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ASBSTOS
LEGACY
LIVES ON
27
November 2009
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SA Unions is
using
national
Asbestos
Awareness
Day to warn
against
complacency
in the fight
against
asbestos
related
diseases.
SA Unions
Secretary,
Janet Giles
says while
South
Australia
has made
progress in
the fight
for justice
for asbestos
victims,
concern
remains for
potential
future
victims.
"South
Australia
has the
world's
highest per
capita
incidence of
asbestos
related
diseases
such as
mesothelioma,
for which
there is no
cure.
There's a
very real
risk that
victim
numbers will
continue to
climb for a
generation
or more
unless we
remain
vigilant
about the
lasting
lethal
affects of
this
substance."
"The
spotlight
was shone on
the
challenges
facing
current
victims when
they went
head to head
with BHP
over state
government
regulations
regarding
compensation.
The state
government
is to be
congratulated
for
listening to
the concerns
of victims,
albeit
taking years
to finally
act."
"The
regulations
were
recently
amended to
ensure that
people who
fell victim
to asbestos
when working
for
companies
like BHP in
the 1960's
are in a
position to
pursue
compensation."
"But while
achievements
like this
are vital in
giving a
measure of
justice and
comfort to
known
victims, we
must do more
to stop
successive
waves of new
victims."
"Too many
people think
asbestos is
a thing of
the past.
Sadly, it is
all too
prevalent in
our society
- from
office
blocks and
schools, to
hospitals
and home
extensions.
People can
be
unwittingly
exposed if
asbestos is
disturbed."
"Asbestos
was
extensively
used in SA
in housing,
the maritime
industry and
the
railways.
Not only are
new victims
coming
forward from
old
exposures -
we could see
waves of
victims for
generations
to come
unless
people wise
up to its
enduring
deadly
risk", Ms
Giles says.
Ms Giles
says
Asbestos
Awareness
Day will be
marked by a
memorial
breakfast in
recognition
of those who
campaigned
to raise
awareness
about the
last legacy
of asbestos
- people
like the
champion of
the James
Hardie
compensation
campaign,
Bernie
Banton, and
Adelaide's
own Jack
Watkins.
It is being
held at Jack
Watkins
Park, on the
site of the
old
Islington
Rail Yards,
Churchill
Road,
Kilburn at
8.00 am.
At 10.30 am
a ceremony
will be
conducted
for the
families and
friends
bereaved by
asbestos
diseases.
The ceremony
will be a
chance to
remember
their loved
ones, and to
recognise
their
tremendous
efforts in
continuing
to campaign
to rid the
world of
asbestos.
"It would be
wrong to
assume
asbestos is
a disease of
old men and
a legacy of
their
industrial
past.
It is a
disease that
affects
wives and
children,
through
innocent
actions such
as washing
asbestos
contaminated
cloths or
inhaling
dust during
home
renovations."
"To be
complacent
is to dice
with death,
as asbestos
never stops
being
lethal.
That's why
we must
continue the
methodical
removal and
safe
disposal of
asbestos,
and step up
efforts at
public
education
and
awareness",
Ms Giles
says.
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Community Meetings:
Regular community meetings are being held in the areas of Makin, Wakefield or Kingston. Come along, bring your friends and family to discuss issues facing workers today.
Contact SA Unions for the dates of the next meetings
saunions@saunions.org.au
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