Modern belt conveyors have to fulfill high technical requirements as far as their operating safety and reliability is concerned. Malfunction of belt conveyors, environmental damage or personal injury do always cause high costs and as a consequence can decrease the competitive position of a company. Efficient belt conveyor monitoring allows an easy recognition of operational malfunctions thus helping to minimize or even to eliminate resulting damage. Due to the rapid technical development during the last decades, especially in the fields of electronic data processing and sensor technique, a high diversity of new or improved monitoring systems has been developed. The first part of this thesis is about various possibilities of monitoring belt conveyors. Also devices for increasing the life cycle and reliability of belt conveyor components are discussed. Further these systems get judged by their use for the individual purpose. The second part is about the most important systems necessary to ensure operational safety or personal safety and environmental protection. In addition norms regarding the technical standards of these systems are explained.