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Asbestos Related Disease Support Society QLD Inc. 16 Campbell Street, Bowen Hills QLD 4006
PO Box 280, Spring Hill QLD 4004
Phone: 1800 776 412
www.asbestos-disease.com.au
Asbestos Awareness Week
25th November - 30th November
“Your flag is included with this edition of the November Newsletter”
By flying this flag during asbestos awareness week you are helping the society to spread
the message and raise the awareness to the dangers of Asbestos Exposure.
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PUBLICATION DATE: 1 November 2012
Contact: Jane Finemore [email protected]
02 9952 5477
ABC BOOKS
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
MEDIA RELEASEMEDIA RELEASEMEDIA RELEASE
KILLER COMPANY MATT PEACOCK
Matt Peacock first warned the public about the dangers of James Hardie’s asbestos empire in an award-winning radio series in 1977. He has followed the tragic trail since then and in 2009 published Killer Company, the inside story of how Matt and asbestos campaigner, Bernie Banton brought the company to account. This widely praised book was a complete game changer in the ongoing battle:
Bernie would be up there, looking down and saying ‘Mate, well
done!’ Karen Banton, widow of Bernie Banton
Inspirational! Every corporate management course in this country should have this book as essential reading. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
I thought I knew the James Hardie story...but nothing quite prepares you for Peacock’s forensic look... Kathleen Noonan, Courier Mail
DEVIL’S DUST
Matt worked as a consultant on Devil’s Dust, the forthcoming two-part series about the James Hardie asbestos saga, written by Kris Mrksa. The character of Matt Peacock is played by Ewen Leslie and Anthony Hayes stars as Bernie Banton; Alexandra Schepisi plays Bernie’s wife Karen and Don Hany plays the fictional character of James Hardie PR Adam Bourke. Devil’s Dust will air on ABC1 on Sunday 11 and Monday 12 November.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
One of the ABC’s most experienced reporters, Matt Peacock is currently a journalist for Foreign Correspondent and 7.30. He has been an award-winning foreign correspondent and also chief political correspondent for national radio current affairs programs: AM, PM and THE WORLD TODAY.
MATT PEACOCK is AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
PLEASE CONTACT JANE FINEMORE at [email protected] or 02 9952 5477.
___________________________________________________________________________________
The book that inspired the forthcoming ABC1 drama series DEVIL’S DUST ...
Killer Company by Matt Peacock
Imprint: ABC Books
TPB, rrp: $24.99 Plus postage; ISBN: 9780733330636
E-Book available; Publication date: 1 November 2012
Copies of Matt Peacock’s book Killer Company are
also available from QARDSS by calling 1800 776 412.
$10 from each book sold through QARDSS will be
donated to the society for research.
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2012 NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Thanks to QLD Health for providing funding to
QARDSS to help carry on our services.
QARDSS Office Hours are 9am - 5pm
Emergency after hours number 0408 758 963
Presidents
Invitation
to attend the
Ecumenical Service
30 November, 2012
The Ecumenical Service is a time of reflection
and hope. To reflect upon our loved ones with
the hope that lessons learnt from their suffering
and loss can be drawn upon to make a safer and
fairer place to be for our future generations.
It is a time where we can gather together and
give each other the support and comfort we all
need and also to remember the Medical and
Legal Professionals along with Government
Departments who also face the challenges the
effects of asbestos exposure bring upon us.
On behalf of the Management Committee I would
like to extend an invitation to all members, their
families, carers, friends and the community to
attend this years Ecumenical Service to be held
at the Cathedral of St Stephens, Elizabeth Street,
Brisbane commencing at 11am, Friday 30th
November 2012.
Please also join us for refreshments following
the service in the Francis Rush Function Room
located next to the Cathedral.
Your personal invitation to the Ecumenical
Service will be forwarded to you shortly.
R.S.V.P to 1800 776 412 by Thursday 22
November 2012.
Helen Colbert
President
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Killer Company - Matt Peacock
Presidents Invitation - Ecumenical
Service
Secretary’s Report
Article from the Society’s Legal
Advisor
Griffith University - The Douglas
Francis Green Scholarship:
Providing important battle against
Mesothelioma
Queensland Asbestos Related
Disease Support Society:
Mesothelioma Project QMP Dr
Keith Horwood and Dr Kimberley
Stannard
Article: New Agency to oversee
removal of asbestos
Response to Asbestos
Management Review
Article: Asbestos still being found in
state schools, Education QLD
admits
Article: Education QLD recalls
classroom science kits after
asbestos found by Townsville
students
Article: Schools first in asbestos
removal plan
Article: Government to ramp up
fight against asbestos
Article: Households unaware of
asbestos alert
Article: Electrical workers told to
wear asbestos suits
Information Sheet - Asbestos - Safe
work procedure ‘Drilling into
Non-Friable ACM’
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Race Day 2012
This year’s race day was without a doubt the most successful we have held, this success is a testament to the support it receives.
