A (non member) contractor was recently investigated by WorkSafe because they had apparently provided “in house” training for their employees, however when the relevant workers knowledge of the work they were conducting was informally tested, it was found to be inadequate.

Ideally, workers engaged in asbestos removal should undergo accredited training provided by a Recognized Training Authority, so that it can be easily verified that they have the appropriate knowledge and skills for the job. Refresher training should be provided at least annually for Class A removalists and every 2 years for B Class removalists.

The Code specifies that the training should include

• the nature of the hazard

- how asbestos can affect a persons health

- the added dangers of smoking

• the risk from exposure to airborne asbestos fibres

- appropriate controls

- what methods and equipment will do the job properly

- how to choose, use and look after personal protective equipment

- decontamination of persons, equipment and work area

- waste disposal

- emergency procedures

• maintenance of controls

• what the law requires

The Code also requires that records of training be available at the workplace for each person engaged in asbestos removal work.

Asbestos removal is a serious business and it is critical that it is done in the safest possible way. Without adequate training mistakes can be made that can have tragic consequences, not just for the person involved, but for others who could be exposed as a result.

The two directors of the multinational company Eternit, Swiss millionaire Stephan Schmidaeiny and the Belgian Baron Louis De Cartier, are being charged over the death of almost 2,200 people and over 700 ill. They are being charged with the deaths tied to the use of asbestos in manufacturing in four Italian enterprises.

The main Counts are intentional environmental disaster and failure of voluntary safety standards.

It is the first time in Europe that in a trial for environmental damages the civil parties will be represented by an international coalition: together with the lawyers of the CGIL (Italian peak union council), there are lawyers from France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.

Also participating in the hearing will be some foreign delegations, including a group of miners from the French union CFDT.

In court during the first hearing were 150 lawyers and associates, 110 journalists, 424 victims of asbestos diseases or their relatives, and representatives from 48 institutions, including administrators and the mayors of the municipalities affected by the disaster.

The hearing will continue on January 25. It is possible that the contingent of eight lawyers representing victims will increase to include representatives of victims from Spain and Brazil. Eternit factories in Brazil are still in operation, while those in Spain have been closed.

One of the current lawyers said their aim was to demonstrate that Eternit had a single director for health and safety in all countries. They are also claiming that among other things, the company for many years “recycled” production waste in the streets and infrastructure of the surrounding neighbourhoods in order to avoid appropriate disposal.

I don’t see why individuals shouldn’t be held responsible here. The James Hardie compensation isn’t likely to be adequate – and while we’re at it, we could get some money to help remove the enormous amount of asbestos that’s still in our environment.

The forum, organised by the Victorian Trades Hall Council, passed a series of resolutions towards a process of prioritised and safe removal and disposal of all asbestos containing materials.

Resolutions also covered those already exposed and who will be exposed in the future. The forum called for increased funding for research into the early detection and treatment for asbestos related disease, and for statistics to kept and collated.

A new and non adversarial system of increased compensation for sufferers and their families was also called for.

The Asbestos Contractors Group supported the resolutions and we call on both State and Federal Governments to play their part. Not only will it save them considerable money in the future in terms of the health system and support for families, but they have a moral responsibility. After all, they allowed James Hardie to mine, manufacture and distribute asbestos containing products long after they knew, or should have known (if they’d listened to their representatives on the ground), that it was dangerous.

Like climate change, the consequences (though far less catastrophic) of doing nothing are inevitable. A great deal of asbestos containing material in buildings and other places around Australia is now “friable”, i.e. releasing fibres, and as time passes the amount increases. Thousands more people will die if nothing is done. Like other public health issues, an awareness raising campaign should be run, and the process of eliminating asbestos in Australia needs to start now!