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Research Reveals Lower Asbestos Exposure No Protection Against Mesothelioma, According to Surviving Mesothelioma
January 2, 2014
A study of nearly 60,000 men finds that even low levels of asbestos exposure in the work environment may be enough to trigger me…
'Dust all over' Mudgee mayor's asbestos clean-up
January 2, 2014
Concerns have been raised about the demolition of two properties owned by the mayor of Mudgee that allegedly left the site conta…
Identifying asbestos in soil
January 2, 2014
A naturally occurring mineral formed in seams in the ground, asbestos is found in soil throughout most areas in Sydney and Melbo…
Land agency says it told Campbell residents of asbestos removal
December 17, 2013
The Land Development Agency (LDA) maintains it did alert Campbell residents that it was about to start removing asbestos from a …
Supreme Court to decide on asbestos NHS treatment cost recovery bill
December 17, 2013
A legal dispute over an attempt to force companies to pay the medical costs of staff made ill by asbestos has been referred to t…
Clean-up begins after topsoil contaminated with asbestos used at Mernda development site
December 17, 2013
ASBESTOS-CONTAMINATED topsoil will take days to be cleared from a development site in Mernda.
Bill protects Wisconsin businesses in asbestos lawsuits
December 17, 2013
As representatives of small, medium and large Wisconsin businesses, we support and encourage industries from Illinois to relocat…
Specialist nurses ready for surge of cancer from asbestos
December 17, 2013
It's the cancer that is about to hit Australia in a deadly wave. It's mesothelioma, a usually fatal disease of the lungs caught …
Mesothelioma Victims' Victory in Pennsylvania
December 17, 2013
Workers and their families have won a victory in Pennsylvania after the state Supreme Court ruled that they could sue former emp…
Asbestos victim's 'second wave' fear
December 17, 2013
ABOUT 18 months ago Pat Rogan was enjoying a winter holiday with his wife in the warmth of north Queensland when his usually rob…
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How can we stop illegal dumping?
Few residents around Australia have witnessed as brazen an effort to dump asbestos illegally than those living in the outer north-west Sydney suburb of Blaxlands Ridge.
Edge Group
For a full asbestos risk management assessment by Occupational Hygenists (including travel time) – From $500 for inner metro residential properties (excluding GST): POA.
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New Identifying Asbestos in Your Home Brochure
The Federal Minister for Workplace Relations has joined with Australia’s renovating program The Block and major hardware retailer Mitre 10 to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos.
Asbestoswise Commemoration Service
Asbestoswise will be holding the annual asbestos Commemoration Service on the 29th November 2013 at Deakin Edge, Melbourne.
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ESP Environment & Safety Professionals
Full asbestos risk management audit by occupational hygenists – including travelling time + hourly rate + 5 samples + report – about $750-$950 (excluding gst).
10 days to prepare results and report.
For samples sent in the post or delivered to the laboratory - approximately $50 (excluding gst) and 3-5 days turnaround.
Asbestos removal and safe handling
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Identifibre
Full asbestos risk management assessment by occupational hygenists – for residential properties approximately $600-700 (plus GST) other sites by quote.
For samples sent in the post or delivered to the laboratory - $77 (GST inclusive) and a standard turnaround approximately a week. Additional $20 per sample for 24-hour service.
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Greencap
Greencap do not provide asbestos risk management audits for residential addresses.
For samples sent in the post or delivered to the laboratory - $120 (GST inclusive) for first sample and $60 for each additional sample (3-5 days turnaround).
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Information Resources
International Call For Action To Stop Intimidation Of Scientists By The Asbestos Industry
The professional and ethical duty of scientists to put forward evidence based scientific information when public health is involved is critical.
Asbestos Central
Asbestos central provides visual inspections from assessors (this is not an asbestos risk management audit)
$150 for verbal report/$250 for written report - excluding gst (there may be an extra charge if travelling times are excessive.)
Asbestos and fire damaged buildings
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A Plus Building Solutions
A Plus Building Solutions specialises in the complete management and abatement of asbestos materials and other hazardous substances in your home or workplace
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Asbestos Warning on Channel Nine's The Block
Channel Nines, The Block recently aired a clip on the dangers of Asbestos in home renovation
ARD Support Groups
Chapman Gardner Asbestos Removalists
Established in 1977, Chapman Gardner Pty Ltd is a family owned and run business providing specialist advice on every type of asbestos removal throughout the Melbourne metropolitan and Victorian regional areas.