We have been very fortunate at QARDSS in that our loyal supporters are there each year and they need to be officially recognised for their efforts.
“Thank You” In particular the CFMEU delegates who sold so many tickets for us again this year in very tight economic times. The Race Sponsors this year were:- Race 1 Turner Freeman Lawyers
Race 2 CBUS
Race 3 Electrical Trades Union
Race 4 CFMEU/BLF “Shirley White Cup”
Race 5 United Voice
Race 6 Queensland Council of Unions
Race 7 BERT / CIPQ
Race 8 CFMEU Mining & Energy QLD
“Thank You” Sponsors of the trailer raffle and Band who were:- All Trades Queensland,
Asbestos Industry Association, FTF Pty Ltd, Future Skills Ltd, GIS (Australia), Global Australia
Pty Ltd, Jane Smith, Normandy Hotel, O’Brien Glass, Panda Pearls, Sealy of Australia,
Sportsbet.com.au, Tangalooma Island Resort, Trident Labour Hire Pty Ltd, Windsor
Management Insurance Brokers, BMD – Sponsor of Band
Asbestos Awareness Week 2012
24th
November to 30th
November
It is important to keep working to improve Asbestos Awareness in our communities with the aim
of eventually developing a National Awareness program, which could be marketed as a
significant event across Australia. This is starting to occur with the establishment of a dedicated
Asbestos Department within the Honourable Bill Shorten’s office of Employment and Workplace
Relations.
Despite decades of litigation and lobbying, Australia is still riddled with asbestos and it is time
we all helped spread the word - we must stop asbestos exposure, as this is the only sure way to
stop asbestos diseases.
Asbestos still lurks in the bathrooms, kitchens, roofs, and garages of two out of three Australian
homes built between 1945 and 1989. Asbestos Awareness Week 2012 is from 24th November
to 30th November. There is an urgent need for education and awareness and the Society is
working closely with the State and Federal Governments to develop programs targeting this.
These programs will continue into 2013.
Secretary’s Report
Kane Pearson BLF, Helen and Ray Colbert QARDSS & Peter Close
CFMEU
Presentation of the ‘Shirley White Cup’
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Asbestos Awareness Week Culminates in the Ecumenical Service at St Stephens Cathedral on Friday 30 November so please join with us on that day to pay our respects to those we have lost and support those who currently have asbestos related diseases.
Symposium
The response to this year’s Symposium exceeded all expectations with an incredible 379
RSVP’s for the event.
It was without a doubt the most informative event of its kind for some time and everyone
involved can be very proud of their efforts, as well the Symposium provided the perfect
platform for Dr Kimberley Stannard to launch the work being undertaken by the Society’s
Queensland Mesothelioma Project.
We would like to thank our sponsor Turner Freeman Lawyers and our Presenters who are
listed below:
Dr Maurice Heiner, Respiratory Specialist – Patient Care
Dr Arthur Kaminski, Radiologist – Mesothelioma Management
Dr Keith Horwood, Medical Oncologist – Mesothelioma Research
Dr Kimberley Stannard, Research Officer – Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support
Society - Queensland Mesothelioma Project
Dr David Schlect, Radiologist – Reducing Tissue Damage
Simone Dullaway, DOTS Occupational Therapy – Coping Strategies
The Research Team from Griffith University — Research in the Management of
Mesothelioma funded for a further year by the society’s ‘Douglas Francis Green Research
Scholarship’, for the third stage of this current project. The Douglas Francis Green Research
Scholarship is a living memory of an incredible man.
As well as our wonderful volunteers, Trish Ramsay, Rod and Wendy Towerton, Eileen Stagg,
Bev Robertson, Lucinda Colbert and Pat Cini;
Note If you were unable to attend the Symposium and would like a copy of the
Society’s book 2nd
Edition, “asbestos related diseases” Information for
Sufferers, Carers and the Community, please call the office on 1800 776 412
and we can arrange for a copy to be sent to you;
Notices
During the Christmas break QARDSS office will be closed from
Monday 17th December 2012 - Monday 14th January 2013.
For any urgent matters please call 1800 776 412 during this period.
