worker/community guide: how to fight the hazards of asbestos and its substitutes

KILLER DUST A
NO
WAY TO

USE

ANY KILLER

ASBESTO3

This document

insOpageiJ

The British Society for Social Responsibilityin Science was set up in 1968. BSSRS believesthat science and technology are not neutral, but are geared to profit and themaintenance of thepresent political system. BSSRS has a numberof working groups, one of which is the Work HazardsGroup. Others include groups working on Race and "Intelligence", thePolitics of Food,and Nuclear Power. The Work Hazards Group is composed of local branches aroundthe country. We believethat significant imbe achieved provements in working conditions can best by workers becoming well informed, and by organising at their place of work; and that in the long-term, the conflict between profit and healthy working conditions can only be resolvedin a socialist society in which working people have controlover their lives. We publish HazardsBulletin, pamphlets and leaflets, teachon Health and Safety courses for Trade Unionists, and answer enquiries about health and safety. We supportthe establishment of, and work with, area committees of Trade Unionists and residents and local Health and Safety Groups, such as thoselisted in appendix I, and the provisionof effective back-up serviceson healthand safety within the Trade Unions.

Published August 1979 by BSSRSPublications Limited, 9 Poland Street,London W1V 3DG, 01-437 2728. 1979 Copyright BSSRS Publications Limited, ISBNPb 0 9502541 3 4

ASBESTOS KILLER DUST

A worker/community guide: how to fight the hazards of asbestos and its substitutes
Ifyou have any comments bad orgood on thisbooklet,
fulor otherwise.
additions and so on please let ushave themfor a revisededition. We areparticularly interested in hearing ofanyorganisedaction taken over the hazards ofasbestos and its substitutes success-

A booklet ofthisnature,withsomuchorganisedaction, owes much more to thosewho took the action and communicatedit than toany author. hope tohavegonesomeway to catching the tremendousoddsagainst such people and the fact that despite this they have often won. Beyond the, in so many ways shine depressing,storyofthehazards ofasbestos, theiractionsand like alightto usall. The capitalist system ofexploitation reducingpeople toless value than the products they make or use isnot invincible. People actingtogetherwitha socialist perspectivewill bring aboutitscollapse as thedifficult strugglesoverasbestos show: sooner than expected perhaps! Ofall the people that helped me,below are thoseI can inremember. To thoseI've missed: thanks a lotand to all volved,hopeI havedonejusticetoyour efforts. Their names areatrandom asthey came into myhead. Tanya and Seb Schmoller,PeteMarsden,Jim 0 'Neil!, Nancy Jim Burns, Tait,Laurie Flynn, Barry Castleman, Terry Bellamy,Martin Joe Walker, TomMcFadden,Jose Caba,Mike Kahn, Brewer,JohnMcMorrow,Brian Hodge, Ellys Tynan, Pat Kinnersly,H. Pezerat, George Corbyn, DavidMurray, Pat and MargaretMcFadden, Gail Yoakum,JohnHealey, Dan Berman, JohnBentley, Pat Twomey,Brian and Rosemary Cubitt, Ben Bartlett,BryanRees, Jean Grisel,DaveHayes,Mrs E.J. Curtis, Jim Franklin, John Todd,Micky Fenn, LesStephenson, Leo Puyker,GregCohn, MichaelSiefert, Tom Amey, Mary Philips and Tanw.ra Kalom. Ofcourse, none ofthe above bearany responsibilityfor the final booklet which is thefull responsibilityofthe authoi Alan J.P. Dalton. Cartoonsand graphics are by Liz Mackie,P/it! Evans,Nick Kavanagh, FionaCarpenter and OliverDuke. Typesetting by RosemaryAhmed, Printacolour (TU), 101 Praed Street, London W2 Design, layoutand front cover by Eve Barker, 232Mare Street,London E8 (01-986 5861). Index byRobinBonner withthe aid ofagrantfrom the Thispamphletwasproduced

Joseph Rown tree Social ServicesTrust. Printedby theRussell Press, 45 GambleStreet, Nottingham

NG74ET (060274505).

Distributed by Trade Union Bookservice,265 Seven SistersRoad, London N42DE.

Contents

Page 7

7 8
15
SECTION U

Introduction Total estimate UK asbestos deaths The Hebden Bridge massacre Chapter 1 What is asbestos? World asbestos production Types of asbestos Chapter 2 What asbestos doesto your health? Odds of getting asbestos disease
Asbestosis

17 19

20
social background

21

21 25 26

27
34 41

Lung cancer Asbestossmoking and lung cancer Mesotheljoma(cancer) Other cancerscausedby asbestosexposure Health checks for people exposed to asbestos Chapter 3 Excuses, excuses Asbestos cement is a special case It's only whiteasbestos Asbestosis indispensable Brakesare dangerous Chapter 4 Yourprotectors The asbestos industry South Africa: asbestosmines The government 1969 Asbestos Regulations summary AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos Trade Unions The good TUCsubmissiontotheAdvisory Committee on Asbestos summary Scientistsand Doctors

44
45 48 52
55

57 62

64 66 79 80
87
73

SECTION

The prevention of
asbestos diseases

Chapter 5 Substitutes for asbestos 103 Glass fibre health hazards 107 Health risks of other 'safe' replacements
102

for asbestos

110 114 116 119 119 123 129 135 141 142 150 157 158 160 163 169 172

Substitutes for asbestos what they are and where to get them (table) Agreed CEGB procedure for working with man made fibres A safer glass fibre standard Chapter 6 Removal of asbestos dust What is a safe dust level? Measuringthe dust level Ventilation and extraction of the asbestos dust Efficiency of some portable extraction units (table) Chapter 7 Workingwith asbestos and its substitutes Dockyard asbestos disease Servicing brake and clutch linings
British Rail British Rail work methods Sealing and stripping asbestos University

An improvedstripping procedure at Yale The basic strippingprocedure

Chapter 8 Personal protection 174 An 'approved' respirator 176 Protective clothing Chapter 9 Environmentalasbestos Asbestosin the air Measurementof asbestos in the air Typicalasbestos levels in city and country air (table) 191 Asbestos in water and soil
179 180 188 188 198

Chapter 10 The hospitalsscandal

204 Chapter 11 Asbestos in housing estates

and schools

213 227
232

Chapter 12 Living near an asbestos factory or dumps Dumpingasbestos waste near flats anda
nursery

Chapter 13 Compensation

240 Chapter 14 Asbestos is political 241 Asbestosindustry profits 245 US asbestos industry exports hazards 249 Some examples of world wide actions over asbestos hazards
249 251 254 America Canada

Australia (including conditions won) France Greek workers fight asbestos hazards Russiaand China Asbestos is the symptom, the diseaseis...
Holland

256 256 256

257 258

260 Appendix 1: Help to fight asbestos hazards 264 Appendix 2: Further reading on asbestos hazards 268 Appendix 3: Names and addressesof makers of asbestos substitutes 267 Appendix 4: The identification and analysisof asbestosincludingtable of organisations 278 Appendix 5: undertaking analysis a TU Asbestos survey from group (HASSEL)
283

Index

This booklet is dedicatedto the many working class people who have been murdered by the asbestos industry and to those beginningto fight back for the right for a healthy and safe workplace.

Introduction

estimated that more than two million American workers will probably die of cancer because of asbestos exposure at their jobs. The report b the National Institute of Environmental Healt Sciencesalso stated that work-related cancer was responsible for 1 in 5 of total cancer cases. In industrialised countries cancer is second only to heart disease as the majorkiller. In Britain, with roughly one quarterof the ofthe US, work exposure to asbestospopulation will kill 500,000 in the next thirty years using these estimates.This death rate should be compared with that caused by some other disasters: Some UK disasters 265,000 800,000 225,000 500,000 Killed by the Black Death (bubonic, pneumonic andsepticaemicplague) 1347-50 Killedbythe greatflu epidemic(Sept.-Nov. Estimate of number of people who will be killed by asbestos (1978-2018) Britain than were killed in the armed forces during the Second World War. This estimate represents a real epidemic of asbestos-related diseases. It is no accident or unforeseendisaster: as we shall see: itcouldhave been prevented. It wasn't because we live in a society that allows companies to make a profit
7