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Glamaline Constructions
As this is a specialised field you must be licensed and registered (as we are) with Work Safe Victoria and E.P.A. We provide safe asbestos removal in all residential and commercial places both internal and external. Our asbestos removal experts are accredited and we issue Clearance Certificate on request.
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How to remove asbestos
Read information on removalists, DIY removal and also licensing of asbestos removalist contractors
Clean and Gone
Clean and Gone specialise in the safe removal and disposal of all types of Asbestos (Friable & Non-friable / Class A & B)
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Disposing of asbestos
Promising Developments in Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Mesothelioma
New results presented at the 3rd European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland show important steps being made to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
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Cubby House Cancer Takes Everest Survivor Lincoln Hall
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International Asbestos Awareness Conference 2013
More than 30 renowned medical experts and asbestos victims from five countries will speak on the latest advancements in asbestos disease prevention, treatment for mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused diseases, and global ban asbestos advocacy.
The conference will be held 22 - 24 March 2013, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
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Eternit Owners Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
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Devil’s Dust
A two part mini-series about the James Hardie asbestos tragedy went into production on 19 March for the ABC. Devil’s Dust is described as an “intensely personal story of three very different men whose lives and careers are bound together by a tragedy that becomes a scandal, and then a fast-moving battle through the corridors of corporate, political and media power.
NSW Rejects Recommendation on Asbestos Payout
The NSW Government has rejected recommendations by the Law Reform Commission to pay what is described as fair damages to widows and families of asbestos disease victims.
Dangerous Items Containing Asbestos Reach the EU Market
Despite the fact that the European Union (EU) banned asbestos in 2005, items containing asbestos continue to find their way into European markets.
OCTIEF Manages Large Remediation of Asbestos From Historical Location
OCTIEF supervised and managed the remediation of asbestos from an important historical location in Regional Northern Queensland: the site where white man first made contact with Indigenous Australians.
Asbestos Management Review Report
The Asbestos Management Review Report – June 2012, including the recommendations for the development of a national strategic plan to improve asbestos awareness and management in Australia, was released by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations on 16 August 2012.
Japanese Court Awards $13m To Asbestos Victims
A Japanese court has ordered the government to pay $13 million to 170 former construction workers and their bereaved families over exposure to asbestos.
Fire-hit Homeowners Warned of Asbestos Threat
Homeowners affected by bushfires are being urged to avoid any exposure to asbestos while clearing their properties.
Pakistan May Ban Asbestos to Reduce Mesothelioma
Asbestos To Be Cleared From Sydney's Underground
Workers will be removing asbestos from some of Sydney's small underground power stations over Christmas in a bid to rid the power industry of the potentially deadly material.
Asbestos To Be Removed From Norfolk Island
It is hoped crates of asbestos building up at Norfolk Island's tip could soon be shipped to the mainland for disposal.
Fire-Hit Homeowners Warned of Asbestos Threat
Homeowners affected by recent bushfires are being urged to avoid any exposure to asbestos while clearing their properties.
Eternit and the Great Asbestos Trial: Appeal Proceedings
Further hearings will commence on February 14, 2013 in the case which has become known as the “Great Asbestos Trial”.
Engineers Fined for Importing Asbestos
The Australian arm of a German engineering company has been fined $64,000 for importing prohibited asbestos in machinery parts.
International Asbestos Awareness Conference
More than 30 renowned medical experts and asbestos victims from five countries will speak on the latest advancements in asbestos disease prevention
Could Fowlpox Vaccine be Next Big Mesothelioma Treatment?
Several mesothelioma therapies currently under investigation fall outside the box of conventional treatments.
I Could Have Been Exposed to Asbestos Through My Hair Dryer?
One place where you may have least expected to find asbestos is in a handheld hair blow dryer.
Young UK Workers Given Asbestos Warning
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) believes that many young workers do not understand the huge dangers posed by asbestos.
Study Indicates Mesothelioma Surgery May Make Breathing More Difficult
Mesothelioma patients pursue surgery in the hopes that the operation will — at least partially — reduce their symptoms. But what if their surgery makes those symptoms worse?
Washington State Senate Passes Bill Regarding Asbestos Labelling
A proposal by a Spokane, Washington senator, demanding the labelling of all products containing asbestos
National Action to Tackle Australia's Deadly Asbestos Legacy
The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations introduced on 20 March legislation into Parliament to establish the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week
The United States Senate Resolution 66 — has designated the first week of April 2013 as global `National Asbestos Awareness Week’.
