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Japan's Slow Response to Asbestos Removal May Hurt Workers
A new survey by Japan's Construction and Transport Ministry criticized prefectural governments for not encouraging asbestos removal or abatement. Fewer than 40 percent of prefectural governments have subsidy programs to help building owners pay for asbestos abatement. The numbers are even smaller in local wards and municipalities with fewer than 10 percent setting up programs.
Nationwide only 122 subsidy requests have been approved since the program began in late 2005. The subsidy program began after residents living near a plant in Amagasaki were found to have high rates of asbestos-related illnesses and covers owners of office buildings, department stores, hotels and housing complexes.
However no applications were submitted by the owners of an estimated 7,000 large buildings still containing asbestos.
The program is offered by 18 prefectures, 13 major cities and 122 wards with those numbers expected to double with the next three years.
Some have said that the problem is that some governments are strapped for cash and some of the subsidies are insufficient because local governments set maximum amounts that at best may cover removal for a few square meters.
Major areas like Tokyo and Chiba are relying on owners to improve buildings at their own discretion.
A survey of over 250,000 buildings with floor space greater than 1,000 sq. meters found asbestos was used in approximately 5.8 percent of them.