VTHC Media Release
Thursday November 17, 2011
Next week is Asbestos Awareness Week - and as well as many events in both Melbourne and regional Victoria, there are events in other Australian states and territories.
Asbestos is, and continues to be, a huge concern for Australian workers and the public. For decades it was one of the most commonly used building materials in homes and buildings, and it is still found everywhere. Australia had the highest per capita use of asbestos in the world from
the 1950s until the mid to late 1980s. About every third domestic dwelling built
before 1982 is thought to contain asbestos. After many years of concerted union campaigning, the import and use of asbestos and asbestos containing materials in Australian workplaces was finally banned in December 2003.
Unions have campaigned for decades about the dangers of asbestos and
have successfully helped secure long term compensation for people
affected by asbestos-related disease.
Australia’s union members have been hit hard by the asbestos epidemic.
Many have lost their lives through their exposure in the workplace.
Miners of asbestos have been badly affected but also many other
tradespeople, workers and even family members of workers.
Waterside workers who loaded asbestos onto ships, mechanics that worked
on asbestos-filled brake pads, electricians and technicians in power
stations that used asbestos, as well as builders, carpenters, roofers
and other tradespeople that used ‘fibro’ building products. And they put their families at risk as well, with many contracting asbestos-related diseases.
Now the danger is for home renovators and their families, as well as tradespeople such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians.
We ask you to participate in next week's Asbestos Awareness Week activities - there are several events taking place in Melbourne, and others in Gippsland and elsewhere. For Victorian activities, go to
this page on the site and to to the
ACTU Events webpage for details of other events in other states.