A US Government report released late in 1978

Armed forces killed in the Second World

Asbestos exposure will kill more people in

irrespective of the effects of its products on its workforce or consumers. Asbestosdeathscould have been prevented In 1899 a British asbestos spinner aged thirtythree went to see a chest specialistabout attacks of 'bronchitis'. He told the specialist, Dr Montague Murray, that he was the last survivor of ten workers in the shop with whom he first started working. They all died at about thirty years of age. He himself died in April 1900. A port-mortem confirmed that he did not have tuberculosis (consumption), but died from extensive lung scarring (asbestosis)caused by the breathing of asbestos dust. This was reported to the 1906 British Government enquiry into compensationfor industrial diseases. By 1930 the British Government had woken up and an official enquiry, the Merewether and Price Report, confirmed that there was a real epidemic of asbestos diseases among British asbestos workers. As a direct result limited Government regulations concerning the 'safe' use of asbestos were introduced in 1931 and became effective in 1933. The problem of asbestos diseases was therefore assumed solved. Little more was heard about the health hazards of asbestos for the next thirty years. Then, in the 1960s, the truth began to seep out, at first in medicaljournals and then in the newspapers. The lid finally blew in March 1976 with the horrifying revelations by the Ombudsman, Sir Alan Marre, into the massacre of asbestos workers at Cape's Hebden Bridge asbestos factory. The massacreat Hebden Bridge The investigations into the massacreat Hebden Bridge have revealed the real side of the 'responsible' asbestos industry. Cape Industries, who ran the asbestos mill from 1939 until its closure in 1970, are no backstreet outfit. They are a multinational concern second only to the UK asbestos giantsTurnerand Newall. In 1939 Cape Asbestos Ltd (now called Cape Industries) opened a factory named Acre Mill at
8

Acre Mill asbestosfactory, Hebden Bridge is the large buildingatthe top ofthisphoto. Sofar 262

out of2,200 workers

haveasbestos-related diseases.(MichaelKahn)

Hebden Bridge near Halifax. This factory made mainly asbestos textile productsfrom raw asbestos and was therefore subject to the 1931 Asbestos Regulations. The factory closed thirtyone years later in 1970 leavinga legacy of death and suffering for the surrounding community. Approximately 2,200 workers have been employed at the factory during the thirty-one years of its operations. After the Second World War many immigrant workers were and it has proved impossible to traceemployed many of these. But, so far 262 (12 per cent) of the workforce have developed crippling asbestos diseases.
9

Late1940s women eatingand drinking among asbestos atAcreMill,

Hebden Bridge. (Report London)

77 have died of the followingcomplaintsrelated

to asbestos exposure:
exposure1

Deaths at Hebden Bridge due to asbestos Lung cancer or Mesothehoma Heart failure Pneumonia
Asbestosis

44
18
11

Six people from one extended family have contracted or died of asbestos-relateddiseases, and over 2,000,000 compensation has so far been paid out. Most of the workerswho sufferedwere employed directly in the manufacturing process, but others worked as gardeners, office workers, canteen workers, painters and lorry drivers. As the local specialist, Dr Bertram Mann, comments: 'There is clearly a real hazard . . .among workers not directly engaged in the handling of this
Bertram Mann, 'Pulmonary AsliestosiswithSpecial Referenceto an Fpidcmicat I-lebdcn Bridge,Journal ofthe Royal CollegeofPhysicians,vol 12. July 1978, p.297.
I

10

mineral.' Symptoms took from two to thirty years to develop, with an average of eighteen years. One thing Dr Mann found out was that you can be suffering from asbestosis with no apparent change in yourchestX-ray. Oneworker was employed for only nine weeks stacking asbestos materials on a conveyor belt when he was thirty-five years old. By the time he was forty-three an X-ray showed that he was suffering from serious damage. He died of deadly lung asbestos cancer Mesothelioma at the early age offorty-eight. From 1949 onwards the factory inspectorate found conditions at the asbestos factory were unsatisfactory and breaking the 1931 Asbestos Regulations, yet nothing was done: an illustration of the pathetic state of our industrial policemen toothless watchdogs, watching people die.

It's worth noting that the factory inspectorate considered this factory, in terms of its dust coi?rol methods, 'at least as good as average, if not better.' So you can imagine (or can you?) the bad factories. The response of the British Government to the revelations of the Hebden Bridge massacre was, predictably, to set up an enquiry. The asbestos industry itselflaunched into a massive 500,000 advertising campaign to convince people that asbestoswas safe.

Asbestos workersspeak:

Brian Schnacke, who worked at the factory from 1954-59: 'Theextractors were blockedmost of the time. We often stood in the bluedusta foot deep.'
Brian Schnacke (MichaelKahn)
11

reallycriminal. I have seen, in the Sectional Department, and 1946-47 'One mask the dust extractors blowing was provided for 12 it back seven or eighttimes workersand we had no idea a day. After this experience of the dustcontinuously of the dangers. During the war 4-ft extractor fans blowingback, I vomitted intoa bowl of clean water faced houses across from the factory, and blew dust and I broughtup a ball of at them and the asbestos dustoff my stomach straight it rolled out in a perfect school. At the asbestos tip the kids used to makesnow- ball, and my wife picked it balls of it.' up, and I thought of going Out Ofl the golf course with it! I led the lads out it was who worked Ron Slattery, at the mill for four years in so dusty of course they said we had to wait till the the 1950s week-end before the ducts 'How this firm got away their dust exposure was could be cleaned. I want to with John Montgomery,who worked there in 1942-43

see this never happen again.

You know what they call this pub (the Swan)? The Asbestos Arms! It's very weak for union activity around here that's why they got awaywith it.'

No plays on asbestos In August 1978 .Northern theatre group Theatre Mobile was sacked by its sponsors the Mid PennineArts Association.They had just put on a play about the massacre at Hebden Bridge. The subject of the play, Arthur Montgomery, an asbestos worker at Hebden Bridge, died in August 1978 in his early fifties. He, his father and father-in-lawhad all contacted asbestosis. In May 1978 Cape Industries, the owners of the Hebden Bridge asbestos factory, had taken legal action to secure the return of a confidential internal memo, Background Notes on the Anti-Asbestos Lobby, that Cape's had sent the theatre group by mistake.2 Confusion over asbestos There is public confusion over asbestos,Typical of it is this letter sent to the British Society for Social Responsibility in Science in May 1977: I recently read an article in the Evening Standard regarding the risks attached to asbestos which has caused me a considerable amount of concern. In November of
Michael Morrisand Angela Singer,'l'heatre Company Sacked after AshesiosisI'lay', Guardian, 24 August 1978.
2

12

ingup their mess.

last year a local firm of plumbing contractors installed central heating for us. This necessitated an old Aga cooker being dismantled. On returning home that evening the whole kitchen/breakfast room/lobby and hail area were covered with a white dust. There was also a pile of this dust on my front doorstep, which, of course, one year, three and five year olds soon my got their hands into. At the time we were assured it was white dirt, so I was not much concerned, but simplyannoyed by the lack of care the contractors had shown in tidy-

Three weeks later, on New Year's Eveto be exact, we were advised that this was white asbestos. Obviouslythisnews was a tremendous shock. I phoned the doctor who it wasn't a risk, and that nothing said was medically necessary; I then phoned the Asbestos Information Centre who endorsed this opinion and gave me a considerable amount of reassurance. Perhaps you can imaginemy reaction when I read this article? I'm not a neurotic person, but I feelbasically the outmy house, buildings (where the Aga parts were stored for four weeks), and the yard (where the bags of asbestos had been left) have been contaminated. This is a very old house and I feel it will be years before this dust has been completely eradicated from all its nooks and crannies. I shouldbe very grateful for your comments, but please don't send me any booklets etc regarding symptoms of asbestos-associated diseases, which I feel would only cause me further concern. My husband has told me not to write to you as he feels any information you five me will only aggravate the problem. I m afraid Ijust it as he suggests and am can't forget about really to get a sense of proportion just hoping about the whole thing. Compare the attitude here of the doctor and the
13

Asbestos Information Centre (presumably Committee), with the following statements by world authorities on asbestos: At present it is not possible to assess whether there is a level of (asbestos) exposure in humans below which an increased risk of cancer would not occur.3 Evaluation of all available human data provides no evidence for a threshold or 'safe' level of asbestos exposure.. .only a ban can ensure effects of
against Carcinogenic (cancer) asbestos.4

Clearly there is possible an increased health above to the family described in the been letter it could have prevented. however small, and Obviously the asbestos industry benefits from the state of confusion it has helped create as regards the real hazards of asbestos. The purpose of this pamphlet is to help eliminate this confusion, and also to help anyone exposed to asbestos whether at work or at home to the health risks to minimise, if not eliminate, themselves,their family and friends.
'AsbestoS', International Agencyfor Researchon Cancer, vol 14, WorldHealth Organisation, 1977. RecommendedAsbestos Standard', covering 'Revised 4 from Dr JohnF. Finklea, Director, US National Institute letter for Occupational Safety and Health, 15 December 1976.
3

risk

A FEW VIOL11
WKO WONT

r4 T$E.

jjWE.

14

Chapter 1 What is asbestos?

