Asbestos still kills

Australians die each year from diseases affecting the respiratory systems, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and related lung cancer, as a result of past exposure to asbestos. If current control measures are not adhered to, asbestos-removal workers are now potentially at the highest risk, as are workers involved in the refurbishment, repair or maintenance of buildings - such as plumbers, carpenters and electricians.

But even today, careless exposures to asbestos continue to occur. Your employers need to protect you from any potential asbestos exposure by forcing workers to wear a mask or respirator recommended by the Occupational Health and Safety authorities. If you think your workplace contains asbestos which is in poor repair or is being disturbed through maintenance, contact your Union. Make your doctor aware of any exposures, so that you have a medical record, and if you have had excessive exposure to asbestos, register those exposures on the database.