Asbestos banned but still killing

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Asbestos banned but still killing"

Abner Jefferson
8 years ago
Views:

1 Asbestos banned but still killing Background and aims of the EFBWW campaign Lars Vedsmand, Confederation of Danish Construction Workers

2 Overview Can we learn from history? Didn t we solve the problem in the 80 es? What brings the future?

3 Diseases in construction PROFESSION TYPE OF CANCER No. RR adjusted RR Plummers and sanitary Laryngeal 91 1,3 1,3 Plummers and sanitary Lung mesothelioma 59 3,2 2,4 Plummers and sanitary Lung not specified 3 3,1 3,7 Plummers and sanitary lung 859 1,6 1,5 Plummers and sanitary peritoneal mesothelioma 5 4,1 3,8 carpenter/joiners Lung mesothelioma 76 2,2 2,1 carpenter/joiners lung ,1 1,1 Insulation workers laryngeal 25 1,9 1,7 Insulation workers Lung mesothelioma 23 6,5 6 Insulation workers Lung 201 1,8 1,6 Insulation workers peritoneal mesothelioma 11 51,5 64,5 Electricians Lung mesothelioma 27 2,3 2 Electricians Lung not specified 3 5,2 8,7 Electricians lung 476 1,2 1,1 Electricians peritoneal mesothelioma 4 3,8 5,1 General contractors laryngeal 644 1,4 1,3 General contractors Lung mesothelioma 168 1,3 1,4 General contractors lung ,2 1,1

Plummers and sanitary peritoneal mesothelioma 5 4,1 3,8 carpenter/joiners Lung mesothelioma 76 2,2 2,1 carpenter/joiners lung 1396 1,1 1,1 Insulation workers laryngeal 25 1,9 1,7 Insulation workers

4 Status in Europe Relatively new bans in some MS Others like Germany and the Nordic bans for years thus different experiences, but now more or less the same regulation, same Directive but different national cultures and experiences. In EU a practical guideline has been published in 20 languages A SLIC-campaign in all EU MS has focused on enforcement of the regulation A pretty clear directive with ban and providing safer work conditions, but still allowed to use asbestos in chlorineproduction despite possible substitutes

In EU a practical guideline has been published in 20 languages A SLIC-campaign in all EU MS has focused on enforcement of the

5 EP Statement from EP: 36. Considers that the health problems related to exposure to asbestos are well known and that the European regulation on asbestos is adequate; underlines the fact that asbestos-initiated diseases in Europe are forecasted to be very high for many years ahead; therefore calls on the Commission to organise a hearing on how to tackle the huge OHS problems related to existing asbestos in buildings and other constructions such as ships, trains and machinery; also calls on Member States to draw up national action plans on phasing out asbestos, including obligations to map asbestos in buildings and provide for the safe removal of asbestos; Questions for Commission

asbestos-initiated diseases in Europe are forecasted to be very high for many years ahead; therefore calls on the Commission to organise a hearing on how to tackle the

6 Didn t we solve the problem in the 80 `es Many buildings have been refurbished through 20 years, but Urban trains, ships yes but asbestos remains the largest problem in buildings it means for construction workers and secondly for users and tenants of buildings Time works against us: Less and less knowledge of how asbestos has been used and installed and asbestos will not be less dangerous...

construction workers and secondly for users and tenants of buildings Time works against us: Less

7 Still millions of tons of asbestos

8 T.U. activities in some countries Asbestos topic in many meetings earlier Information Conflicts Lobbying Help for recognition and compensation for members affected Vocational training

9 EFBWW Action plan Registration, notification and medical surveillance Safer working conditions Training of workers Recognition of asbestos related diseases Compensation for asbestos related diseases

Training of workers Recognition of asbestos

10 Action plan Questions for Commission National activities Better understanding Political action like Poland asbestos-free 2032 Political and technical approach

11 Responsible demolition YES NO

12 2 ways of meeting asbestos The known project Planning Training Safe working procedures Disposal of waste The grey zone Refurbishment Modernisation Demolishing

13 What brings the future For many years encapsulation of asbestos unacceptable! More and more workers and users are at risk of unintended exposure Knowledge is disappearing out of the trades Action! There is only one safe way to deal with asbestos: Get the stuff removed from trains, ships and not the least buildings. Asbestos may be removed with safe working methods which are already available.

14 What brings the future Registration Mapping Training Asbestosfree memberstates EU steps in a global direction.

15 Mapping Where asbestos building types, typical uses Where has it been removed Where has it been encapsulated Where is it still present

16 Eksisting untouched asbestos Insulation in basements etc from before banning year Sealed and encapsulated asbestos Periodic control of effect Removed asbestos Aim: Get rid of suspisions and unsafety in refurbishing work Method: Public accesible database with continous reporting Registration

Removed asbestos Aim: Get rid of suspisions and unsafety in refurbishing

17 Mapping of asbestos National history of building tradition Typical uses Ex roofing/eternite/slate/ventilation tubes (hard) Technical installations and pipes (soft) Anything else Periods where you typical have used the concerned products Mapping in public buildings

Technical installations and pipes (soft) Anything else Periods

18 Mapping of asbestos

19 Registration Registration may be done connected to sale, if you have to declare reports of the condition of the building, and when refurbishment, modernisation or when used as a working place. Sweden ex. Environmental diploma free of asbestos, free of radon and free of PCB In parts of Australia registration is a duty of the houseowner The individual houseowner should not scratch the insulation. Leave it and leave it for professionals.

Environmental diploma free of asbestos, free of radon and free of PCB In parts of Australia registration is a

20 Knowledge at employers and houseowners Often very little knowledge More national examples of selfregistration Training Specific asbestos training courses Training for other stakeholders: Building professionals, inspectors Asbestos in vocational training

Specific asbestos training courses Training for other

21 Action Mapping Semi public access to databases? Like energy-declarations for houses Registration Political actionplan: Prioritization Resources Years before asbestos free - Reveal indecent asbestos work NO for sealing YES for safe removal

22 Action It is unsafe to leave this for our grandchildren, so we need to act now to outphase asbestos

23 Discussion What can we do regional, national and EU-wide preventing further exposure to asbestos? What can we do to ensure the people who has already been exposed to asbestos? How can we create national and EUactionplans against asbestos?

24 Thank you for your attention

ASBESTOS WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NEEDS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING ASBESTOS?

15..201 ASBESTOS WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NEEDS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING ASBESTOS? Lars Vedsmand, asbestos specialist ABOUT ME 30 years experience with asbestos Compensation cases insulation workers Bulding