Product Description

Simmons-Rand — an Ingersoll-Rand mining-drill lineage — allegedly supplied pneumatic percussion drills used to bore roof-bolt starter holes and short-hole blast rounds in underground coal mines. According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, the piston-rod packing, valve-chest gaskets, and cylinder-head seals inside Simmons-Rand drills allegedly used asbestos fiber to survive percussive heat and compressed-air blowdown. Exhaust air allegedly carried packing-wear dust into the operator’s breathing zone.

Workers Exposed

Underground miners running short-hole pneumatic drills, roof-bolter helpers, and mine-shop mechanics rebuilding worn drills between shifts allegedly disturbed asbestos packing during piston-rod repacking, gasket scraping, and valve-chest rebuilds. Compressed-air blowdown of drill internals allegedly released settled fibers.