Peoria Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caterpillar Peoria Complex (multiple plants) | Heavy Equipment Manufacturing | 1925–present | Critical |
| 2 | Keystone Steel & Wire (Bartonville) | Steel Wire Manufacturing | 1893–present | High |
| 3 | Illinois Power (AmerenIP) Edwards Power Station | Coal-Fired Power Generation | 1966–2012 | High |
| 4 | Hiram Walker Distillery Peoria | Distilling / Food Manufacturing | 1933–1981 | Moderate |
Caterpillar Peoria Manufacturing Complex
Caterpillar built its first manufacturing facility in Peoria in 1925 and expanded to a complex of plants throughout the city over the following decades. At its mid-century peak, Caterpillar employed over 25,000 workers in Peoria manufacturing bulldozers, loaders, excavators, and engines. Heavy equipment manufacturing involved asbestos in brake assemblies, clutch facings, gaskets, exhaust insulation, and the boiler and steam infrastructure throughout the plants. Maintenance workers who repaired equipment and those who worked on facility boilers and steam lines had the highest direct asbestos exposure. Caterpillar has been named as a defendant in mesothelioma cases, and asbestos product manufacturers who supplied the Peoria plants — brake lining manufacturers, gasket makers — are also subject to claims through bankruptcy trusts.
Workers throughout the Caterpillar complex were exposed through multiple pathways over the course of careers spanning decades. Assembly line workers who installed brake and clutch components containing asbestos, maintenance mechanics who serviced the plant’s boiler and steam systems, and those who worked near grinding or machining operations where asbestos-containing materials were shaped all faced meaningful exposure. The latency period for mesothelioma — typically 20 to 50 years between first exposure and diagnosis — means that workers who retired from the Peoria plants in the 1980s and 1990s are now entering the period of highest mesothelioma risk. Former Caterpillar workers and their families should speak with an Illinois mesothelioma attorney promptly following any diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Caterpillar’s Peoria manufacturing complex used asbestos in multiple applications: brake and clutch assemblies in the heavy equipment manufactured, gaskets in engines and hydraulic systems, exhaust and engine heat insulation, and the plant infrastructure (boiler insulation, steam lines). Workers in manufacturing, maintenance, and those who worked near boiler rooms or steam systems had the most significant exposure. Mesothelioma claims from former Caterpillar workers in Peoria have been filed in Illinois courts, with both Caterpillar and the manufacturers of asbestos-containing components as defendants.
Peoria County Circuit Court handles asbestos cases filed in central Illinois. Many Peoria-area claimants also qualify to file in Cook County (Chicago), where the larger asbestos docket and specialized judges mean faster resolution. Illinois’s 2-year statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/13-202) begins at your mesothelioma diagnosis date. Contact a mesothelioma attorney who handles Illinois cases — they can advise on the most favorable venue for your specific exposure history.