03:36 pm, Wednesday 15 May, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The Australian Government will invest more than $10.5 million to establish a national approach in protecting the people from asbestos-related diseases.

This was revealed by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten on Tuesday.

“Asbestos is a cruel, indiscriminate killer, and because of its widespread use over much of the 20^th century, it remains a persistent threat to Australians,” said Mr Shorten.

“In 2010, 642 Australians died from mesothelioma, and for every death attributed to mesothelioma, it’s estimated two further people die from lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

“Over the next 20 years, up to 40,000 Australians are expected to be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. There are children not yet born who’ll die of an asbestos-related disease.”

Just this year, Mr Shorten introduced legislation into Parliament to establish the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. (Read SafetyCulture report).

“This is an example of this Government’s commitment to protect Australians by leading the first nationally coordinated approach to handling asbestos beyond our workplaces.”

One of the agency’s missions is to implement a plan to address illegal dumping, to encourage safe disposal across the country, and to establish a strategy for the staged removal of asbestos-containing materials from government and commercial structures.

The Bill to establish the agency is now before the House of Representatives. It is the Government’s objective that the agency will start operations from 1 July 2013.

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

02:22 pm, Thursday 21 February, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer issued a joint statement to reiterate that all forms of asbestos can cause cancer and that “stopping the use of all forms of asbestos is the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases.”

The joint statement came as a response to allegations in an article published in The Lancet journal which cited several conflicts of interest in IARC’s participation with the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Occupational Health in a cancer study among chrysotile workers in Russia. The IARC is the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency.

In the joint statement, WHO and IARC also confirmed the accuracy of the data and statements of the scientific results published in the British Journal of Cancer, which estimated the asbestos-related lung cancer burden from mesothelioma mortality. The study found that all types of asbestos fibres kill “at least twice as many people through lung cancer than through mesothelioma, except for crocidolite – a form of asbestos found in South Africa, Bolivia and Australia.

The study also stated that Australia is one of the countries having the heaviest burden of asbestos cancer.

According to The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), there have been at least 4,700 deaths from mesothelioma in the country since records began in the 1980s.  It is estimated that more than 25,000 Australians will die from asbestos-related diseases in the next 40 years.

“The typical lag of 20 to 40 years between exposure and the onset of symptoms of disease. This can make detection, prevention and risk management for asbestos related health risk very difficult. It is estimated that the peak of the epidemic of asbestos-related disease in Australia will not occur until the 2020s,” said NHMRC in its website.

“The extremely widespread use of asbestos in construction in Australia last century means that exposure to it is also widespread. The weathering and ageing of asbestos-containing materials and renovation of buildings containing asbestos products may continue to release asbestos fragments for many years.”

The use of asbestos has been banned in the country since the 1980s. However, as many as two or three structures built between World War II and 1983 still contain asbestos.

Several organisations in Australia have called on the government to establish a federal asbestos authority to start the removal of asbestos from all government and commercial buildings and to put up campaigns warning home renovators of the dangers of asbestos in roofs and walls. (Read SafetyCulture report).

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

12:02 pm, Monday 18 February, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

Asbestos victims and two Australian unions have launched a new campaign to make the country asbestos-free by 2030.

The Asbestos Free Future has been launched to address the threat of asbestos which is still present in many older homes as well as government and commercial establishments.

The Australian Manufacturer Workers’ Union (AMWU), The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), and several asbestos groups are calling on the Federal Government to provide funding and implement the Asbestos Management Review Committee’s full recommendations, which would raise awareness on the risks of asbestos exposure and reduce the rate of asbestos-related diseases in Australia.

AMWU National Secretary, Paul Bastian said asbestos poses serious threat to the community and that there is more that needs to be done to completely eradicate asbestos from the country.

“It’s time for the Australian Government to implement a strategy to effectively tackle the threat of asbestos. That means the recommendations from the Asbestos Management Review Committee need to be implemented and fully funded to eradicate asbestos from our environment by 2030.

“The fact that asbestos-related disease is still killing people, and isn’t expected to peak until 2020 means we really need to combat hidden traces of the deadly material in our homes and commercial buildings.

“What is really concerning about asbestos in Australia, is that far too few people know about the dangers or that it is still present in our environment.

“That is why we need to establish a dedicated National Asbestos Authority, and a national set of laws. We need every one of the Asbestos Management Review recommendations implemented to make sure Australia is asbestos-free by 2030,” said Mr Bastian.

CFMEU’s Construction and General Division assistant secretary, Lindsay Fraser said removal of asbestos from government and commercial buildings should be prioritised.

“Asbestos Free Future is also a campaign to raise awareness among younger Australians about the ongoing dangers of asbestos exposure. Many of the victims are now “third or fourth wave” contracting the asbestos related diseases through home renovation projects rather than from the workplace.