SECTION
Asbestos diseases

Asbestos is a mineral rock mined from the earth in much the same wayas anyothermineral, such as iron or copper. Its useful technical property is that it can be divided into millions

Themedicaland social background

touch but also strong. Because it is fibrous, many people think it is a plant product like cotton or rope: in fact, as recently as the l960s, a major shareholder in an asbestos company, visiting the source of his suppliesin SouthAfrica, asked his manager where the plantations were!

of fine fibres that are often silky and soft to the

eI

15

.7-A: .'. -v3

CROCIDOLITE

j;
7/
r
blue

AV _.LbL7iC'ff.
AMOSITE ASBESTOS brown

V\/

ASBESTOS

CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS white

GLASS MICRO- FIBRE

-----SOpni

CARBON

FIERE

HUMAN HAIR

A comparison ofthe sizes ofdifferent typesof

common industrial fibres (includingasbestos) with a human hair. Unless present in very high con16

centrations they cannot he secn with the nakcd cyc in normal ligh ing conditions. (Medical Research Council)

Asbestos production Year

Production (millions of
kilograms)

to 1930 below 5,000

2,210 3,490 4,093 4,115 4,560 5,178 source: World Health Organisation, Asbestos, IARC, vol 141977 p.29 1960 1970 1973 1974 1975 1976

breathed deep into the lungs where damage can be done that maims and kills by irreparably scarring the lungs and causingcancer. Although asbestos was known to the ancients (4,500 years ago Finnish potters used it to strengthen their clay), it was not until the late nineteenth century, when good lagging was required for steam engines, that asbestos really became an industrial material. Even so, the total world production of all types of asbestos before 1930 was less than theyearly production today, as the table shows. The health hazardsof asbestos have been known for over 70 years. A UK Government report definitely established an epidemic of asbestos disease in 1930, yet no effort was made to control asbestos production at a time when it would have been easy. In fact the past 15 years have seen production double.Andalthough there is talk of only 20-30 years' supply of asbestos left in the earth, at the presentrate of extraction a far greater amount is going to be spread around than in the past 25 years.

Butit is justthisproperty of asbestos (the to break into millions of fine invisible ability fibres) that also makes it a serious and so far uncontrolled health hazard, for these fine fibres can be

a,,,

S-

Makingasbestos products in the 1930s. (OCA WI 17

Asbestosfibre production in 1973

USSR

Canada 1,974,000 South Africa 350,000 Rhodesia 170,000 USA 130,000 130,000 Italy China 100,000 Swaziland 45,000 Brazil 30,000 Cyprus 28,000 Japan 20,000 15,000 Yugoslavia Finland 12,000 India 3,000 Others 5,000

The major mining countries are the USSR and Canada, with other large deposits being worked in China, South Africa, Italy, USA andRhodesia. (short tons 200/b, No really good studies exist on the health 0.907ofa hazards of asbestos mining; but the studies that metric ton or exist (on Russian and Canadian miners) report tonne) increased deaths from lung scarring (asbestosis) 2,200,000 andlung and stomach cancer.
right: 'Fluffy'asbestos fibre has even been used in the past as sno"in the theatre.

Crudeasbestosrock

source: Public Health Risks of Exposure to Asbestos, EEC Report 1977p.28

Miningasbestos bearing rock.

18

Types of asbestos There are six different types of asbestos, split into two groups on the basis of their physical and chemicalproperties:
Asbestos
Serpentine Group Chrysotile

Amphibole Group Crocidolite (knownas 'blue asbestos') Amosite (knownas 'brown asbestos') Anthophylite Tremol ite Actinolite

(knownas 'white asbestos')

Only Chrysotile ('white'), Crocidolite ('blue'), Amosite ('brown') and Anthophylite are in common industrial use. Although these colours are apparent when freshly mined, aging and heat turns all asbestos a similar colour and only scientific tests can identify the type for certain. These days 95 per cent of the asbestosmined is Chrysotile or 'white' asbestos. Asbestos can be found in association with other rocks and minerals,and has been found contaminating iron, hard rock gold mines, vermiculite (ironicallyused as a safer substitute for asbestos) and talc. It is now said to end up in more than 3,000 products. Its main uses are: asbestos cement pipes, asbestos cement sheeting, and ceiling products, roofing products, flooring packing and gaskets, thermal and insulation products, brakes and clutches, coating agents, plastics, textiles and paper. In one form or another asbestos is around us everywhere as asbestos roofing on your garage or garden shed; brake and clutch shoes on your car; the seal around your cooker; fire proofing at home and work; in the tube or train you take to work, and so on. The list is endless. Asbestos health hazards can affect us all.

19

Chapter 2 What asbestos does to your health

Breathing into your lungs asbestosfibresinvisible to the naked eye causes or contributes to the followingdiseases: Asbestosis a disablingand ultimately fatal scar-

ringof the lungs.

disease.

Lung cancer a painful and nearly always fatal Mesothelioma a rapidly fatal and painful cancer of the lining of the lung or stomach nearly always due only to asbestosexposure. These diseases have several things in common: a They all take a long time to show up: at least 10 years, more often 20, and for Mesothelioma as long as 40. This is handy for the management of asbestos firms, for how many people stay in a job for 20 years these days? It also makes it difficult for Trade Union Safety Reps to convince their members of the hazards unlike, say, an unsafe machine, where the immediate danger can be seen. b The symptoms in all cases are not specific from the first: often they are put down to 'a bit of chestiness', or to bronchitis, or to smoking. The asbestos diseases are nearly always killers: even getting away from the dust will not protect you because it is usually too late by the time you have symptoms. Preventing the inhalation of anyasbestos dust is the only cure forasbestos
diseases.

yT

20

that in some jobs four out of ten (40 per cent) of workers exposed to asbestos have died of asbestos diseases. Put this another way: would you start a job with ten other people when you knew it would kill four of you? Working with asbestos is a form of Russian roulette the odds vary, but in some cases there are fourlive bullets in every ten.
Medical studies have shown'

Asbestosis In asbestosis the delicate tissue of the is scarred and thickened by the action lung of the asbestos fibres. This is called 'fibrosis'. From your first exposure to the dust it will commonly take ten or twenty years for you to get the first symptoms. By then it is too latefor any medical treatment: there is no cure.

soft
Vocal

Asbestos does most ofits damage deepinto your lungs in thealveoli. Thesedelicate air-sacks are slowlydestroyed by scar tissue.

I A.N. Rohn and others,'Asbestos Pollution', Science, vol 197, 1977, p.716. 21

Asbestosis has been called a one-symptom disease: shortness of breath. As doctors have

observed, this can take the form of a 'terrible tightness of the chest'. Other common symptoms are: unproductive or dry cough, clubbing of the fingers, lack of energy, more frequent chest infections, weight loss. On clinicalexamination noises ('Basal rales and crepitations' or rattles) are heard in the lung and both the X-ray and lung function tests ('reduced transfer factor') are affected. You do not have to have a heavy exposure to asbestos to develop asbestosis. But there is no doubt that heavy exposure makes you more it quicker. A safe level of asbestos likely to is not yet known and since over half exposure the people who develop asbestosis go on to develop cancer, it is unlikely that a safe level will ever be found. Although a few years' exposure is normally needed to develop asbestosis, it can develop with only a few weeks' exposure (see p. 218). The numbers of workers receiving compensation from the Governmentis still rising: in 1951 it was 20, in 1961 it had risen to 53, and in 1976 to 189. For many reasons these are gross underestimates limited A misdiagnosis and so on. compensation; standard text on industrial lung diseases2 comments, 'There is little doubt that these figures represent a real increase in the prevalenceof the

et

disease.'

2 Morgan and Seaton, Occupational LungDiseases,Saunders, 1975

22

Official cases ofasbestosis asdiagnosed by the

PneumoconiosisBoards 1969-76 1969 1970
1971

1972

134 153 145 125

1973 143 1974 139 1975 161 1976 189

Source: Written answer to Max Madden, MP, Hansard 15 June 1977

An indication of the type of fixing of these figures comes from the USA. In 1973, in an independent and authoritative medicaljournal,3 two doctors reported on the amount of asbestosis in several US asbestos factories. The factories were studied from 1941 to 1969 and the doctors reported 'only' 18 deaths from asbestosis. Nothing to be proud of since this was 18 deaths that should not have occurred. But, the state of New Jersey alone awarded workmen's compensation for sufferers of asbestosis to 455 workers at one of the plants studied!4 With underestimates like that what can you say about the accuracy of any officialfigures? Bearing these comments in mind in the years 1969 to 1976 alone there were almost 1,200 cases of 'official' asbestosis (see Table) and the incidence was still rising. This will carry on for the next thirty years at least. Clearly even officially we are talking about hundreds of thousands of preventable and painful people suffering from a 'disease' that was unknown 100 years ado. A disease the asbestos industry has created in the 20th century.
3 Enterline and Henderson,Archives ofEnvfronmental Health, vol 27, 1973, p.312. 4 Revised RecommendedAsbestosStandard', USNational Institutefor OccupationalHealth and Safety, December 1976p.28.

Bob Smith, aged46, sittingwith his father who is 23yearsolder.

(Sunday Times)

Case one:

BobSmith

My fingers swell up and my ankles. When I try and grip

anything,
I

get an ache...

