Worthington Pump (Halliburton)

Product Description

Worthington Pump refers to a line of industrial pumping equipment associated with Halliburton, the multinational energy services and engineering conglomerate. Worthington pumps were designed for demanding industrial environments, including oil and gas processing, petrochemical refining, power generation, and general heavy manufacturing. These pumps were built to move fluids—including steam, water, chemicals, and hydrocarbons—under high temperatures and pressures, conditions that historically demanded the use of heat-resistant and insulating materials throughout the equipment’s construction and installation.

Halliburton, through its various subsidiaries and acquisitions over the decades, became connected to a broad range of industrial equipment product lines. Worthington Pump represented a category of heavy-duty centrifugal and reciprocating pumps that were widely distributed across American industrial infrastructure during the mid-to-late twentieth century. These pumps were found in facilities ranging from refineries and chemical plants to naval installations and electric utilities, making them a fixture of the industrial landscape during an era when asbestos-containing materials were the standard solution for thermal management and sealing applications in mechanical equipment.

Asbestos Content

Litigation records document that Worthington pumps, like many industrial pumps of their era, were manufactured and sold with internal and external components that contained asbestos. Plaintiffs alleged that asbestos-containing materials were incorporated into the pumps themselves and were also routinely specified or supplied as companion maintenance materials for use with the equipment.

The components most frequently cited in litigation include:

• Gaskets: Plaintiffs alleged that the sealing gaskets used within pump housings, flanges, and valve connections were composed of compressed asbestos fiber materials, which were standard for high-temperature, high-pressure fluid handling applications of this period.
• Packing materials: Litigation records document that braided asbestos rope packing was used in pump stuffing boxes to prevent fluid leakage around rotating shafts. This packing required periodic replacement under routine maintenance schedules.
• Insulation: Plaintiffs alleged that external pipe insulation and thermal jacketing materials applied to pump assemblies and associated piping systems frequently contained asbestos, particularly where steam or superheated fluids were being handled.
• Internal component coatings: Some litigation records reference asbestos-containing coatings or linings applied within pump housings to manage heat and resist corrosion.

The presence of asbestos in these components was consistent with industry-wide practices during the decades when these pumps were manufactured and distributed. Asbestos was valued for its heat resistance, chemical stability, and durability—properties that made it appear well-suited for the mechanical stresses associated with industrial pump operation.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers generally represent the population most documented in litigation involving Worthington pumps and asbestos exposure. Plaintiffs alleged that exposure occurred at multiple stages of a pump’s operational life cycle, including initial installation, routine maintenance, repair, and eventual decommissioning.

Installation and initial commissioning: Workers involved in installing Worthington pumps were often required to cut, shape, and fit gaskets and insulation materials to the specific dimensions of the equipment. Litigation records document that cutting compressed asbestos gasket sheet material and trimming asbestos rope packing generated airborne asbestos dust that workers inhaled in the course of normal installation work.

Routine maintenance and repacking: Industrial pumps require ongoing maintenance. Litigation records document that one of the most common maintenance tasks associated with these pumps was the replacement of stuffing box packing. Workers performing this task would first remove deteriorated asbestos packing from the stuffing box, often scraping residual material from the shaft and housing surfaces—an operation plaintiffs alleged generated significant quantities of respirable asbestos fibers. New asbestos packing was then cut and fitted, continuing the exposure cycle.

Gasket replacement: Plaintiffs alleged that whenever pump flanges or housing components were opened for inspection or repair, workers were required to remove old gaskets—often by scraping or wire-brushing hardened asbestos material from metal seating surfaces—before installing new ones. This process was identified in litigation records as a significant source of asbestos dust generation.

Insulation disturbance: Workers who worked near Worthington pump installations—including pipefitters, insulators, and general maintenance personnel—were exposed to asbestos fibers when surrounding pipe insulation was disturbed for repairs or modifications, even when the pump itself was not the direct subject of the work. Litigation records document that bystander exposure in confined mechanical spaces was a recurring theme in asbestos-related personal injury claims involving industrial pump equipment.

Cumulative and repeated exposure: Because these pumps were long-lived pieces of industrial infrastructure, workers in refineries, power plants, and chemical facilities often performed maintenance on the same equipment over many years, accumulating repeated exposures across the course of their careers. Plaintiffs alleged that this pattern of repeated, low-level to moderate exposure—compounded across multiple product lines and worksites—contributed to the development of asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

Worthington Pump claims involving Halliburton fall under Tier 2 litigation status, meaning that as of current documentation, there is no dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund established specifically to handle these claims. Instead, legal remedies for individuals harmed by exposure to Worthington pumps are pursued through the civil court system.

Civil Litigation: Litigation records document that plaintiffs who developed asbestos-related diseases following exposure to Worthington pump equipment have pursued personal injury and wrongful death claims in state and federal courts. Plaintiffs alleged that manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing pump equipment and associated components knew or should have known of the health hazards associated with asbestos and failed to provide adequate warning to industrial workers.

Multi-Defendant Claims: Because industrial workers were typically exposed to asbestos from numerous products across multiple worksites over the course of a career, asbestos litigation in this category commonly involves claims against multiple defendants simultaneously. Plaintiffs may name pump manufacturers, gasket and packing suppliers, facility owners, and other parties in the same action.

Consulting an Attorney: Individuals who worked with or around Worthington pumps and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or related conditions should consult an attorney with documented experience in asbestos personal injury litigation. An experienced asbestos attorney can evaluate the specific exposure history, identify all potentially liable parties, and determine the most appropriate legal strategy—whether through trial, settlement negotiation, or potential claims against asbestos trust funds established by other entities in the supply chain.

Statute of Limitations: Asbestos-related disease claims are subject to statutes of limitations that vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Prompt legal consultation is important to preserve the right to pursue a claim.

This article is provided for informational reference purposes. It is not legal advice. Individuals seeking legal assistance should consult a qualified asbestos litigation attorney.