Drywaller Awarded USD$27 Million for Asbestos Exposure
A drywall worker who built houses during the California housing boom in the 1970s, when asbestos was used in virtually every type of building material, has won a $27 million jury award for a cancer caused by the toxic substance.
Ernie Bridge Loses Mesothelioma Fight
Former Labor MP Ernie Bridge has died, just weeks after launching a legal fight against the State Government and two of Australia's richest women
A National Approach to Asbestos Management
The Office of Asbestos Safety released a discussion draft on Wednesday 3 April 2013 of the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management.
Stage Set for Inclusion of Chrysotile Asbestos in UN List of Hazardous Substances
Banned in over 50 countries, chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos) is set to be included to the UN list of hazardous substances
Asbestos Death Estimates Shared at Australia Inquiry
Asbestos is expected to kill up to 40,000 Australians in the next 20 years, a grim statistic shared during a recent government inquiry into proposed legislation to eradicate this public health menace.
ACTU says Queensland Government Misleading Senate on Asbestos Danger
The ACTU is baffled and dismayed by the response from the Queensland Government on Asbestos.
Abbott distances himself from rejection of Telstra asbestos compo plan
Telstra tried to fast-track compensation arrangements for its employees exposed to asbestos but was rebuffed by Tony Abbott's own department back in 2001.
Telstra must act on Ballarat asbestos, says Gillard
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has laid responsibility for the widening Ballarat National Broadband Network asbestos scandal straight at the feet of telco giant Telstra.
Asbestos: Dust Settles on the Moral Low Groun
Back in October 2007, when Tony Abbott was Health Minister, he denied asbestos disease sufferers access to subsidised medicine for their illness.
Thousands rubbish plan for Arthurs Seat Dump
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is pushing ahead with plans for a rubbish and asbestos tip near Arthurs Seat despite fervent opposition from thousands of residents.
The water-filled former quarry, just 500 metres from Arthurs Seat State Park has been proposed as a 20 year solution to the shire's rubbish disposal needs.
But as the $12-million proposal awaits approval from the EPA and the council, the Peninsula Preservation Group has launched a co-ordinated attack against the move.
Asbestos: who is accountable when things go wrong?
You can't argue for deregulation in Australia, and then blame the government when problems arise.
Telstra considering plan to remove asbestos from all pits
Telstra is considering a long-term plan to completely remove asbestos from all its pits, amid concerns members of the public may have been exposed to the deadly fibres.
Asbestos victims' advocate accuses Coalition of exploiting NBN claims
Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia president 'disgusted and upset' by opposition's handling of the issue
Plague of asbestos deaths will only get worse
About a third of Australian homes built between 1945 and the late 1980s contain some asbestos products.
Fear over asbestos in schools
Parents, teachers and principals have called for the wide-scale removal of asbestos in Victorian schools, as state government audits reveal many buildings need the toxic material cleaned up immediately.
Asbestos lawyer in to bat for Telstra
The lawyer who represented James Hardie in its legal battle against asbestos victim Bernie Banton is acting for Telstra in negotiations with western Sydney residents whose homes were contaminated with the potentially deadly material during construction work for the National Broadband Network.
Telstra to release asbestos results
TELSTRA says it will provide test results to anguished residents in western Sydney, which could tell them if their properties have been contaminated with asbestos.
Telstra announces NBN asbestos requirements
Telstra has announced a number of requirements for its three key NBN rollout contractors about handling asbestos in pit remediation.
Still breathing the devil's dust
At first it was miners and wharfies, then all sorts of tradesmen. Now a different generation of home renovators and others are being diagnosed with cancer after exposure to asbestos.
Meso Busters in the Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013
The Ride to Conquer Cancer, benefiting Peter Mac, will take place again in 2013.
Team Meso Busters will be riding once more, raising awareness of mesothelioma.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a unique, two-day bike ride that will take place on 26-27 October, 2013.
Waste sparks asbestos fear at Jack Vanny Reserve in Maroubra
AN asbestos scare triggered the sudden closure of a popular beachside park yesterday after illegally dumped building waste was found.
Rush on asbestos courses
TRAINING provider TasTafe has ramped up asbestos training courses to ensure Tasmanian workers are ready to go on August 19 when Telstra allow National Broadband Network workers back on the job.
