on high-speed vegetable, fruit, seafood, and beverage lines. Food-plant maintenance mechanics allegedly changed belts, rebuilt seamer heads, and replaced gaskets under production pressure. Pipefitters servicing steam supply to adjacent can-warmer sections may also have shared the same exposure zones.