Bell Asbestos Mines

Bell Asbestos Mines, also known as Bell’s United Asbestos Company, Ltd., was an asbestos mining business headquartered in Quebec, Canada. The company changed hands a few times but continued mining and manufacturing asbestos, putting workers and consumers at risk for decades.

If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

History of Bells Asbestos Mines

In 1936, the Turner & Newall Company acquired Keasbey and Mattison Company, the owners of Bell Mines, which extracted and mined raw chrysotile asbestos.

A year later, Turner & Newall created a fully-owned subsidiary and named it Bells Asbestos Mines, Ltd. The new company, a spin-off of Bell Mines, also extracted and mined asbestos.

J.W. Roberts Ltd., a company that merged with Turner & Newall, began using the mined asbestos to create products such as Limpet, a spray-on product used for its insulation properties. Although Limpet was manufactured in England, it was distributed worldwide, including in the U.S.

This continued until 1962 when Nicolet Industries and the CertainTeed Corporation bought out the company. The licensing to Limpet, also known as Sprayed Limpet Asbestos, was given to the Armstrong Contracting and Supply Company.

The Armstrong Contracting and Supply Company transferred the Limpet licensing to the Atlas Asbestos Company in 1967. Atlas Asbestos Company was part of an internal department of Bell Asbestos Mines.

When the licensing for Limpet transferred, the fall of Bell Asbestos Mines began as people started filing claims against the company.

Bells Asbestos Mines Lawsuits

Starting in 1932 and lasting throughout the 1970s, Bells Asbestos Mines was responsible for supplying raw asbestos fibers to numerous manufacturing companies throughout the U.S.

Consequently, Turner & Newall Company faced asbestos-related lawsuits, started by workers who transported the materials or worked at the companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products.

In 1998, the Federal-Mogul Corporation purchased Turner & Newall, including its subsidiaries. Since there were still thousands of pending claims against Turner & Newall, the Federal-Mogul Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001.

To complete the requirements for bankruptcy, the Federal-Mogul Corporation was required to set up an asbestos trust fund to compensate current and future asbestos-related claims.

The trust fund handled all claims against Turner & Newall, including any claims against Bell Asbestos Mines.

In 2010, the trust fund began accepting claims under the name of T&N Sub Fund Trust. The trust fund offers claimants two options when filing for compensation: an expedited claim or an individual claim.

For more information on the differences between an expedited and an individual claim, refer to our article Mesothelioma Trust Funds.

Occupations Affected by Bell Asbestos Mines

As mentioned earlier, Bells Asbestos Mines faced lawsuits from various workers, including those who transported the asbestos to those who built and worked around asbestos-containing products.

Many workers in various occupations were affected by asbestos mined at Bell, including:

• Insulation workers
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Painters
• HVAC workers
• General maintenance workers
• Miners

Further, over 200 tons of waste was dumped by Bell Asbestos Mines. Thetford, Quebec, was severely polluted, placing workers at risk and residents in danger of developing asbestos-related illnesses.

If you worked with or around asbestos or for Bell Asbestos Mines, you are at risk for mesothelioma and other illnesses. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to find out what your legal rights are.

Legal Resources and Additional Information

Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.