I can't carry anythinglike a box or suitcase and I get out of breath with the

from 11/2 to 8 stone. I used to eat five mealsa day but now I can't eat five meals in a fortnight. If I eat too much I bring it back up
again.

getting worse. I am down

When Bob Smith said this, in 1972, he was 46 and slightest exertion. Somecertified 50 per cent distimes I get a terrific cough- abled by asbestosis. He ing bout and the wife has to looked 20 years older than hit my back... it's like some- his 46 years. He worked at one getting hold of you and Central Asbestos, London, grippingyou tightand when from 1958 to 1966. (Gillman she hits me across the back and Woolf 'The Dangerous it releases, and then I get Dust' Sunday Times the pain. It'sgradually Magazine2 April 1972)
23

Case two:

Grateful

for a job

After the war he started on

boiler covering..,he was grateful for the work because he was in the pits on short time before 1939. Although he never brought his clotheshome, the asbestos dust lay thick on his hair, ordinary clothes and shoes. We just used to
give them a bit of a shaking in the back yard. I didn't know much about precautions. He did once mention

to the bathroomon account of his health but he only lived 5 monthsafter we got
it.

Case four:

Incorrectdiagnosis As you can imagine there have from time to time been several incorrectdiagnoses

All he got for his compen-

sation was3,750...I don't think that was enough for his life. To a youngman I would say: try to get a job out of it. .1 mean, my husband was just young, 59. (Interviewwith a Newcastle widow by EilysTynan)

of asbestosis.

The asbestos

industryand its apologists makemuch of these, but compared with the number

of actual diagnoses and the

that they borrowedmasks from another job 'cos there

wasn't any on their site. They firstfound out after he smashed his finger up

Case three:

when chopping wood. His doctor noticed his fingers they were all bulbous, sort of risen and hard. He was sent to a specialist and was certified as having asbestosis. Yet on his sick note went the word 'bronchitis',until near the end when his pension rose from 30 to 100 per cent. All the treatmenthe got was tablets. He never did go intohospital. It took eightyears for the asbestosis to take its toll, duringwhich time his weight fell from 15 stones

to below7 stone.

Yes, he went through it I can tell you...terrible... he just sat there all the time.., never went to bed. We got a 13th floor flat with no going up the stairs

Fire eaters asbestosis In 1969 a retired 56-yearold army sergeantwas admittedto hospital with chest pain and fever. He was found on subsequent follow-up to have asbestosis. At firstquestions about his job exposure to asbestos revealed nothing. But a moredetailed month-bymonth questioning revealed that he had worked for nine monthsat age l6asa fireeater in a carnival. In doing this he had to use a lighted asbestos torch, the fire from which he inhaled and exhaled frequently. He often had to extinguish the torch by placing it in his mouth. The doctorsfelt that this was 'undoubtedlysufficient
exposure' to cause his asbestosis 40 years later. (Journal of the American Medical Association vol 229 1974p.23)

many that are missed diagnosed as 'bronchitis', 'chestiness', 'a smoker's cough' and so on they arei negligible. During 1940 a woman aged30 helped her husband and anotherman build two hutswith asbestos lining. The asbestos sheeting was hand sawn inside the huts and they lived in the un-

paintedhuts for 21/2 years. In 1957she had an X-ray which showed shadows on both lungs: at this time she also suffered from cough

and breathlessness. No TB was found. In 1965 she was admittedto hospital with chest pains and severe
breathlessness. She was diagnosed as having lung

scarring and, with her history of asbestos exposure

this was thought to be asbestosis. She died in

1972, aged 61, of bleeding into the lung. No dustwas

in the lung on postmortem and it was therefore concluded that asbestosis wasnot a cause of death. (Postgraduate Medical Journal vol 50 1974 p.250)
found

24

Case five:-

Lung cancer cause lung cancer was available,5

Rat-catching dog gets

asbestosis

By 1934 the first evidence that asbestos could

Buchanan, of the Factory Inspectorate, commented in 1965,6 'We (the Factory Inspectorate) were aware of the association of asbestosis and lung cancer some time before 1935.' So they knew before 1935 and yet the oftenquoted time of this 'discovery' is 1955 twenty managed his duties quite yearshavebeenconveniently lost, duringwhich time many lives could have been saved. Even well. But for the last two years of his life he suffered though the Factory Inspectorate admitted they from a cough and shortness were aware of the danger in 1935, they did not confirm this in their annual reports until 1947. of breath. In the last six monthshe wasted away and The 1955 study was by Turner Brothers' comhis appearance'became so pany doctor and showed that British asbestos distressing that he was workers had a tenfold increase in lung cancer. destroyed'. Post-mortem Over half the people who contract asbestosis examination showed that he die of lung cancer. died from asbestos is and that eventually The risk he was lucky to have lived What is your increasedrisk of lung cancer if you so long, due to his escape work with asbestos? Estimates vary, from the 'infectionswhich depending off the human sufferer on whether the medicalresearcherswere working carry from asbestosis' (Journal of for companies or trade unions (so much for 'independent research'). In this country all the Pathology) studies have been done 'in close association' with the asbestos industry. In the US the trade unions have sponsored studies on the health of their members. American studies8 give the followingrisks: Based on company records an asbestos worker has up to three times the chance of getting lung cancer as compared with a non-asbestosworker. Based on union records the risk may be as as nine times that of a non-asbestosworker. high An insulation worker who smokes and works with asbestos has 92 times the chance from lung cancer as compared with of dying a nonsmoking, non-asbestosworker.9
In 1931 a case of asbestos is was described in a dog. The dog was a roughhaired terrier that had been kept for rattingat an asbestos factory. For eight years he
5

but Dr

6
7 8

1965, p.507.

Lancet, vol 12, 1934, p.1383. AnnalsoftheNew YorkAcademy ofSciences,vol

132,

British JournalofIndustrial Medicine, vol 12, 1955, p.81. JournalofOccupationalMedicine,vol 18, 1976. p.150. 9 Journalofthe American MedicalAssociation, vol 204, 1968, p.106.
25

It is difficult to determine the risk of gettin lung cancer for non-smokers who work wit asbestos, and because of this the asbestos industry information on health hazards implies there is no lung cancer risk to non-smokers.This is not true. One of the few useful studies1 of the health of 560 women at a white-asbestosshowedup seven using textile factory in the US one death would cancer deaths. Less than lung

have been expected among this number of women not working with asbestos. Four of the women were non-smokers, two uncertain and only onewas a definite smoker. Asbestos, smoking andlung cancer Cancer is second only to heartdiseaseas Britain's biggest killer. Lung cancer kills 33,000 a year. Most of these deaths are put down to smoking alone. We have seen above the 90-fold risk for smoking asbestos insulation workers of getting lung cancer. There is asbestos in the air everywhere. Asbestos use has roughly paralleled increased cigarette consumption. Is asbestos plus of those cigarette smoking responsible for some answer. deaths? A difficult question to 33,000 But one recent1 1 medical paper suggests there for this view. Doctors may be some evidence confirmed men with lung cancer. studied 201 at Fifty-eight gave a history of asbestos exposure None of these men hadworked in asbestos work. industries,had asbestosisor workedwith asbestos a lot. They had just come into contact with asbestos because it is in such widespread use. For comparison they selected 201 men matched for age etc, without lung cancer, and found that in this group only twenty-nine had such incidental exposure. They concluded, 'Asbestos-induced diseases will probably be increasingly found had incidenamong the many workers who have tal exposure to asbestos.'
'Revised RecommendedAsbestosStajidard'. covering 10 Institute letter from Dr JohnF. Finklea, Director. US National

for Occupational Safety and Health, 15 December1976, p.9.

ii

British MedicalJournal, 19 March 1977. p.746.

26

Symptoms and cure rate for lung cancer The most common symptom of cancer is the presence of a chest infection lung fails to which clear up within two or three weeks. Other possible symptoms include blood-spitting, pain, shortness of breath (Dyspnoea), general illhealth, coughing up blood (Haemoptysis), weight loss and musclewasting. Lung cancer still remainsvirtually incurable. The best hope is earlysurgerywhich gives you a 1-in-5 chance of surviving five years. But only 1 in 4 cases are suitable for such surgery: in other words, 19 of20 people diagnosedas havinglung cancer die within five years offirst In fact your chances are worse with diagnosis. lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure because the lungs are already damaged by the dust (asbestosis) and the type of lung cancer asbestoscauses undifferentiated, small-cell type is the onewith the leasthope of treatment.i2 In 1968 the average age of death of asbestos workers with lung cancer was 55 years. The average age of death for men who didn't work with asbestoswas 68 years. That's 13 years chopped off yourlife. Prevention is the only cure. Mesotheijoma(cancer) This was once a very rare cancer, and 85 per cent of cases are related to asbestos exposure. That is why it has been called the 'asbestos cancer'. Mesotheliomais very painful andalways a killer. It is a cancer of the lining (Mesothelium)of the chest or abdomen. This lininglubricatesthe walls of the chest and abdomen so that the and intestines can move about without lungs or rubbing friction. These cancers usually kill within two of first diagnosis: as the cancer in the chest years grows it is said to eventually kill the patient by strangling the aorta. The first symptoms are usually pain followed by breathlessness and heavy feelings in the chest. Cigarette smoking plays no part in the development of this disease.
12 Morgan and Seaton, Occupational LungDieseases, Saunders i975.

