The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) is urging former Ballarat FMP factory workers to sign up to asbestos registers as there is concerns these workers may develop asbestos related illnesses in the future.

The FMP factory located in Ballarat, Victoria was one of the last companies in Australia to stop using asbestos. The company put an end to using asbestos as part of their brake and clutch material in the early 2000s.

Former FMP employee Colin Muri has said that when working as a shop steward at FMP he was working with asbestos heavily every day.

All former employees should sign up to asbestos registers and should be aware of the risks that are associated with exposure to asbestos. These former employees could be at risk of contracting asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis or mesothelioma; symptoms of these diseases often don’t show up until 20 to 30 year after the initial exposure so these workers are still at risk.

The discovery of almost two square metres of asbestos near Canley Vale High School and a sporting ground in Sydney’s western suburbs has caused health concerns among residents.

The asbestos was found in the ground near Sherwin Park on a privately owned property by Cabramatta firefighters while they were checking fire hydrants. The asbestos was smashed up and firefighters have said it looks like the asbestos had been there for a long time.

Some of the larger asbestos pieces have already been removed from the site however council is contacting the owner of the property to inform them that it is their responsibility to remove the remaining asbestos.

It is extremely important that Australians are aware of the health risks associated with asbestos, because even two square metres of smashed up asbestos is dangerous. Inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to an individual contracting an asbestos disease such as mesothelioma.

A study by Ernest and Young reveals that a startling number of Australian government contractors implementing the digital TV rollout are unaware of how to report major problems such as asbestos disturbance.

Exposure to airborne asbestos fibres can lead to the onset of asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The study indicates that on one third of sites visited, contractors were unaware of basic safety precautions such as the use of a mask or protective clothing.

The report into Queensland’s Satellite Subsidy Scheme was commissioned by the Australian Department of Communications and revealed that Australian government contractors, lacking in training, had disturbed asbestos in over 20 government-owned homes.

The report said “The results show significant non-compliance in the management of risks, awareness of the incident reporting process and demonstrating the appropriate (safety) culture.”

In one incident in Queensland, a contractor drilled through a plaster wall, was unable to identify whether or not asbestos was present and was unaware of the necessity of wearing a protective mask. The contractor was subsequently suspended.

Contractors Skybridge and Techlife have installed over 5,000 satellites in households in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. As only 1,103 private homes were inspected, the report raises concerns over the potential asbestos disturbance in the households not inspected.

Asbestos exposure and asbestos conditions are a major problem in Australia. One only has to look at the legal system for asbestos conditions in Australia to relies that multiple Australian State governments have introduced asbestos compensation legislation in Australia to assist the many people who have such conditions to pursue asbestos compensation.

Although it may be time to clean up fire damaged Coonabarbran in New South Wales, there still remains a major health concern for the area. There are fears that the buildings which were damaged by bushfires could have contained toxic asbestos which may now pose a health risk to those involved in the clean up process.

The fire which started in Warrumbungle National Park a week ago was responsible for the destruction of fifty-three homes. Everyone in the area needs to be well aware of the risk because many rural properties and even some urban properties are believed to contain asbestos. When these properties are destroyed by fire, they become a danger because exposure to asbestos can result in people contracting asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. This asbestos risk needs to be dealt with properly and all those involved with the clean up of Coonabarbran must be wearing protective clothing.

With the number of new mesothelioma cases expected to rise within the next decade, these precautions are extremely important to try and reduce the incidence of mesothelioma in Australia and the incidence of mesothelioma in NSW.