Asbestos related illnesses are on the rise in Australia’s island state Tasmania. As many as fifteen people die each year from illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, both caused by the toxic chemical asbestos. The Tasmanian population is waiting for the completion of a compensation plan, due next year, which will help asbestos disease victims and their families receive financial compensation for their hardships.
Most asbestos exposure happens in the workplace and is often due to negligence on part of the employer. Although rules and regulations for use and removal of asbestos are in place throughout much of the western world, the latency period of mesothelioma cancer typically ranges between twenty and forty years; standards developed in the last few decades are too late for many victims.
The Minister of Workplace Relations, David O’Byrne, endeavors to raise asbestos and related disease education and awareness while the country waits for the compensation plan to be finalized. Recently heading the Asbestos Awareness Week, O’Byrne said, “We know that we have got an enormous job to do and that’s why we’re consulting with industry and the community on an appropriate compensation fund that will, in the coming months and at some stage in the next year, will be able to provide a fund that will provides justice and compensation for sufferers and also the families of sufferers.”
Residents and employees currently or potentially affected by asbestos were targeted for involvement in Asbestos Awareness Week. One of these participants, Neil Clapham, removes asbestos for a living. Clapham suggests using one of the many available professionals to remove asbestos from the home or workplace. He said, “There are thousands, literally thousands of things that we find in the home that could contain asbestos; planter pots are one of them, floor tiles are lower end of the risk spectrum, vinyl floor coverings are a bad one, they can have 70 to 80 per cent on the backing material.”
The clock is ticking for those waiting on compensation. And for many families, payment will not be available in time to help their passing loved one.
Laurie Appleby is a former employee of Railton Cement who is currently suffering with asbestosis. He understands the pressure related to financial aid in these situations. “The worst part about it,” he said, “is there’s a number of people who have already passed away with little or no compensation.”
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 at 6:17 AM and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
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