“As many as two or three houses built between WWII and 1983 contain asbestos. We need the National Asbestos Authority strategies in place to work towards an asbestos free Australia by 2030,” said Mr Fraser.

SafetyCulture reported that a recent poll showed majority of Australians want the federal government to ensure the removal of asbestos from all homes and public buildings within two decades. (Read SafetyCulture report).

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

06:01 pm, Monday 28 January, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union is calling on former workers of a brake and clutch manufacturer in Ballarat to register with lawyers if they are concerned about having asbestos-related illnesses.

According to ABC, AMWU’s Ballarat-based organiser, Colin Muir, is encouraging all former employees to sign up to asbestos registers in case they develop asbestos-related diseases in the coming years.

He also said the company was one of the last to stop using asbestos as part of its brake and clutch material.

“There was always long-term concerns about any exposure of workers to asbestos and… [the company] was one of the last, if not the last, company in Australia to use asbestos, so obviously there were concerns but that was part of the reason why asbestos was no longer used, certainly it was concerns raised by unions,” he said.

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:26 pm, Wednesday 23 January, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

A team of asbestos experts tasked to remove and monitor asbestos in Hunter medical facilities is facing the risk of being axed due to state government health budget cuts, a union says.

The asbestos removal unit of Hunter New England was put into place in the wake of the Newcastle earthquake because of asbestos risks to patients and hospital staff.

According to Fairfax Media, the Health Services Union’s NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said the team is facing closure due to the government’s $3billion health budget cuts.

“It’s beyond belief that a health system would cut funding to a unit that helps prevent asbestos-related disease,” he said.

The state government however said $2.2billion in savings will be reinvested in frontline services.

Fairfax Media further reported that Hunter New England Health area facilities management unit manager Phil Gralton said new requirements for asbestos removal and management were introduced under reforms to Work Health and Safety laws.

“Hunter New England Health is reviewing the legislation to determine how the organisation can best comply with the new requirements,” said Mr Gralton.

“We are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our employees, patients and visitors. Asbestos identified at any (Hunter New England) Health site will continue to be managed safely and appropriately.”

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

05:41 pm, Wednesday 22 August, 2012

A report commissioned by the Federal Government has called for the removal of all asbestos-containing materials from commercial and government buildings by 2030.

The report released last Thursday by Workplace Minister Bill Shorten is also calling for a national asbestos management body to be set up.

AAP reported that Mr Shorten warns of the possibility of a third wave of diseases related to asbestos exposure, saying that an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Australians will be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases over the next 20 years.

“This ‘third wave’ includes men and women who built, renovated or demolished a house, garage or fence containing asbestos or those who innocently washed-asbestos-laden clothes,” said Mr Shorten.

Mr Shorten launched last July a brochure designed to help alert DIY renovators to potential areas where asbestos may be found and what asbestos may look like. In his foreword, the Minister said that despite workers’ tragic deaths from asbestos exposure, many Australians still believe asbestos no longer poses a danger.

He encouraged people who are planning to renovate their homes to seek the advice of qualified asbestos removalists if they have any doubts about the presence of asbestos.

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

04:43 pm, Monday 2 July, 2012

Unions are pushing for the establishment of an asbestos authority to protect people as well as remove asbestos from residential areas and commercial buildings.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union acting national secretary Paul Bastian met with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten on Wednesday to discuss on the possibility of setting up a National Asbestos Authority.

Mr Bastian said that more Australians have been killed from asbestos exposure today than in World War II.

“Surely we’ve had enough people die now, enough heart-wrenching diseases and enough legal acknowledgment that this must stop,” said Mr Bastian.

The workers’ union believes that a federally funded authority is the answer to the asbestos contamination problem.

The authority is expected to educate and promote awareness within the community of the dangers of asbestos in homes, business and public areas.

“As part of the authority, an urgent audit and plan for the removal of asbestos from all government premises is required.

“State governments regularly report low levels of compliance with asbestos regulations and we call on the federal government to treat its removal as a national issue of critical importance – including asbestos in schools.”

A spokesperson for the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, said it is a crucial issue for the government.

“Which is why we commissioned the asbestos management review – the minister and the government look forward to receiving the report’s recommendations,” said the spokesman.

The Hon Bill Shorten launched on Friday the Identifying asbestos in your home brochure which is a tool designed to help alert DIY renovators to potential areas where asbestos may be found and what asbestos may look like.

In his foreword, the Minister said that despite workers’ tragic deaths from asbestos exposure, many Australians unfortunately believe asbestos no longer poses a danger.

“However, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Australians will be diagnosed with asbestos related diseases over the next 20 years, and researchers, policy makers and myself as one of the responsible ministers fear a third wave of asbestos deaths from people exposed in the home.”

The brochure has been adapted from a book by Brian Sketcher from Asbestos Audits Queensland, which was partially funded through the Federal Government’s Asbestos Innovation Fund.

Report by Haydee - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know