6
From the Society's Legal Advisor
Compensation for Asbestos Related
Disease Treatment
The Symposium 2012, which was held on 26 October was a great success.
The eminent speakers who gave presentations provided us with information about advances in chemotherapy/radiotherapy and there was also information available regarding surgical treatment of asbestos disease, particularly mesothelioma.
The cost of traditional diagnostic procedures and traditional treatment have generally been fully compensated through court claims for damages for asbestos disease. There has been though some uncertainty about non-traditional treatment – untested treatment or alternative treatment, being compensated. In addition, periodically a person with asbestos disease travels overseas, say to the United States of America, for expensive treatment. Is this likely to be compensated?
Generally speaking, treatment that can be demonstrated to be of some potential benefit and being offered by credible medical practitioners or institutions will be compensated through court claims. An issue can arise though if the treatment being sought is available for instance in Australia at a lesser cost but being provided at a much greater cost in a country such as the United States of America. In these circumstances a judge may be unwilling to order the Defendant to fully pay for the treatment. There is a principle of law that states that an injured person must mitigate his or her loss and that is take steps to reduce the cost of the injury or loss. The Defendant will generally only be ordered to pay reasonable medical expenses.
A similar issue can arise with alternative or natural treatment. A person with asbestos disease may spend large sums on natural or alternative therapy. The utility or benefit of this treatment may be difficult to substantiate.
Another issue is with treatment in respect of which there is little scientific data yet to support its use. If a drug is being trialled for chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma, generally the cost would be paid by the Defendants. The main drug used in the treatment of mesothelioma, Alimta, is now on the PBS scheme however a number of years ago it was not and during this period the cost was fully paid for by Defendants in compensation court claims.
Although not offered any longer in Australia, at one stage microwave therapy was a treatment that was offered to sufferers of mesothelioma in Australia. This was an expensive treatment that was offered in the Perth area. It involved considerable travel, accommodation and then the cost of treatment itself. There was always debate about whether a Defendant should pay for this treatment as there was little scientific data supporting its utility.
Thankfully those with mesothelioma and other significant asbestos disease are generally entitled to compensation. Whilst the cost of some treatment may not be recovered, generally the overall sum of compensation recovered allows a person with asbestos disease to explore some non-traditional or new therapy. The more credible the institution or medical practitioner offering the treatment, the more likely a judge will award its payment against a Defendant in court proceedings.
The result of the Symposium is that many very experienced and dedicated medical
practitioners throughout Australia are actively researching better treatments for asbestos
disease, particularly mesothelioma. This is not an easy task by any means but the
presentations given on 26 October gave us considerable hope for the future.
7
Griffith Health Institute
The Douglas Francis Green Scholarship
providing important battle against Mesothelioma
Australian's were once among the world's largest providers and consumers of asbestos, so it
goes that Australian's are among the world's biggest sufferers of mesothelioma. In Australia,
there are currently 800-1000 new cases per year and this number is expected to rise until at
least 2020.
Queensland was an especially voracious user of asbestos in post-war housing, with the affects
expected to linger for decades.
In 2011 the Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society established the Douglas
Francis Green scholarship in partnership with the Griffith Health Institute (GI-II) and awarded its
first scholarship to Elham Alizadeh Pasdar.
Ms Pasdar's passion for battling mesothelioma comes from the cancer's aggressiveness. She
believes if researchers, like her, can find an effective treatment or cure, it may unlock the secret
of curing other cancers. This is based on the idea of cancers containing "cancer stem-like
cells" (CSCs) which stimulate tumour growth.
Since receiving the scholarship the former pharmacist, who migrated to Australia from Iran in
2010, has been able to do exactly as the scholarship intended- focusing more clearly on her
scientific goals, as her financial needs were taken care of. She believes the results are emerging
quickly.
"CSCs have been identified in many cancers like breast, colon, etc, but until now there was no
conclusive evidence for the existence of CSCs in malignant mesothelioma (MM).
"CSCs are hard to find as they're usually dormant which means they don't get rejected by the
immune system; we believe this is why some cancers regrow immediately after treatment stops.
"In our experiments with human established cell lines I have found surface markers in cells which
indicate the presence of CSCs in MM. If this can be confirmed by additional experiments we can
start finding a way to defeat them.
Our main focus for treatment is a group of vitamin E derivative drugs that has been proven to kill
the cancer cells in cell culture. The advantage of this group of drugs over other drugs is that they
specifically kill cancer cells." she said.
While Ms Pasdar's research is still in its infancy she believes the early signs are very positive
that treatment will eventuate from her work.