Archery club banned from training facility due to asbestos damage
A BALLARAT archer's campaign to make the national team vying for a world title is in jeopardy after the asbestos-riddled ceiling at his training facility fell in.
Asbestos clean up to blame for NBN delays, says Anthony Albanese
Delays in building the national broadband network can be blamed on work stoppages to clean up asbestos, Broadband Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Improper asbestos dumping sparks warning
The Rockhampton Regional Council is reminding residents to take more care after suspected asbestos was improperly dumped at a council site.
Council found suspected asbestos dumped at the Laurel Bank Roadside Bin Station six times last week.
Subcontractors may sue over NBN asbestos shutdown
THE troubled rollout of the National Broadband Network is threatening to erupt into legal action as subcontractors facing financial ruin consider suing Telstra over the asbestos shutdown.
Surge in Hardie asbestos claims
There has been another spike in asbestos claims linked to James Hardie products, with the cost of some claims higher than expected.
Short-term Asbestos Exposure Triggers Mesothelioma
The recent death of a British man from mesothelioma is evidence of the destructive power of asbestos – even when exposure is short.
South Australia asbestos victims' handed 'watershed' decision
AFTER decades of inequality, South Australian asbestos victims have been awarded the same compensation as victims in other states.
Reservoir mum still waiting for answers from Telstra on nature strip asbestos
TELSTRA still can't explain how pieces of asbestos came to be on a Reservoir nature strip, more than two months after they were removed.
Telstra delays restart of NBN asbestos work
TELSTRA has been forced to delay the restart of work on the pits and pipes needed for the rollout of the NBN as it battles against the clock to get sub-contractors up to speed on the proper removal of asbestos.
Dow Chemical Company Hit With $5.95 Million Asbestos Cancer Verdict in Case Led by Baron and Budd Mesothelioma Attorneys
Firefighters at increased risk of mesothelioma
New clinical trials for mesothelioma drug
A recently launched, international clinical trial that involves the targeted killing of mesothelioma cancer stem cells soon could provide a much-needed breakthrough for patients around the world.
Bushfires increase dangers of asbestos
NSW is currently experiencing one of the worst fire seasons in 10 years which has damaged or destroyed properties across the state.
Asbestos consumption on the rise in Asia
Governments in Asia have been accused of ignoring the dangers of asbestos, and allowing the ongoing use of the hazardous building material.
Actor Ed Lauter dies of mesothelioma
American character actor Ed Lauter whose instantly recognizable face allowed him to work for over fifty years in film and television died from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
Free Asbestos Forum - Ballarat
If you have been exposed at work or in the home, this seminar will provide you with useful information about asbestos diseases and your rights in relation to these.
Annual Report 2012-13
Asbestos researcher named WA Australian of Year
Cancer researcher Professor Bruce Robinson AM has been named WA’s Australian of the Year 2014 for his world leading study of asbestos related cancer.
FREE EVENT: Asbestos and the Plumbing Industry, History and Challenges
Imported asbestos products getting past Australian customs
Large shipments of products containing asbestos are entering Australia undetected by customs officials and it has some groups worried about worker safety.
Asbestos dumped in Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie Council says illegally dumped asbestos can cost the organisation up to $10,000 every time it has to remove it.
Home renovators warned to be asbestos aware
She's a wheeled wanderer with a comical name, but Betty the travelling caravan has a deadly serious message.
Stoner closes road through Barraba's derelict asbestos mine
The Acting Premier has announced the closure of the road that passes through the derelict Woodsreef Asbestos Mine at Barraba.
Anger over dumping of ‘highly toxic’ asbestos
A PARISH councillor has protested that the dumping of “highly toxic” asbestos in his village is “disgusting”.
Land of 'Mr Fluffy' asbestos house sold at auction
The Downer land on which a dangerous Mr Fluffy asbestos house stood only a few months ago has been sold at auction.
Study Says Mexican Mesothelioma Risk May Rival That of Turkey
Researchers in Mexico say the central part of the country could face a significant risk of mesothelioma from the same mineral that has caused hundreds of deaths in Turkey.
Problems with asbestos cleanup at Myrtle Point High School
MYRTLE POINT — A local environmental cleanup firm has been hit with a penalty for allegedly improperly handling asbestos at Myrtle Point High School.
Home renovators get to know asbestos
HOME renovators will be better able to identify and safely handle asbestos thanks to a free online course being promoted by Cancer Council Queensland.
