Contents                     Previous  Next

Ban all asbestos

Establish public register of all buildings containing asbestos

The Hazards Campaign has clearly contributed to the recent movement towards a ban on virtually all new use of asbestos. Although the importation and use of all asbestos is to be banned, except for limited and specialised purposes, there is still an urgent need to protect workers who may come into contact with asbestos, and to establish and maintain a public register of all buildings and structures containing asbestos. This should be backed up with regulations requiring the owners and occupiers of such buildings to ensure the health and safety of maintenance workers such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters by safe removal of asbestos before maintenance and repair work. All asbestos and asbestos containing products should be safely removed from the environment.

Enforce stricter standards for PPE and safeguards for removal workers and everyone in the area

The current standards for Respiratory Protective Equipment provided to workers engaged in asbestos removal should be raised to exclude any possibility of fibres entering the equipment. Clearance air test standards should be reduced to the lowest level that is technically feasible. The standard should be reviewed regularly and constantly improved upon.

Acknowledge Asbestos substitutes also present a risk to human health

While the HazardsCampaign demands the use of less harmful substitutes for carcinogenic asbestos, these substitutes are not harmless themselves and they need to be stringently assessed and controlled. There should be greater pressure for research into safer alternatives.

Establish complete review of criteria used to diagnose asbestos related disease for DSS Benefits

Establish a just compensation scheme for asbestos related disease sufferers

Provide easy rapid access to insurance companies files for asbestos compensation claims

Once someone has developed an asbestos related illness - asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer - they are faced with a tortuous fight to establish that they developed the illness due to asbestos exposure and the negligence of their past employers. They have to convince the DSS they are eligible for industrial illness benefits and trace the insurance company for the employers they worked for, often 20 or 30 years ago, if they are to win any compensation at all. Many do not succeed. The Hazards Campaign demands that the government sorts out this whole process to make it work in favour of the sufferers, from reviewing DSS criteria on diagnosis, establishing a systematic and fair compensation system, making it easy for solicitors acting on sufferers behalf to have access to insurance company files.

Provide Government funded research into cancer caused by asbestos and new treatments and palliative care

At present there is very little treatment offered to asbestos disease sufferers. The Hazards Campaign demands that the government puts more resources into possible treatments to alleviate suffering and to investigate new treatments such as gene therapy which may offer hope of longer survival with good quality of life after diagnosis.

Establish Independent inquiry into worldwide asbestos genocide

Asbestos mining, use and removal have caused the deaths of millions of people. The Hazards Campaign demand a full independent inquiry into the whole asbestos story with those responsible for this industrial genocide indicted and brought to court and convicted of crimes against humanity.