27

Oneday'sexposure to asbestos dust is enough to

get cancer.

is

The interval between the first development of this disease and the original contact with asbestos may be very long up to 40 years has been people with the deadly asbestos cancer reported. But more often it is around 20 years and can be only a few years. There is no known Mesothelioma concluded, cure. Mesothelioma is the kiss of death, 'There is no convincing evidence that any form of As Professor P.C. Elmes, an expert on this treatmentprolongs life...' disease, said in 1976,12 'The elimination of The average time of death unnecessary asbestos exposure is the only from firstdiagnosis was reliable method of preventing Mesothelioma.' vol 33, months. A recent studyof the outcomeof treatmenton 50
six (Thorax, 1978, p.26)

One day's exposure to asbestos enough The frightening fact about Mesotheliomais that exyou can get the killer cancer from very low has of one day posures to asbestos. An exposure Some types of exposure known been to givethis cancer are given below:
Typeofexposure

Mesothelioma
Exposure time

22 years

Lived within 1 '/4 miles of asbestos factory. Hobby re-lining and fitting clutch and brake shoes. Unknown Lived '/2 mile from shipyard. 30 years Husband worked in asbestos factory. 2 years Worked and lived near chickenfarm made of asbestos 4 years cement buildings. Sorijeexposure to brother'soverallsdustywithasbestos. 3 years Source: BritishJournal of IndustrialMedicinevol 131 1974 p.9i
12 13

Quarter!)' JournalofMedicine. No.179, 1976, p.427 Sec reference 4, p.32

28

HI, 10ti
Asbestos dustfromdirty overalls has killed workers'wives from
Cancer.

K'Nc

>V /5

These are not just isolated examples: medical studies'4. 15 have looked at the recent health of friends and relations who know asbestos workers and people who live near asbestos factories. Thirty-seven cases of asbestos cancer (Mesothelioma) have been recorded in whose only contact with asbestos haspeople been because a friend or relative lived in the house and was an asbestos worker. A study'4 household contacts (children, wives and of the of 354 asbestos workers found that 1 friends) in 3 of them 'had chest X-ray abnormalities... (Pleural and/or Parenchymal) characteristic of asbestos exposure.' Another study'5 of52 femalevictims of Mesotheliomain NewYork,who diedbetween 1967 and 1977, found that many of them had husbands or fathers who worked with asbestos or lived near an asbestos factory. The estimated to be about 10 times therisk was chance of contracting this killer cancer. normal

As usual with industrial diseases this is a difficult one to answer. There is massive under-reporting 14 AnnalsoftheNew YorkAcademy ofSciences,vol 271, 1976, p.311.
15

How common is Mesothelioma?

Lancet, vol 1, 1978, p.1061. 29

oi
)cIEflS AC*

Typicalasbestos deaths recorded as: 'exhaustion', and 'cancer ofthe pancreas

about. But another investigation17 in 1973 found an incredible 72 cases at just one of the asbestos factories previously studied. Apparent'close' to the ly the first doctors, who were men who were looked at asbestos industry, only most of the men with the aged 65 or over were dead that killer Mesothelioma by age. Notified 'official'deaths Since 1966 there has been an official register of fromMesotheliOmain the deaths from Mesotheliomain the UK and about UK 200 are reported annually: 1971 175 1951-66 200 So we have nearly 2,000 (1952) 'official' deaths 163 1972 205 1967 from this killer cancer since 1951. About 15 per 233 1973 214 1968 not be due to asbestos but this leaves 1974 215 cent may 157 1969 us with almost 1760 painful deaths that could 180 1975 210 1970 have been prevented. There is some evidence of that this officialreporting may underestimate by source: BritishJournal
Industrial Medicine vol 31 1974 p.91; and letter to BSSRS from Dr Greenberg
1

and misdiagnosis and, it seems, some deliberate covering u. For instance, one 1972 'authoritative study 16 in a reputable medical journal found only one attributable death among 802 deaths looked into at several US asbestos cement factories usingwhiteasbestos.Not much to worry

April 1977
30

16 17

ArchipesofEnvirnnmental Health, vol 27, 1973, p.312. Ches!,vol4,1973,p.41.

as much as five times. For instance, a detailed study18 at one asbestos factory noted 19 cases of Mesothelioma,yet only four had been 'officially' reported. The FactoryInspectorate doctors who compile the register admit themselves that these figures, 'may considerably underestimate the true incidence'. Should we then multiply by five to give nearly 9,000 unnecessary deaths Clearly, whatever figure you take, there is a massive amount of cancer that could be prevented. For the unfortunate Mesothelioma patient the incidence rate is 100 per cent, and playing with figures will not help them. The following comments19 from doctors at Birkenhead shipyards in 1973 are sobering. There is a real and large increase in this tumour... Our successors will, in about 40 years' time, be seeing Mesotheliomapatients who first inhaled asbestos while building post-war nuclear submarines...it will be some time in the 21st century before the incidence of Mesothelioma ceases to rise. Unless we stop using asbestos and treat that around us with utmost caution our view may be too optimistic.
18 19

BritishJournalofIndustrial Medicine, vol 26, 1969, Thorax, vol 126, 1971, p.6 p.302.
save other lives.

Case one:

'Wasted away to a bag of bones' Peter Harnden worked on the assembly line at Cravens of Sheffield, the railway carriage builders, for four years from 1954 to 1959. His job was to drill through asbestos-lined panelling. He wasgiven no protection: no ventilation,respirator or even a gau,e mask. In 1974 he went intohospital for an exploratory operation. The whole of the inside of his chest wasfound to be

linedwith cancers. There was nothingthat could be doneand hewassenthome to die. His widow, Joyce, commented:
him slowly dying. He literally wasted away into a bag of bones. Just before he died he weighed six stone. I wouldn't want anybody else to go throughwhatwe did.

how deadlythe stuff is. There could be lots of other blokes walking
around with these cancers inside them, waitingto develop.

It shows

It wasterrible watching

could hardly have

Peter Harnden died in 1975 of asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma, 20 years after his first exposure to
asbestos. He was only45yearsold.

I hopethe publicity about his deathwill

31

Case two:

Gas masks kill workers Between 1939 and 1945 the asbes- about 1 .600 people were In 1971 a case of tos cancer Mesothelioma employed at a Nottingham wasreported in a floor-layer factory making gas masks. The filter in these gas who sandeddown tiles asbestos. He was masks contained about 15 containing of Mesothelioma. per centblue asbestos, 44 years of age and had Thatmakes 44 painful and in Western from one mine been doingthe job for 19 early deaths from cancer Australia. Some of the years. Measurementstaken caused by asbestos exposure. duringthe sanding down of workerswere only employed for a few weeks or months, How many moredeaths will vinyl tiles (containing 15 othersworked throughout therebe? As the doctors to 25 per centasbestos) comment: 'it should be such workers the war. Because of the showed that known danger of asbestosis emphasised that would breathe in just over have one fibre per cubic centiat that time the factory took MesotheliomaS workers to minimise the developed in some metre of air. The Governprecautions after only marginal contact risk from asbestos dust. ment's'safe' level is two with this type of asbestos'. Part of the assemblywas fibres. What has happenedto all Another 61-year-Oldfloor- conducted in an enclosed those gas masks? They can had signs with exhaust chamber tile installer also still be bought in shops and ventilation. By 1965, at of asbestos lung disease the are often to be found ri least twenty years later, (asbestosiS). (American attics: the 'ideal' plaything first case of Mesothelioma Review of Respiratory for children. Why has there 104 1971 was noted. By 1974there Diseases vol been no effort to warn had been 26 cases, 25 of p.576) the people and call them in? themwomen.Two of with asbestos cancer (Inserm vol 52 1976p.117) workers Case three:

Case four:

Floorlayergets asbestos
cancer

did not work on the assembly line one was an inspector and one worked in anotherpart of the factory. An investigation of a similarfactory in Preston revealed a further 18 cases

Accountantgets asbestos
cancer

In 1966a 68-year-old man

was diagnosedas having the deadly asbestos cancer Mesothelioma. Apart from six years in the US army as a supervisor on concrete road construction,
he had been an accountant all his life. His only contact with asbestos had been six years previously when, as a part-timecarpenter's helper (he was retired), he worked for one month helping to insulate a house with
asbestos.