Asbestos risk in rebuild unprecedented - experts
Australian asbestos experts say the potential contamination problems facing earthquake-hit Christchurch are on a scale they have never seen before.
Second Geologist Confirms Asbestos-Form Fibers At Proposed Mine Site
A second scientist now confirms that asbestos-like fibers exist in the rock formations of the proposed iron ore mine in the Penokee Hills. That confirmation also comes with a warning: that these fibers are dangerous if the rock is disturbed.
Asbestos victim's 'second wave' fear
ABOUT 18 months ago Pat Rogan was enjoying a winter holiday with his wife in the warmth of north Queensland when his usually robust health began to fail.
Mesothelioma Victims' Victory in Pennsylvania
Workers and their families have won a victory in Pennsylvania after the state Supreme Court ruled that they could sue former employers over late-manifesting industrial diseases like mesothelioma.
Specialist nurses ready for surge of cancer from asbestos
It's the cancer that is about to hit Australia in a deadly wave. It's mesothelioma, a usually fatal disease of the lungs caught through exposure to asbestos.
Bill protects Wisconsin businesses in asbestos lawsuits
As representatives of small, medium and large Wisconsin businesses, we support and encourage industries from Illinois to relocate and do business in this state. However, one industry that is not welcome are asbestos attorneys from Chicago who file frivolous lawsuits against Wisconsin businesses.
Clean-up begins after topsoil contaminated with asbestos used at Mernda development site
ASBESTOS-CONTAMINATED topsoil will take days to be cleared from a development site in Mernda.
Supreme Court to decide on asbestos NHS treatment cost recovery bill
A legal dispute over an attempt to force companies to pay the medical costs of staff made ill by asbestos has been referred to the Supreme Court.
Land agency says it told Campbell residents of asbestos removal
The Land Development Agency (LDA) maintains it did alert Campbell residents that it was about to start removing asbestos from a building site because it sent out a letter three months earlier saying the process was to happen ''shortly''.
Identifying asbestos in soil
A naturally occurring mineral formed in seams in the ground, asbestos is found in soil throughout most areas in Sydney and Melbourne.
'Dust all over' Mudgee mayor's asbestos clean-up
Concerns have been raised about the demolition of two properties owned by the mayor of Mudgee that allegedly left the site contaminated with asbestos.
Research Reveals Lower Asbestos Exposure No Protection Against Mesothelioma, According to Surviving Mesothelioma
A study of nearly 60,000 men finds that even low levels of asbestos exposure in the work environment may be enough to trigger mesothelioma and other cancers.
Schools containing asbestos will be required to place warning signs at their front gate
Schools containing asbestos will be required to place warning signs at their front gate after the Education Department was taken to court and ordered to lift its game following a series of safety breaches.
Widow Yvonne Wilding warns of dangers of asbestos contact after husband Roger's death
Tory MP claims she has been 'gagged by party bosses' after criticising asbestos compensation payouts
Tracey Crouch was axed from a committee set up to thrash out a deal for victims of asbestos-related mesothelioma after branding previous payouts 'incredibly unfair'
Mold Plus Asbestos Closes Ann Arbor Fire Station, Florida Asbestos Testing Company AGC Environmental Suggests a Tip How to Avoid Their Worse Effects
Mold and asbestos issue reportedly got a fire station in Ann Arbor remained closed. My Cleaning Products offered a tip to help the public the worst of their effects.
Asbestos discovery at Derbyshire hospital prompts public meeting to discuss its future
A MEETING will be held to discuss the future of Derbyshire's Heanor Memorial Hospital after asbestos was discovered in parts of the building.
Asbestos cleanup sparks concern at Cole Harbour school
Judge sides with Garlock in asbestos claims fight
Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC is likely on the hook for $125 million to settle a variety of asbestos-related mesothelioma claims — far less than the $1 billion or so being sought by law firms suing the company, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Bakery defends reputation, no asbestos came into contact with bread
The director of an industrial scale bakery has defended the company's reputation following claims that at least one consignment of bread had to be recalled because of an asbestos scare.
EnPro stock soars after judge rules in asbestos case
Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC, a unit of Charlotte-based EnPro Industries Inc., emerged victorious after a trial with official representatives of asbestos personal-injury claimants, sending the company’s shares up 23 percent in morning trading on Monday.
Complaints spark calls for Calgary asbestos review
The children who played with asbestos
Children in a County Durham village used to spend their days playing with lethal asbestos from a local factory. One, now 51, has cancer. What will happen to the rest?