8
"Until recently I felt like I was working alone, but since we've started to get some results,
scientists from all over the world have started sharing similar research and working more
together.
The early results are very promising. Our GHI cancer lab has been working very hard on this
for a long time and the work is reducing cancer tumours so we keep our hopes up that one day
we'll have a treatment," she said.
The other positive from Ms Pasdar's research is its contribution to the improvement of
chemotherapy treatments. As anyone who has suffered a malignant cancer knows,
chemotherapy comes with many adverse effects. However newer treatments are becoming
more cancer-focussed meaning a mesothelioma treatment may be less debilitating.
The positive results from the research are only possible because the researcher received an
effective scholarship.
Con’t
Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society
Queensland Mesothelioma Project (QMP):
Can we harness the power of the immune system to fight mesothelioma?
Dr Kimberley Stannard and Dr Keith Horwood
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fatal disease with median survival time from first signs of
illness to death of less than 12 months. The incidence of mesothelioma is closely associated
with exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Although the application of asbestos is prohibited in
most developed countries, incidences of mesothelioma are increasing due to the incubation
period of 20 to 50 years from initial exposure to asbestos to the onset of disease. Despite the
proven link of mesothelioma with asbestos exposure, numerous eastern and developing
countries continue to use products containing asbestos, and as consequence, incidences of
mesothelioma worldwide are continuing to rise. This anticipated increase in the incidence of
mesothelioma has spurred considerable interest in the development of better treatments for
mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy consisting of a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is regarded as the
standard of care for selected patients with mesothelioma. However the survival benefit is limited
therefore new or additional treatment options like anti-angiogenesis drugs (avastin),
photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and a variety of immunotherapy approaches are currently
being tested.
Immunotherapy is one of the exciting new methods of treating many cancers including
mesothelioma that is currently being studied in hospitals and laboratories around the world.
9
Immunotherapy works by boosting the immune system to fight off the cancer, aiming for a
nontoxic treatment with minor side-effects and a long-lasting immunity. The main problem with
cancers like mesothelioma is they have deceived the body into thinking that they are normal
cells, and because of this the immune system is not able to attack them. This form of therapy
helps the immune system to rightly recognise the cancer cells and fight them accordingly.The
advantage of this type of therapy over traditional mesothelioma treatments such as
chemotherapy and surgery is that it is designed to specifically target the mesothelioma tumors
and nothing else.
The Queensland Mesothelioma Project (QMP) is currently in the process of designing a clinical
trial which will analyse whether a dendritic cell vaccine, a type of immunotherapy, in
combination with chemotherapy can help to improve progression free and overall survival rates
of people diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Dendritic cells, a type of white blood cell, act as biological signposts to the killer cells of the
immune system by directing them toward specific targets. The target in this case being the
mesothelioma. To do this the patient’s own dendritic cells will be collected and introduced to
cells of their very own tumour to create a vaccine which will be perfectly individualised to each
patient. The cells will then be used as a vaccine in a hope to kick start the immune system into
attacking the cancer. If proven effective in future testing, the vaccine could be used in the
general population to help slow and possibly even reverse the process of tumor growth in
mesothelioma patients.
For more information on this clinical trial please do not hesitate to contact QARDSS or the QMP at [email protected] or [email protected]
Con’t
By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 4.38pm AEST
A new national body will be set up to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and oversee its removal, amid warnings that the number of asbestos-related deaths will continue to rise.
The first task of the Office of Asbestos Safety will be to develop a strategic plan for dealing with the toxic mineral in building sites and homes.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten says many thousands of people are at risk of inadvertent exposure through do-it-yourself home renovations.
New Agency to oversee removal of
Asbestos
10
"There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos," Mr Shorten told reporters in
Sydney.
"Any fibre can cause asbestos-related diseases."
Asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop after exposure, and the Government is anticipating the number of deaths to continue to rise as it deals with a so-called third wave of younger victims.
Mr Shorten says 642 people died from mesothelioma in 2010, and that figure is expected to increase until 2020.
"There'll be more Australians die from asbestos-related diseases than died in the whole of World War I," he said.
Mr Shorten made the announcement at an asbestos summit organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Cancer Council.
Unions want asbestos removed from all buildings by 2030, although the Government has not committed to that goal.
A government-commissioned review released earlier this year recommended a 2030 target for the removal of asbestos from all government and commercial buildings where it was practical to do so.
The Office of Asbestos Safety will investigate the feasibility of that goal and whether it is possible to set up a targeted program to remove asbestos from residential property.
