News & Views
Asbestos Awareness Week, 2006
Asbestos Dust Kills is the theme adopted by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and the Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria (ADSVIC) for Asbestos Awareness Week, running from Monday 20th until Friday 24th November.
Events and activities include:
Monday 20 November, 10am CFMEU Building, 500 Swanston St, Carlton: The VTHC launches a campaign to promote the safe elimination of asbestos in buildings and to encourage building owners who have done this to display a plaque proclaiming it.
Speakers: Brian Boyd, Secretary, VTHC; Martin Kingham, Secretary, CFMEU; Peter Gordon, Senior Partner, Slater & Gordon; and Louise Williams, spokesperson, ADSVIC
Wednesday 22 November 9:30am – 12:30pm Asbestos answers morning
ADSVIC is holding a phone-in for members of the community who may have questions or concerns about asbestos. Call 1300 659 226.
Thursday 23 November 11am Edge Theatre, Federation Square: ADSVIC commemoration service to pay tribute to people whose lives have been touched by asbestos related disease, including current and past illness sufferers, family, friends and supporters. A children’s choir and a flower laying ceremony will be part of the service.
Australian unions are at the forefront of the ongoing fight to safely eliminate asbestos from our environment. Asbestos Awareness Week is a timely reminder of the impact of asbestos dust in our workplaces and our community. “Asbestos dust kills. That is our campaign slogan and reflects our focus, with ADSVIC. We are reminding workers and community members that all forms of asbestos, including asbestos dust, can kill,” said Brian Boyd, Secretary VTHC.
Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria (ADSVIC) board member Julie Stafford lost her husband Bruce earlier this year to mesothelioma, contracted after his exposure to a very small amount of asbestos dust. It was only over a few hours, 30 years ago, when he was helping his father by cutting up some asbestos sheeting to build wool sheds on the family farm.
“The clear message is that there is no safe level of asbestos dust. Anyone who has suspicions about asbestos should seek advice on safe handling and removal. The risks are far too great to do anything else”, says Stafford.
Australia has the highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma in the world. More than 500 Australians contract mesothelioma every year. Up to 18,000 Australians are likely to die from it by 2020. Safely eliminating asbestos in Australian workplaces and the wider community is the key to getting rid of asbestos related diseases.
VTHC Media Contact: Brian Boyd 0418 587 461, Margot Hoyte 0413 482 973
ADSVIC Media Contact: Michael Ives, Executive Officer 0402 329 478 or 9639 4464