70 have died from asbestos exposure in past five years
SEVENTY people in North East Lincolnshire and the surrounding area have died in the last five years from asbestos exposure, figures have revealed.
Australian importer faces fine after asbestos found in Chinese locos
AUSTRALIAN rolling stock supplier Bradken could face a fine of up to $A 850,000 ($US 756,000) for overseeing the import of two diesel locomotives from CSR Ziyang, China, that were subsequently found to be contaminated with asbestos.
Safe Environments provides asbestos clearance inspection
Asbestos consultants from Safe Environments conduct asbestos clearance inspections providing assurance that an area is safe to occupy following asbestos removal.
OPINION: James Hardie's shame laid bare in Asbestos House
I FINISHED a book over the holidays that I've been meaning to read for years. The book is called Asbestos House. It is written by Gideon Haigh, who usually writes about cricket. The book is about the fight to make the James Hardie company pay just compensation to the victims of asbestos diseases.
Asbestos victim's 'second wave' fear
ABOUT 20 months ago Pat Rogan was enjoying a winter holiday with his wife in the warmth of north Queensland when his usually robust health began to fail.
Factors Predict Long-Term Survival After Mesothelioma Surgery
Two thoracic surgeons from Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, England have come up with a list of factors they say can be used to predict long term survival in mesothelioma patients who undergo radical surgery.
NBN asbestos monitors to be retrenched, despite breaches
SAFETY monitors ensuring workers on the National Broadband Network rollout are not exposed to asbestos are being retrenched, despite breaches continuing, unions claim. A Senate inquiry was yesterday warned by the Electrical Trades Union that the removal of the 12 monitors, observing asbestos removal work on telecommunications pits across the country, placed workers' lives at risk.
Case Sheds Light On The Murky World Of Asbestos Litigation
Fire creates asbestos fears
Mum asks why it took councils so long to get rid of material dumped near beach
A MOTHER-OF-FOUR is asking council bosses why it took so long to deal with asbestos dumped near a Hampshire beach.
Asbestos related illnesses continue to take a toll on the Aboriginal community of Baryulgil
New cases of asbestos-related illnesses continue to be diagnosed in a remote north coast Aboriginal community decades after a James Hardie mine closed.
Asbestos carpet underlay
Recent reports indicate that carpet underlays may be contaminated with asbestos. The source of the asbestos carpet underlay is from recycling of hessian bags used to transport material from Wittenoom to Perth in the 1960s and 70s.
New cash hope over asbestos
SCOTTISH health boards could be given the power to re-claim the cost of treating people from killer conditions caused by exposure to asbestos.
Firefighters battle heavy smoke and presence of asbestos at factory fire in Heatherdale Rd, Ringwood
FIREFIGHTERS fought through heavy smoke and asbestos contamination as they battled a suspicious fire at a disused factory in Melbourne’s east this morning.
Plenty’ of asbestos still in Telstra infrastructure
THE union movement has declared there is “unfinished business” with asbestos in Telstra infrastructure being used for the National Broadband Network rollout as a safety monitoring taskforce winds up. The Australian has confirmed that an independent taskforce set up by Labor at the peak of asbestos concerns has been dissolved after holding its final meeting in recent weeks.
Mr Fluffy scare prompts insulation check-up
UNTIL last week Garry King and Sian Silk suspected their Nowra home’s loose-filled ceiling insulation contained asbestos.
Kambah residents live in fear in their asbestos homes
Kambah residents living in homes made of asbestos have called on the government for help following the discovery they're part of a toxic nightmare in the territory.
Asbestoswise to participate in Grill'd Local Matters
Great news! We’ve been nominated to participate in the Grill’d Local Matters donation program at Grill'd Degraves St this month.
Local mesothelioma rates outstrip world average
Australia’s rate of mesothelioma cases remains above the world average, latest figures show.
Diary of a dying Fluffy homeowner
Asbestos: the hidden danger lurking in your backyard
It was just after 3am when the trucks started rolling into the sprawling property at Mangrove Mountain on the central coast, dumping load after load of soil.
Tribute to Lyall Watts
All of us at Asbestoswise were deeply saddened by the news on Saturday November 15, of the death of Lyall Watts. We will miss Lyall as an active member, Asbestoswise secretary, constant contributor to our support group and most of all as a compassionate friend.
Independent review of asbestos border control excludes key stakeholders
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton announced The Australian Border Force (ABF) has initiated an independent review of Australia’s asbestos border control management.