The building industry has welcomed the establishment of a new coordinating body, saying it will help limit the impact of asbestos-related health problems.
"The legacy stemming from the high use of asbestos in Australia needs to be addressed in a safe and coordinated fashion," Master Builders Australia chief executive Wilhelm Harnisch said in a statement.
"It is important the new agency continues to engage with the industry, as well as clients and consumers, to educate about the prevalence of asbestos in Australian buildings and what to do if you suspect asbestos in your building."
The Coalition says it will take a bipartisan approach to the issue but has raised questions
about whether a new bureaucracy is needed.
Con’t
Response to Asbestos Management Review,
4 September 2012
The Asbestos Summit 2 congratulates Minister Shorten for his support of the
recommendations of the AMR and the immediate establishment of the Office of Asbestos
Safety. We note that this Office is due to provide a comprehensive response to the
recommendations by the end of 2012 and a National Strategic Plan by 1 July 2013.
11
The Summit welcomes the statement of bipartisan support by Senator Eric Abetz and calls on
all state and territory governments to register their active support for the establishment of a
National Asbestos Authority and the implementation of the National Asbestos Strategy.
The participants in the Summit commit to generating strong bi-partisan support, at all levels of
government for the establishment of the national asbestos authority and the Strategic Plan.
The Second Asbestos Summit supports the recommendations of the Asbestos Management
Review Report and calls on all governments in Australia to work together to achieve the
review’s ultimate aim of “eliminating asbestos disease in Australia”.
The Report includes a National Strategic Plan, which would commit the Australian
governments and the wider community to:
Asbestos awareness campaigns for the public that are targeted and evaluated
Asbestos education for those working with asbestos
Prioritised removal of asbestos containing materials from government and commercial
buildings by 2030
Adoption of asbestos content reports for residential properties constructed prior to 1987,
to be administered by local government
Adoption of national standards for licensed operators to handle, remove, transport, and
dispose of asbestos
Audit of ACMs in government and commercial buildings and disposal sites
Review of adequacy of existing disposal sites
Continuance and expansion of the mesothelioma Register
Sufficient funding for medical research
Continued leadership role for Australian government in securing a global ban on
asbestos
The Second Asbestos Summit welcomes the bipartisan support given to the AMR Report and
calls on all governments in Australia to support the establishment of a new national agency,
the Australian Asbestos Awareness and Management Agency, to expedite implementation of
the report’s recommendations.
If implemented, the report’s recommendation will mark a turning point in history, a moment
when our country agreed that we did not have to live with asbestos in our built environment
and when we determined as a nation that the continuation of asbestos-related disease will not
be tolerated.
The Declaration of the first Asbestos Summit in 2010 stated the aim of eliminating asbestos
related disease and exposure to all forms of Asbestos.
In the words of the Review Chair, Mr Geoff Fary, the report provides an opportunity for
governments “…to demonstrate national and international leadership on the issues. We could
become the first nation to commit to the objective of the ultimate elimination of asbestos
related disease”.
Minister Shorten has committed to this objective today.
Con’t
12
Asbestos still being found in state schools,
Education Queensland admits
From: The Courier Mail
July 14, 2011
ASBESTOS has been detected in more Queensland state school staff rooms, on
desks and on a Prep classroom floor.
Details released on Education Queensland's website disclose asbestos-containing material continues to be found on top of furniture, computers and floors.
The finding follows State Government Budget documents last month that revealed $21.5 million was spent on removing the potentially deadly material from state schools in 2010 and 2011 - just over a fifth of the Government's school maintenance budget.
Another $25 million is budgeted for removal works this financial year.
Details released recently on EQ's website show positive tests for asbestos at Caboolture, Cairns, Mossman, Tully and Yarrabah state high schools in December last year, along with
Moranbah East and Torquay state schools.
EQ far north Queensland acting regional director Richard Huelin said minor damage to a wall and dust on carpet, which was discovered in a Yarrabah State High School science-block staff room, tested positive for asbestos on December 23, 2010.
"The staff room was used by two non school-based staff only. It is not known when the damage to the wall occurred," he said.
Dust found inside and outside a security box in a Holland Park State High School staff room tested positive for asbestos on January 24.
It was also confirmed in a sample taken from ceiling space access in a Milton State School staff room in March and on the top of a suspended ceiling sheet at Torquay State School in December.
The potentially dangerous material was also found on desks at Hermit Park State School in February and on a Rochedale South State School Prep classroom floor in January. At Hopevale State School, debris in floor adhesive tested positive for asbestos in May.