Reportsvol 8 1966p.l38)
32

(Ann Arbor

Case five:

Exposure at 15 death at 39 Graham Beynon left school at 15 and started work as a thermal insulator, for Bernard Hastie's of Swansea, in 1952. After three years he did his nationalservice and then re-joined Hastie's for anothereight months. In his subsequentjobs as a postal engineerand painter and decoratorhis brother said that he never came

painand breathlessness plus stomach pain, nausea, vomitting and weight loss. Nothing can be donefor him and hewill be lucky to survive. All the doctorscan do is observe him dieand try to alleviate some of the pain.
He has had no personal

worked with asbestos industrially from 1941 to 1949: diagnosis of the deadlyasbestos cancer
Mesothelioma was

his doctor with a complaint of increasingpain in the right side of this chest for a year. He had

contactwith asbestos, but made and by October 1971 the rest of his family hewasdead. Radiationand father, mother,brother drug therapy had little and two sisters worked beneficialeffect. In May with asbestos in County 1972his 52-year-old wife Durham. His father died at wentto the doctorwith into contactwith asbestos. In 1976,aged 39, he died of the age of 37 from asbescomplaints shortness of of tosis and his brother suffers breath and 'acute bronchial pneumonia' pain in the causedby asbestos inhalation. from chest trouble. Apparrightside of the chest for a The consultant pathologist, ently his father used to month. Thedeadlyasbestos bring home his dusty overcancer Mesotheljoma Mr O.G. Williams, said that alls fromwork. (Case notes was one side of the dead man's again diagnosed and by from a London Hospital December1973 she was lungs had been obliterated 1977) dead. Her only exposure to by a tumour growth asbestos dust had been when Graham (Mesothelioma). Case seven: she washed her husband's Beynon, at the young age Asbestoscancer from of 39, left a widow and dirty overalls. (New England Journalof Medicine two children. (South Wales dirty overalls 12 September 1974p.583) Echo 10 June 1976) In September 1970 a 49Evening year-old man reported to Case six: Asbestos cancer from the family

In January 1977 a 47-yearold milkman found himself unable to work because of

severe breathlessness and

pain on breathing in the his chest. On rightside

of

admission to hospital, investigation showed he

had the deadlyasbestos cancer Mesothelioma. He was not told of his diagnosis,

which is practically death a

warrant, and in

he married

for the first

July 1977

time.

By August 1977 he had

returned

to hospital with
33

Other cancers caused by exposure to asbestos The Workmens' CompenExposure to asbestos has been found to cause of Ontario, other cancers, mainly connected with the digessation Board Canada recognisedlaryngal tive system (gastrointestinal cancers). These are cancer caused by exposure cancers of the stomach, colon, oesophagus, to asbestos dust as an indus- rectum and larynx. One medical study2 of 100 men with cancer of the larynx found that 31 of trial disease on the 9 May them had been exposed to asbestos, compared 1978. Aime Bertrand, the first person in the world to with 3 in 100 men matched for comparison.
receive compensation, commented that he's happy to have won his battle but he would rather have his health. (Queen Park Report,OntarioNew Democrats, 19 May 1978)

A couple of TU branches have kept records as best they canofthehealth (or more often deaths) of their members from asbestos-relateddiseases. Below are two of the lists compiled by such
branches. Largely through the efforts of John Todd, who is himself officially 10 per cent disabled with asbestosis, the branch have managed to collect the following list of sufferers and dead. The other actions of the branch to prevent asbestos murders are described elsewhere in the booklet on page 98.

Case one:

Asbestos victims in 7/162 Branch TGWU thermal insulation 1975 Name James Allen Joseph Allen James Brown Angus Cairney Duncan Campbell Pat Carroll Joseph Cosgrove John Daly Frank Daly John Dalzeil GeorgeDixon Kit Dorran James Duigan John Dunsmore George Gardner WilliamGrainger John Grant Joe Gibson Pat Hanlon James Hendry Joseph Hendry

Additional comments Staff 10 years

Died 17 Nov. 1976. Off work 2 yrs. Died 8 Nov. 1975. Off work 10 yrs.

42 50 43 62
47
51

30% 20%
30% 40% 40% 30%

50 52

20% 40%
60% 30% 40% 30% 30% 20% 30% 30% 30% 20%

53 50 66 52
47 56

Staff 30 years Left industry5 yrs. Left industry Offwork 10 yrs. Died 1977 Staff 10 yrs. Died June 1978 Off work 15 yrs. Left industry8 yrs. Confirmed lOyrs.

54 38
52 58 58 50 68
20

30% 20%
30%

Foreman 20 yrs.

Lancet, 25 August 1973, p.416.

34

William Hendry William Hendry Frank Heron

David Laurie Tom Logie Tom Long

54
49 66 49 57 68 34 43 64 36 52 57

30%

20% 30% 30% 30%

40%

Died July 1978

John Magenis Joe Mullin Tom McAslan John McCance

David McClunie Edw. McCartney SinclairMcCormick Duncan McIntyre Andrew McEwan WilliamMcLaren Arthur Rhodie Edward Rose Duncan Ross Warner Ritchie Tom Sloan Edward Smith George Todd John Todd George Thompson John Thomson Robert Turner Alex Walker
James Ward

Staff 26 yrs. Deceased

30%
20% 30% 20% 20% 30% 40% 30% 30%

Confirmed at 26 yrs. of age

66
54 68 56 38 45 52 62 68
52

Staff 20 yrs.

Off work 12 yrs. Died 1977

Manager 10 yrs.

20%
30% 20%

30%
30% 30% 30% 30% 10% 30% 30% 20% 50%

Left industry 15 yrs.

Off work 15 yrs. Died 1977

55

55
52

50
50 66 46 52 42
41

Left industry 8 yrs. ManagerStaff 20 yrs.

Staff 30 yrs. Left industry 15 yrs. Left industry Left industry Left industry.Died 1977
Died 1977 Died 1977 Foreman 20 yrs. Died 1975 Died 1977 Died 1977 Died 1975 Sprayer. Died 1975

20%
40%

Ron Wardlaw Toby Wilson Robert Brown William Hurst

Pat Hester George Elder W. Shearer J. McQuade J. Campbell Joe Dorran Joseph Carbin James Smith J. Whitelaw New cases 1976 John Boyle

20% 20%
20% 30% 20% 20% 30% 30%

50

48 40 52 48
52

55 54
55 54 47 62 47 52 30%

20%

JoeBrooks Alex Belton

James Carr

DiedAugustlg76
Died February 1976 100%

William Cook

46

Off work 6 months. Died Apr. 1976

Pleural Mesotheijoma & Asbestosis
35

e('t

Tom Donnachie MatthewDrummond William Glenn Andrew Graham

George Jamieson George Kerr Harry Lockhart Jack Miller

54
51

60%
30%

Died January 1976

54
63

20%
30% 40% 20% 20% 20% 20% 30% 30%

Off work 6 yrs. Staff 20 yrs. Offwork 5 yrs.

Died March 1976 Left industry 10 yrs. Died 1977 Left industry20 yrs. Left industry 10 yrs. Off work 5 yrs. Off work 3 yrs. Hospital 3 weeks Died 1977 Foreman 20 yrs. Died Jan. 1977 Died 1977 Died 1977

47
67

William Moffat
Peter Murphy Peter McDonald
James Paisley

69 58 67

52
55
66

Rob Pickthall
James McDermid

Rob Mcintosh

52 56 52

30%

Suspects 1975, 1976and 1977 Tom Brown

Died 5 August 1978 Wifedied cancer, July 1978 Cancer (throat). Died 1977

John Cassidy
James Campbell

52 55
51

Alex Hutton
James Shanks

AndrewJordan
James Hamilton William Lennox RobertThomson RobertMcLung D. McCann Mick McCrone Joe Balsitas
JoeWilson Fred Carr

55 32
28

50

54 55
34 35 30
51

Off work 3 yrs.

52

New cases to August 1978 A. Cameron

Jas. Carlin
J.J. Fraser

54
42 65 55
57

20% 20%

John Hill John Lockhart Ian McDonald James McGaughey

Chas. Mackelroy

48
34 47 50

Died August 1978 Died January 1978 Died March 1978 Died August 1978

20%
Died August 1978 20%
10%

M. McTaggart

William Miller Andrew Ramsay

Pat Ward

46
56 52

Died May 1978 20%

36

Case two: Asbestos victims at British Rail Engineering, Doncaster

Through the efforts of Tom Amey, TGWU 9/405 Doncaster, the union has collected the followinglist of dead and suffering at the works since 1953. The problems and actions over prevention by the branch have been described elsewherein thisbookleton page 157.

List of Chest and Stomach Complaints since 1953 (Revised 1977)

Name
Trade Case history

Follow up
Died 1955

Age 34

Doctor

A. Faulkner Vehicle
builder

Carcinoma of Large Colon. Sec. Cancer of Liver Lung cancer

A. Greasby Vehicle
builder

Died 1958

Late

fifties
Stomach cancer Late ?