The Australian Border Force review will consult with “Industry” but has ruled out any involvement with workers, unions or Asbestos support groups.
A petition to stop ALL asbestos being imported to Australia
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton announced The Australian Border Force (ABF) has initiated an independent review of Australia’s asbestos border control management.
Victoria: New Agency To Help Remove Asbestos From Victorian Workplaces
The Andrews Labor Government will establish a dedicated agency to target and prioritise the removal of asbestos in Government buildings across Victoria.
Home News Latest Home buyers and DIY renovators still in the dark over asbestos risk, study
A national study has shown Australians are still in the dark over the dangers of living with asbestos.
It is estimated 13,000 Australians will have contracted mesothelioma by 2020 and another 40,000 will suffer from asbestos-related cancers, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
$3m fight for asbestos funds
Australia’s vital response to the deadly asbestos mineral could grind to a halt because of funding issues.
Unspent funds totalling $3 million are being withheld from the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency says Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia president Barry Robson.
New asbestos exacerbating Pacific problems
A new report on the use of asbestos in the Pacific has found that new forms of asbestos being imported into the region from Asia are exarcebating an already serious problem.
The report, which looked at 13 island countries, found more than 180,000 square metres of asbestos in non-residential buildings, enough to cover 26 football fields.
Cost of treating asbestos-related disease leads researchers to call for global ban on use and production
Researchers are calling for a global ban on the mining, production and use of asbestos.
New figures show the health costs of treating asbestos related diseases are four times the cost of producing the material.
ACT: Mr Fluffy dump site to be cleared
The former Fluffy asbestos dump site in the ACT may contain approximately 5550 drums, 1700 crates, shipping containers and a range of other contaminated materials buried when the loose-fill asbestos was removed from the ceilings of homes in the territory 25 years ago.
Living on a Tropical Island—and an Asbestos Wasteland
BANABA ISLAND, Kiribati—Asbestos dust covers the floors of Banaba’s crumbling colonial houses, buildings, and schools. It’s in the field where people plant cassava. Broken pieces of asbestos sheeting litter the ground, and children use them to make toys and skateboards.
All of this in an environment already littered with scrap metal, industrial waste, and oil sludge.
Asbestos removal leads to holiday hell
What was meant to be a Brisbane family's relaxing holiday in Caloundra ended up becoming a nightmare because of a neighbouring property's dodgy asbestos removal.
The family of five were forced to call Workplace Health and Safety when they became concerned about the "white dust" that covered their car and was floating in the air.
A Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokesman confirmed the investigation had revealed the removal work was being performed by an "unlicensed asbestos" removal operation.
Out of sight, out of mind: research finds homebuyers in the dark about asbestos
New research has found that home buyers and homeowners, while generally aware of the deadly dangers of asbestos, do not know where it might be found in the home, and do not realise that small DIY jobs, as well as major renovations, pose a risk of exposure to asbestos.
The study also found that homebuyers assume that building inspection reports include an asbestos assessment – which is not the case.
HELP GIVE SUFFERERS OF ASBESTOS CANCER & OTHER RARE DISEASES HOPE & A CHANCE TO SURVIVE!
The Bernie Banton Foundation is lobbying the Australian Government, via the Health Minister, the Hon. Sussan Ley, to fund trials of drugs with the potential to treat rare diseases, and to reform the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) application requirements that currently make it impractical for pharmaceutical companies to apply to have valid drugs listed on the PBS.
The changing picture of mesothelioma in Australia, almost 20,000 new cases by the end of the century
A new report that projects there will be approximately 19,400 new cases of mesothelioma in Australia before the end of the century also finds that non occupational exposure to asbestos will overtake exposure from mining, manufacturing and use of asbestos cement.
'It's pretty bleak': Woman is diagnosed with terminal cancer 30 years after she was exposed as a 7-year-old to asbestos when she helped her father build a garage
When Serafina Salucci was seven years old she played with the asbestos sheeting her father used to build the family's garage in suburban Sydney.
Thirty years later, she was diagnosed with an incurable cancer that doctors say was caused by exposure to the asbestos sheeting used to construct the building.
Free asbestos testing in southern NSW
The Queanbeyan Age reports the NSWT state government has urged homeowners in Queanbeyan to take advantage of free sample testing for the presence of loose-fill asbestos insulation on their properties.
