Product Description

New Holland (a Sperry-New Holland brand through much of this era) produced self-propelled forage harvesters used on dairy and livestock operations to cut and chop corn silage, haylage, and grass. According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, main drive belts, header-drive slip clutches, and secondary drive components on these harvesters allegedly incorporated chrysotile asbestos as fabric reinforcement or bonded friction filler. Belts and slip clutches took heavy seasonal wear and were replaced frequently during pre-season overhauls.

Workers Exposed

Dairy farmers and custom-chop operators who serviced New Holland forage harvesters allegedly disturbed chrysotile-containing belts and friction discs during pre-silage-season rebuilds. Custom-harvester crews doing regional chop runs performed constant field repairs on belts, allegedly releasing fiber during cutting, fitting, and adjustment. Farm-equipment mechanics at New Holland dealers and independent shops handled harvester overhauls including drive belt and clutch renewal.