Australia's SafeWork Releases Asbestos Report

SAFE Work, the federal agency that oversees workers safety issues in Australia, recently released a report on the methods in place for the country's workers who deal with asbestos removal and disposal. The document, titled "Asbestos Exposure and Compliance Study of Construction and Maintenance Workers", stated that most of the country's workers are aware of the dangers involved in handling asbestos, which can include lung disease and skin irritation.

However, the report also showed that many of the crews at these sites often do not recognize asbestos as they encounter it. Also, the study found that workers do not employ many of the safety and environmental precautions necessary when handling asbestos-containing material. The report attributes the reasons behind why construction workers may not use proper protective gear may stem from lack of access to proper equipment or inadequate education on safety protocols.

A survey of workers and supervisors in the construction trades revealed that as many as eighty-five percent were either self-employed or worked for small contracting firms. Many of those workers stated their understanding of the health issues surrounding asbestos exposure, but they also stated that they did not have the resources to provide educational materials or employ preventative measures to stem the potential problems involved in working with asbestos.

The survey also reported that more than forty percent of the respondents said that they used improper methods to remove, relocate and dispose of materials laced with asbestos fibers. One of the methods mentioned is that, in cases where workers do use dust masks and other protective gear, most of them (thirty-two out of the fifty-six who responded) dispose of the used equipment with the regular waste products, with only a third answering that they used the special containers reserved for the asbestos. A handful responded that they reuse their protective gear, even after the materials had been coated with asbestos dust.

The special containers are constructed to prevent loose asbestos fibers from becoming airborne and creating a health hazard. These faulty methods could lead to an increased incidence rate of pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer that affects the fluid lining of the lungs. Patients with mesothelioma typically do not display symptoms until several years after the initial exposure takes place. Once a patient receives a diagnosis of mesothelioma, they typically survive for less than a year.

Tom Phillips, the chairman of SAFE Work, expressed his disappointment in the report's findings. He said that the data creates a "concern" for workers in the construction and remodeling trades. He also noted that, although the respondents stated that they understood the dangers involved in handling asbestos, the numbers of workers who did not take the required safety measures was a cause for alarm.

Mr. Phillips also said that the study data would be put to use as a means to further educate construction workers on the health risks posed by asbestos. He remarked that government agencies that oversee worker safety and environmental protection at all levels should cooperate to create better education programs for workers, including helping them to identify and properly dispose of hazardous asbestos-laced materials.

Sources: Occupational Health and Safety online, SafeToWork.com.au

News

Resources

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376