A. Hedley
H. Gee

Vehicle builder Vehicle builder Vehicle builder Vehicle builder

fifties Lung cancer

Stomach cancer Late

fifties
Late sixties Died March 1963

A. Ede
R. Lyons

Bronchopneumonia, (Rt) Hemiplegia due to Cerebral Thrombosis, Hypertension

58

Dr McLaughlin

H. Watson

Vehicle builder Electrician

Stroke.Angina
Mesothelioma (Inquest)

Died 1968

38

T. Palmer
R. Cross

Died 1971

27

Vehicle builder Vehicle builder

Lungcancer

Died 1971

60
54

H. Davies

Lungcancer (Inquest) Died Asbestos fibres in lung July 1972 Compensation paid 1977
Mesothelioma (Inquest) Died

P. Bradley

Vehicle

builder

43

Oct.1972
37

Name

Trade

Case

Follow UP
Died March 1973 Died 1968

history
builder Mesothelioma (Inquest) Lung cancer

Age 52

Doctor

A. Saymor Vehicle
H. Twyham French
polisher

Dr Sharp
?

E. Lumby

Vehicle builder builder

Asbestosis

Ill-health retirement Ill-health

61

Dr Walker
?

J. Thompson Vehicle J. Patrick Vehicle

builder

Chest trouble Chest trouble Stroke followed by cancer of the throat Chest trouble

62

retirement1972 52 Ill-health retirement 1973

Died 1973 68

Dr Sharp

R. Knowles Vehicle
builder

N. Slack

Chargeman

11)-health

62

Dr Walker

Labourer

retirement 1973
Asbestosis

J. Robinson Vehicle
builder

Due to retire ill-health

62 44

ft Brett
A. Ross

Vehicle

builder

Stroke, Hypertension In Tickhill Cerebral infraction, Hospital

Coronary thrombosis Died Sept.1976 Died Sept.1975

Dr Scott

Vehicle

Cerebral thrombosis

50

Dr Walker

builder

Intestinalcagoted artery thrombosis Arterio sclerosis Coronarythrombosis Coronaryatheroma

T. Andrews Vehicle
builder

Died

51

Dr McGaw Dr Eminsori

June 1974
53

E. Parker

Vehicle

builder J. Williams
Vehicle builder Vehicle builder

Died 1974 Chronicairways obstruction,Congestive cardiac failure Chest trouble Ill-health retirement Frequently

64

E. Collins

Chest trouble 1st. X-ray unsatisfactory

53

off work

38

S. Stray

Vehicle builder

Chest trouble 1st. X-ray unsatisfactory Chest trouble 1st. X-ray unsatisfactory Chest trouble

off work

Frequently

53

T. Cutts

Vehicle builder

off work off work At work

Frequently

40

C. Flinders

Vehicle builder

Frequently retired 1974

65

T. Amey
W. Dudley

Vehicle builder

Claim in for
asbestosis

50

Dr Walker

worker

Sheet Metal Stroke, Hypertension

Offwork
Frequently

52

Vertigo
Hypertension and

C. Bailey

Vehicle builder Vehicle builder

Vertigo

off work

55

P. Bedford

Cancer of the stomach Died 1975

40

C. Smalley

Fitter

Died 1974 Lungcancer, Heart cavity, Mesothelioma (Inquest) Cancer of lung, stomach, sec. liver, Died 1975

60

A. Rowley

Vehicle builder

71

kidney B. Gallet
R. Joy Vehicle builder Vehicle builder Boilermaker Cachenacancer of Died 1975 69

throat, lung
Coronary thrombosis Mesothelioma (Inquest) Died

Dr McLaughlin

55
66

Sept.1976
Died 15 Oct. 1976 Died

E. Evans

Dr McGaw

F. Lumby

Vehicle builder

Mesothelioma (Inquest)

59

23 May
1977 Died March 1977

N. Womack

Planner

Mesothelioma

El. Fitter

39

Name

Trade

Case

Follow up Age
60 Died June 1977
Died

Doctor
?

history
Mesothelioma

W. Everingham Storeman

A. Hoidridge Vehicle
builder

Asbestosis

60

Dr Mclllraith Dr McGaw

June 1977 Lung removed 7.3.77 Ill-health retirement 1977 Ill-health retirement 1977 Ill-health retirement 1977
57

L. Dyer

Trimmer

F. Painton

Fitter

Asbestosis

55

L. Warrin

Fitter

Asbestosis

V. Hughsman Labourer
Wilson

Asbestosis

Ill-health 61 retirement 1977

Work study Ex. fitter

Labourer

Claim in for Asbestosis Claim in for Asbestosis Claim in for Asbestosis Claim in for
Asbestosis

At work At work At work At work

S.Y.PT.

56

60
57

Ex. lagger
Ford

Vehicle
builder Vehicle builder Vehicle

Pell

61

Mason

builder
Chambers Vehicle builder Walker Vehicle

Three strokes Retired Vertigo. Hypertension Hypertension,

69

Dr Scott
?

At work

56

Vertigo
Hypertension,

At work
At work At work

57

'
?

builder
Bowling Vehicle

Vertigo
Hypertension, 54

builder
Electrician Boiler attendant

Vertigo
Asbestosis Asbestosis
57
? ?

Weil Bryan

Died 1975 78

40

Health checks for people exposed to asbestos These are often used against people, especially those exposed in environmental situations. This is because asbestos diseases takeat least 10 years to show up on current medical examinations, more often 20 years for the full effects, and sometimes 40 years in the case of the deadly asbestos cancer Mesotheijoma. On top of this there is the usual attempt in investigations into industrial health to prove 'personal susceptibility' of individual workers. Recent studies2' have, for the moment, found that it is not possible to 'screen out' workers 'susceptible' to asbestosis. This approach is totally company-orientedand completelyagainst good trade union practice, which has recently been re-stated in the TUC evidence to the Government'sAdvisory Committee on Asbestos: The TUC is aware that certain individuals may be more susceptible t cancer from asbestos exposure than others. However, the TUC is totally opposed to the proposal that workers be discriminated against on the grounds that they are or are not tible to certain hazards. Workplacessuscepshould be madesafefor all workers. Bearing the above comments in mind, screening tests can be of use to a workforce provided they are conducted by doctors outside the company, by agreement with the shop-floor trade unionists, there is full disclosureof the results, and no
victimisation.

While it is true that there is no cure for any of the diseases caused by asbestos at the current time, organised medical checks on the workforce can give an idea of the incidence of asbestos diseaseand whether improvementsare taking place. And, of course, thereis a slim chance that might somethintime. be done for some victims in a few years

21

British MedicalJournal, 5 March 1977, p.603. 41

A typical programmewould include:

1

present jobs, smoking questions on past and so on. The more inforhistory, symptoms, and mation you can give, the better. 2 Physical examination: a general physical examination to be given, with emphasison your
lungs.
3

Work

or

occupational history:

to include

Chest X-ray: a photograph of your chest your using X-ray radiation shows up It also bones, shows heart and other chest structures. (asbestosis) and up lung cancer, lung scarring the effects of smoking on your lungs. But you can easily have physical symptoms (a shortness of breath for example) with little change on rays. 4 Lung function tests: in these tests you blow as hard as you can into a tube that is connected to a device that measures the amount of air you can blow out of your lungs and the rate at which occur you can do it. Different rates and volumes if you havelung damage. 5 Sputum Cytology: this is an examination of cancer your sputum (normally threesamples)for of the cancer cells. It is useful for picking up bronchus before it showsup on X-rays.

42

Doinga lungfunction test: give a hardbut steady longblow Theequip mentusedtomeasure lungfunction.(QCAW)

asbestos workers should never be used as a replacement for a ban or strictworkingprocedures. Professor I.J. Selikoff, a world-famous expert on asbestos disease,and his team of doctors tried to help22 one branch of New York insulation workers when they contracted asbestos diseases during the period 1963 to 1974. The results of all this expert medical attention were: 57 out of 59 cases of lung cancer died; 31 out of 31 cases of Mesotheliomadied. Depressing figures for the medical profession: figures which emphasise the importance of prevention; and this is where the trade unions can play a major part.
22 Annals oftheNewYork Academy ofSciences,vol 127, 1976, p.448.

No test involves giving blood except the screening for 'susceptible worker' tests, which should not be allowed. None of these tests are 100 per cent accurate and all, to some extent, rely on each other for final diagnosis. X-rays, for instance, can be read in several ways, depending on the of the X-ray reader. Hence the need'sympathy' from outside the company. for doctors It must be re-emphasised that medical checks for

__________

43

Chapter 3

Excuses, excuses...