EQ assistant director-general Graham Atkins said the department took its responsibility for managing asbestos "very seriously" and it was "committed to dealing with any asbestos issues in an open and transparent manner".
THREAT: Asbestos is removed from a Queensland state school last year.
13
Education Queensland recalls classroom
science kits after asbestos found by
Townsville students
From: The Courier Mail January 16,2012
THE State Government claims its asbestos management guidelines are the strictest in the country despite four Year 8 students finding traces of the deadly substance in
science kits.
The discovery by the Townsville students has led to two recalls of decades-old classroom mineral kits. Education acting assistant director-general Tom Barlow said the department was unable to verify how many kits had been in schools, with many issued more than 20 years ago, but as of June last year before the second recall was issued 159 kits had already been removed. "The Queensland Government has the most transparent and strictest guidelines in the country when it comes to asbestos management,'' Mr Barlow said. "When asbestos-related incidents are identified, the department takes immediate action to ensure the safety of students and staff.'' But LNP education spokesman Bruce Flegg said the recalls and safety alert made a farce of the State Government's asbestos management in schools. He accused the Government of trying to hide the recalls from the public by not alerting all parents to it. "We are still seeing far too many examples of children and teachers who are exposed to potentially deadly airborne asbestos fibres,'' Dr Flegg warned. Experts say while there is always a risk associated with asbestos, the risks posed by the kits were "extremely small''. Right To Information documents released to The Courier-Mail reveal a recall on kits was ordered in March last year after four Year 8 students in a science class at Pimlico State High School opened a mineral kit that later tested positive for asbestos. A safety alert issued to schools soon afterwards states: "It has been reported that mineral kits that may still exist within schools have tested positive for asbestos containing material. These kits originally contained a sample of asbestos rock. "If a mineral kit is located and looks like the images shown, do not open, as it must be presumed to contain asbestos. Do not relocate the kit or remove any of the samples. Leave the mineral kit in situ and contact QBuild immediately for safe removal and disposal.'' In a reply to a departmental briefing note, Education Minister Cameron Dick's chief of staff asked: "Advice please on how this could have been allowed to happen given issues with asbestos''.
14
Schools are likely to be a top priority in a federal government plan for a nationwide reduction in the presence of asbestos.
The federal government is setting up a new office of asbestos safety which will in turn create a national anti-asbestos agency to co-ordinate removal of the banned cancer-causing material from all types of buildings.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has agreed in principle to an Australian Council of Trade Unions proposal to target schools first.
"Obviously, exposure to children is particularly repugnant, but there is no good exposure for any group," Mr Shorten told reporters at an asbestos summit in Sydney on Tuesday.
"I can see the sense in what was raised by the unions today. I'll also work with the state
governments to work out what is the appropriate priorities, but it makes sense."
The summit, convened by the ACTU, heard that Australia has the world's highest prevalence of asbestos-related diseases, including deadly mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma sufferer Serafina Salucci told the summit she will never fully recover from the
illness she contracted as a child after playing with fibro sheets.
Ms Salucci was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2007.
"I did quite a bit of chemotherapy after I was diagnosed and then in February 2008 I had an operation where I had my right lung removed," she said.
"Life was getting back to normal again but then I had a recurrence about two years ago where they found another tumour."
Schools first in asbestos removal plan
September 4, 2012
Miles Godfrey
Con’t
The briefing note reveals it was the four students who "identified that the legend stated '12: Asbestos' for one of the samples in a kit''. "No sample was actually available in the section labelled 12. The kit was removed and later disposed of safely by QBuild. Subsequent testing of this kit confirmed the presence of asbestos-containing material.'' Incredibly, a second safety alert was issued in June stating: "Following the safety alert released in March, schools have now identified other kits with varying forms of asbestos''. Education Minister Cameron Dick said he had been advised the risk to students was "extremely low'', that all mineral kits in state schools had now been removed and had not been used as part of the curriculum "for many years''. QUT asbestos expert Bill Kwiecien said asbestos in school kits was a concern and a potential risk to children because it was a hazardous material, but that risk was "relatively low''. "It is a concern ... but to me it wouldn't be something applying concern if my kids were exposed to it,'' he said
15
The Queensland government is upping its fight against asbestos and will invest fresh funds to remove high-risk asbestos that is plastered throughout schools and public housing.
Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg says one Queenslander every six days is diagnosed with a terminal case of mesothelioma, and that figure will increase over the next decade.