Fracking - Origin fast to act on asbestos scare
Origin, the operator of the Australia Pacific LNG project, suspended drilling across 12 rigs after being informed that an imported product used in drilling fluids, known as Nutplug, had been found to contain asbestos.
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Funding
Community forums in Bungendore, Yass, Goulburn and Young
NSW Fair Trading is holding community forums in Bungendore, Yass, Goulburn and Young. The community forums are an opportunity to find out more information on how you can register to have your home tested for loose-fill asbestos and the financial assistance and support available to affected homeowners.
Asbestos in play
Asbestos illegally imported from China provokes questions and anger in SA
It was revealed this week that a South Australia-based company is being investigated over imports from China which illegally contained deadly asbestos
'It just crushes the breath out of you'
News of asbestos being illegally imported from China has provoked questions and anger in South Australia. Members of the South Australia Asbestos Victims Association, who meet every month in Adelaide, say the importation issue has provoked anger.
Keytruda and asbestos
The use of the drug Keytruda for the treatment of the deadly cancer Melanoma, has again placed the use of the drug in the treatment of the asbestos related cancer Mesothelioma under the spotlight.
ACT drug-law reformer dies of mesothelioma after years in a Fluffy house
The mesothelioma death this week of widely respected drug-law reformer Brian McConnell has thrown the spotlight back on the dangers of Mr Fluffy asbestos, with Mr McConnell having lived for 45 years in an asbestos-contaminated house.
Quicker, fairer compensation system for Canberra workers affected by asbestos
Canberra workers in a similar situation to that experienced by Bernie Banton will benefit from improved access to compensation, after changes to the workers’ compensation legislation were supported in the Legislative Assembly today.
Indigenous West Australians have the highest death rate for malignant mesothelioma in the world
Indigenous West Australians have the highest death rate for malignant mesothelioma in the world, a study into asbestos-related diseases has found.
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that can develop following inhalation or ingestion of asbestos spores.
The condition affects the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen and can take a number of years to develop after first exposure.
The University of Western Australia study also found 67 per cent of mesothelioma cases affecting Indigenous West Australians could be linked directly to asbestos mining at the Wittenoom Gorge in the Pilbara.
Senior research fellow Peter Franklin said this was likely due to higher exposure by people involved in the transport of asbestos at the site, who were mostly Aboriginal.
"It was quite well known that Aboriginal people did work in the mine and often they were given the jobs that other people didn't want to do," Dr Franklin said.
This often involved moving hessian sacks containing raw asbestos more than 300 kilometres to storage areas at Roebourne, before they were shipped to Perth from Point Samson or Port Hedland.
President of the Asbestos Diseases Society Robert Vojakovic, who also worked at Wittenoom, said they were never provided with any safety equipment.
"I was never given any mask ... the Indigenous people were not given anything," he said.
"The roads to Point Samson and Roebourne were pretty rough, there was a lot of pot holes ... when they came back to Roebourne they would be grey from all the asbestos."
Between 1943 and 1966 nearly 7,000 people worked at the mine, which was operated by Australia Blue Asbestos Company.
Hundreds seek compensation
More than 300 former workers have died from malignant mesothelioma, according to Dr Franklin.
Slater and Gordon lawyer Simon Millman said there had been hundreds of compensation claims in relation to the Wittenoom operations.
"An employer owes an employee a duty of care to take reasonable care not to expose them to illness and injury, and that's the basis for the claims of people from Wittenoom," he said.
Those who had previously had claims filed against them included Australia Blue Asbestos Company, CSR Limited, the Shire of Ashburton and the Western Australian Government.
Mr Vojakovic said he was disappointed there was not more effort made to clean it up.
"The Government didn't do much to clean the place up ... this a beautiful area, this is their [Banyjima traditional owners] ancestral home.
"But it's not the fault of the government 100 per cent, it's the fault of the people [mining companies] that didn't clean up after themselves."
Dr Franklin said the number of malignant mesothelioma exposure cases was expected to decline in coming years.
"But that's not to say there may be more cases in the future because of previous exposure," he said.
Asbestos products in Australia
Klinger products containing chrysotile asbestos, made by the Alpha Group of Thailand have been discovered on a building site in Queensland
Union says children's hospital asbestos 'more toxic than first thought'
WAtoday.com.au reports that the levels of asbsetos recently found in Perth's new children's hospital are higher than first thought. The irony of a deadly product being used in the construction of a hospital reveals an ignorance or lack of understanding of Australian law and Australian construction practices.