He said there was currently two million cubic metres of asbestos in public buildings, the majority of which was in schools and public housing, with 400 asbestos scares a year.
Dr Flegg announced the government would invest $1.5 million to prioritise the removal of high-risk asbestos material, particularly fibre boards and vinyl floor sheeting, which is substantially more dangerous than fibro asbestos.
The extra funding is on top of the $26 Million annual budget for removal.
Dr Flegg said it's particularly worrying that schools have the most cases of asbestos.
"Asbestos exposure in schools has been going on for a very long time and it is really frightening for parents because there is no way of telling (whether) your child ... has inhaled asbestos fibres if the circumstances occur where they may become airborne," he told reporters.
Dr Flegg would also work with local government to create more dump sites and a central register so people can easily identify a tip to go to instead of illegally dumping the lethal material.
"It's a big and growing problem," he said. QBuild staff, the government's construction and building maintenance business, would also be upskilled to have Class B and Class A licences for asbestos removal, to curb the use of contractors.
He said there is currently not a single QBuild worker that has a Class A removal licence.
Government to ramp up fight against
asbestos
Con’t
Mr Shorten said he would like see all asbestos removed from Australia "tomorrow".
But there were not enough places to dispose of the material, he said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Paul Bastian called on the federal opposition and state governments to support the establishment of a national asbestos co-ordinating body.
The AMWU would like to see this organisation conduct a national audit of public and commer-cial buildings, issue complete contamination reports for all pre-1987 structures and engage in
training and community awareness programs, Mr Bastian said.
"These are the priority activities which ... will be essential in reducing further asbestos related
disease," he said in a statement.
Kym Agius Published: October 18, 2012
16
Households unaware of asbestos
alert
October 28 2012
Two million homes built before 1988 could be harbouring lethal asbestos dust around electricity meters, with workers ordered to wear safety masks when working on meter boards.
Meter boards installed before 1988 contain asbestos that becomes deadly once disturbed by drilling associated with the installation of modern meters and solar energy.
Endeavour Energy, which serves Sydney's west, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra issued a ''hazard alert'' to its 3000 staff on Thursday after reports by workers who discovered asbestos residue around meters.
The Electrical Trades Union responded by ordering its members not to work on or near potentially hazardous boards.
Labor's bungled solar bonus scheme has increased the rate of work being carried out on meter boards over the past five years.
Endeavour Energy told The Sun-Herald yesterday that customers and any electrical contractors should also wear safety masks when ''opening or working on'' older style fibro meter boards.
The company has ordered workers to get safety clearance from an ''occupational hygienist'' before proceeding with any drilling work.
''As a precaution workers shall wear a P1 mask when opening or working on meter boards until this review is completed,'' the company said in its alert.
The ETU's secretary, Steve Butler, said its members were advised not to work on the boards until Endeavour Energy provided documentary evidence to show they were asbestos-free.
''This situation constitutes a high- risk exposure to friable [breathable] asbestos,'' he said.
''Instead of acting quickly and appropriately, Endeavour Energy are telling us to simply wear PPE [personal protection equipment]. The ETU believe this is not good enough,'' Mr Butler said.
Campaigners blasted the electricity company for seeking to protect staff but not warning the public.
Barry Robson, of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia, said: ''It's absolutely staggering Endeavour Energy has identified this problem but failed to notify households of the risk.
''There's no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
''Endeavour Energy needs to begin an urgent public awareness campaign. If it doesn't, it will have to wear responsibility for the consequences.''
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Electrical workers told to wear
asbestos suits
Electrical workers at a major state-owned power company have been ordered to wear full asbestos hazard suits and respirators when approaching electricity meters at homes built before 1988.
Amid evidence that Endeavour Energy has been following asbestos safety guidelines that are years out of date, the company on Wednesday strengthened requirements for staff working at older homes.
The move comes three days after Fairfax Media revealed 2 million houses in NSW built before 1988 could be harbouring lethal asbestos dust.
Fibro meter boards installed before that time all contain ageing asbestos fibres which are increasingly being disturbed by drilling work associated with the installation of modern meters and solar energy.
Endeavour, one of the state's big three power providers, issued a hazard alert last week, urging its 3000 workers to use ordinary "P1" safety masks and report any dust residue they find.
The company, which serves western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra, also warned customers to wear masks around meter boxes.
But the directive was upgraded on Wednesday to insist workers wear "P2" disposable respirator masks with a full-length plastic safety suit – the same protective gear worn by asbestos disposal teams.
The Electrical Trades Union said the hasty change was an admission by Endeavour it had been following an asbestos safety standard of 1988 that was superseded in 2005.
The union's NSW secretary, Steve Butler, said: "Endeavour's current management signed off on an asbestos exposure policy that is five times weaker than the industry standard. This is a shocking failure of management."
Con’t
Endeavour serves a network of 877,339 customers, or 2.1 million people. Ausgrid, which covers coastal and inner Sydney and north to the Hunter, has distributed the hazard alert to its workers but said it had not had reports of asbestos residue.
Essential Energy, which covers north coast and rural areas said it had provided training on safety.
Endeavour said it had notified WorkCover and the Department of Fair Trading.
A spokesman for the Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, said she had not been notified.
November 1, 2012
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Drilling into non-friable ACM using an H rated industrial HEPA filter vacuum to control airborne
fibres and dust
Preparation before commencing the task
It's essential that you take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others when
dealing with asbestos. Make sure you prepare before commencing the task.
Equipment
A range of equipment should be used to control the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres,
including:
According to documents obtained by Fairfax, Endeavour signed off on guidelines as recently as August that allow five times more exposure to friable – or breathable – asbestos than is allowed in the latest national standard.
A spokeswoman for Endeavour acknowledged that an "out of date reference" was found in a 15-page policy on asbestos management but insisted safety had not been compromised.
"While one reference in our paperwork about measuring asbestos exposure may been out of date, our testing has always complied to the relevant standard," she said.
Endeavour described the new measures as "purely an additional precautionary safety measure" while testing of dust residue was carried out.
"We have absolutely no evidence or information to suggest that the risk of asbestos is any greater for our workers than it has been for the past decade," the spokeswoman said.
"The instruction to wear this revised protective equipment is not related in any way to working with an out of date standard on Asbestos management."
Endeavour said customers did not need to wear full hazard gear. "We have consulted with various stakeholders and reviewed related practices and there is nothing to suggest that this additional protective equipment should be worn by residents."
Ausgrid and Essential Energy, which cover the rest of NSW, said their safety measures were sufficient but the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia has warned of a "third wave of asbestos victims" unless the matter is handled properly.
Asbestos – safe work procedure
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19
Safe work procedure outline
Follow the steps below:
1. Place duct tape over intended drilling point. Mark the proposed hole for drilling on the duct
tape.
2. Fit a drilling nozzle attachment to the H rated industrial HEPA filter vacuum hose, position
the drill bit on the point to be drilled.
3. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and commence drilling the holes, ensure that the drilling
nozzle attachment is firmly positioned flat against the sheeting.
4. Do not remove until the drilling is complete. This procedure is called shadow vacuuming.
5. After the drilling is complete, remove the drilling nozzle attachment from the vacuum
cleaner hose and dispose of it in an approved asbestos waste bag which is correctly
labelled and is 200 μm thick. Fit a new dust brush to the vacuum hose and vacuum clean
the drilled surface and surrounding area, and then wet wipe.
6. Decontaminate the vacuum and tools by detaching the dust brush from the vacuum hose
and vacuum the brush bristles. Seal the vacuum cleaner hose entry point with duct tape.
7. Wet wipe all external surfaces of the vacuum cleaner and hose. All wet wipes and rags
are to be disposed of into an approved asbestos waste bag which is correctly labelled
and is 200 μm thick.
8. Place the vacuum cleaner, hose and the attachments in a sealed drum or an approved
asbestos waste bag which is correctly labelled and is 200 μm thick, in readiness for
transportation to the next work site. This bag or container can only be opened inside a
subsequent asbestos work area.
Cleanup and disposal
Asbestos waste and debris must be disposed of quickly and correctly to minimise any asbestos
fibre exposure to the homeowners or workers. Make sure you clean up and dispose of
asbestos safely.
Further information
For more information about asbestos visit www.qld.gov.au/asbestos or
call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
200 μm plastic drop sheets
rolls of duct or gaffer tape
plastic bags 1200 x 900 mm (200 μm)
labelled with a warning (e.g. CAUTION:
Asbestos, Do no damage or open bag.
Do not inhale dust.)
barricading or hazard tape
bucket three-quarters full of water
atomiser bottle with water
access to a continuous supply of water
cordless drill or hand drill
drill bits suitable for the task
tape measure
rags or disposable wipes
H rated industrial HEPA filter vacuum
that meets AS4260 and AS/NZS
60335.2.69:2003
shadow vacuuming attachments
PVA glue (sealant) and a small paint
brush
marker pen
access to the first aid kit
spare PPE
safety lace less work boots.
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