A recent government studyof 100 deaths in the constructionindustry found that 8 were caused by fallsthrough roofs or

ceilings. 5 of these deaths occurred from asbestos roofs. As the report commented: 'Asbestos kills in more waysthan one, but those who fall throughasbestos cement roofs are "picked-off" one at a time and cause no public outcry.' ('One Hundred Fatal Accidents in Construction',HSE, HMSO, 1978)

In reply to the revelations about the dangers of asbestos, the asbestos industry has put out hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of publicity about how the dangers are 'not so bad as they're made out to be'. In this way, the industry has allayed the fears of a lot of people. But just how much substance lies behind this
smokescreen? 44

Asbestoscementis a special case Without doubt the major use of asbestos in most countries is in the manufacture of asbestos cement products. This includes corrugated and flat sheeting and asbestos cement pipes for sewerage and drainage. In general the asbestos acts to reinforce the cement protect from heat, cold, condensation, corrosion and fire, friction. In the form of asbestos cement, asbestos is around us everywhere. For this reason the asbestos has, at the recent governmentcement industryelsehearings and tried to make a special case for asbestos where, cement, arguing that its products are 'safer' than other forms of asbestos. In the words ofMr R.K. Day, Chairman of the UK Asbestos Cement Manufacturers Association, 'Wequite accept there is a very much greater health risk fromthat the non-cement asbestos products.' This is something the makersof these otherasbestosproducts will not admit. The industry argues that any health risk from asbestos cement products is small because: a asbestos cement contains only 10 per cent asbestos; b the fibre is mostlywhite asbestos; c the manufacturing process is almost wholly wet; d the asbestos fibres are encapsulated or chemicallybonded into the cement. To take these points in order: a The fact that asbestos cement contains only 10 per cent asbestos does not make it any safer. This amount of asbestos in any productis clearly capable ofgeneratingasbestos dust. b There is a large quantity of evidence on the danger of white asbestos, which the industry Advisory Committee on Asbestos in June 1977,
ignores. c The process may be wet, but by Mr Day's own evidence to the British Government's

the dust levels in: 88 per cent of asbestos cement factories are below 1 fibre per ml; 96 per cent are below 2 fibres per ml; 70 to 80 per cent are below 0.5 fibres ml. per
45

The US recommended level is 0.1 fibres per ml and even this is not considereda safe level just Mr Day a measurableone. It is no surprise that howsaid at the hearings: 'We do not support, the present ever, the recommendation that should be more stringent.' According standard to evidence presented to the same hearings by Julian Peto, of Oxford University, the present 'safe' standard may allow 1 in 10 workers to contract asbestos-relateddiseases. d As for the 'encapsulation theory', even the Eternit expert that the asbestos cement factory to these governmenthearings, Professor brought A. Deruyttere of Louvain University,could only comment: 'From our study we cannot say whether asbestos cement dust is dangerous or not.' Furthermore, that same expert saw fit at evidence the hearingsto contradict the companyProfessor a letter from (apparently supported by States) as regards the I.J. Selikoff in the United of asbestos sheet that safety (or 'encapsulation') 'it should be investihas 'weathered'. He thought gated'. to realise that at Against all this it is soberingin the cement plant US, where one asbestos of asbestoswas mainly in use, 72 cases the white asbestos cancer Mesothelioma had deadly been observed up to 1973.'
I
Chest, vol 64, 1973, p.641.

1:iE:

ThENP...

46

Major Swedish asbestoscementfirm closes In 1972 Sweden imported about 15,000 tons of processed asbestosproducts; most of which were in the form of asbestos cement products. New regulations regarding the use of asbestos were introduced in June 1975. A special section dealingwith asbestos cement commented:
In asbestos cement productsthe asbestos is
bound to cement. However, all fibres are not bound,and during mechanical handling and processing,asbestosladen dust is released

thereforebeen decided to classify all asbestos

cement products as dust-

containingmaterials.
(Swedish Board of Industrial Safety Directives No.52 issued June 1975)

a ban on the working of asbestoscementproducts in Sweden, with certain exemptions until the end of 1977. Under industry pressure, this ban was lifted for 'asbestos cement pipes ofa certaintype' in 1976. Special working methods were to be used, high velocity cutting of pipes is prohibited and all efforts to develop alternative substitutes are encouraged. Even so, Skandinaviska Eternit AB, the largest Swedish asbestos cement factory, closed down in the middle of 1977 owing to the ban on asbestoscement products.

into the air.., It has As from 1 July 1976 there was

Skandjnavska Eternjt.(Bo Sundstrom, Stenbergs Bilder,Sweden)

47

'It's only whiteasbestos'

That is the mythpeddled bythe asbestosindustry over the past fifteen years. After ignoring the deaths andsuffering caused by asbestos for sixty the asbestos industry woke up in 1960

years, and began producing its own independent research. In the forty years before 1960 the asbestos industry produced about ten medical and scientific papers on the health hazardsof its products. In the eighteen years since, in the UK alone, it has churned out nearly seventy. Management scientists, as most are, have argued along four main lines: 1 The health hazards of asbestos are minimal and limited to heavily-exposed workers from as have many years ago. This is nonsense, we shown. 2 Trace oils from the vegetation or storage sacks, cause the cancers.This has been disproved with a lot of effort from academic and govern-

ment scientists.
3

Trace metals contaminating the asbestos cause the cancers. Again, disprovedwith a lot of academicand government scientific efforts. 4 Only 'blue' asbestos is really dangerous. This 'fact'has had a lot of success in the UK, although

48

,$F0
41

less elsewhere, and thus needs some looking at in detail. The early detection work in SouthAfrica in 1960, that definitely linked asbestos exposure with the previously very rare, painful and fatal cancer Mesothelioma, did find that these cancers occurred more often in workers exposed to blue rather than white asbestos. A lot of effort went into pushing thisline. Oneof the first champions of the 'blue is deadly, white is safe' view was Dr Smithers of Cape Asbestos in 1963. By 1968 it had become official dogma: The Advisory Panel considers that the evidence to date on balance indicates a particular significance must be given to Crocidolite (blue) as the cause of MesoCase one: theliomas (asbestos cancers). The Panel White asbestos is good recommends that other types of fibre enough for you and me; not should be substituted forCrocidolitewherefor the House of Commons ever possible.. .(ProblemsArisingfrom the though! Use of Asbestos, Memorandum of the White asbestos may be alSenior Medical Inspector's Advisory Panel right for most of Britain's HMSO 1968). population,but not for our It seems that on the basis of this recommen635 MPs it seems. In the dation the 1969 Asbestos Regulations set a summer of 1978 they were level of blue asbestosallowed in the air so 'ow as getting the 'safe'white to effectively ban it at that time. By 1970 the asbestos (used as insulation asbestos manufacturers hadagreedon avoluntary in ventilationducts)reban on the import of blue asbestosinto the UK. p/aced with an asbestos-free In 1976 the asbestos industry's latest glossy material. By chance some hand-out said: blueasbestos was found Many experts believe that Mesothelioma while this was being done. (asbestos cancer) has been caused primarily Panic! Now the roofhas by the unguarded use of 'blue' asbestos been sealed by fully prorather than by 'white' asbestos which tectedworkmen,regular accounts for 95 per cent of world protestingwill be carried out duction. British manufacturers have imto ensure no contamination posed a voluntary ban on the import of of the air, andat some blue fibre since 1970. ('Asbestos' miracle future time a 'majoroperafibre or killer dust?', Asbestos Information tion' will be carried out to Committee 1976). remove it. Again, sealing is Yet in Cape's annual report in 1976 we read: often goodenough for the 'Production of blue asbestos is now running rest of us, they get removal. higher than ever.' Somebody is getting it wrong Who says MPs have no somewhere. Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland privileges? ('Asbestos found and Sweden took their standards from the UK in Commons Chambers' and set lower levels for blue, but many more do Guardian 16 September not differentiate between the many types of 1978) asbestos and consider all equally dangerous.
49

'S

to

otU'I

These are West Germany, East Germany, Italy, France, USA, USSR, Canada, South Africa and Norway. The most recent and comprehensive standard has come from the USA, where the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)in December 1976 reported: The general conclusion of this study (on the health effects of exposure to asbestos) is that all forms of asbestos, both commercial and non-commercial,are carcinogenic can (cause cancer)...only a ban on its use this ensure complete protection against mineral's carcinogenic effect. (Letter from Dr J.F. Finklea, Director of NIOSH, to Dr Morton Corn, US Department of Labour, 15 December 1976). Such statements have received backing from the US asbestos industry. For instance, Dr Paul Kotin, who is responsible for health and safety for Johns-Manville, the biggestUS asbestoscompany, said in November 1976: I know of the explanations offered in increased support of the concept of an asbestos), hazard with Crocidolite (blue but I would respond by saying that valid alternative explanations do exist. It is common knowledge that asbestosis, lung cancer and Mesotheliomacan occur followto Chrysotile ing excessive exposure and Amosite (brown) as well as to (white) Crocidolite (blue). S

';;, 1."

t:"3' 5U(O

ar
to

50

A recent authoratjve
study by Julian Peto p.484) on workersfrom Turner and Newall in the UK concluded, 'Peritoneal
Mesotheijoma (cancer of the lining of the stomach) is usually due to Crocidolite (blue asbestos), but exposure to Chrysotile (white asbestos) alone may lead to a substantial risk of pleural Mesothelioma (cancerof the lining of the lung).' Cancerof the lining of the lung is by far the most common; accounting for some 80 (Lancet, 4 March 1978,

willing to affirm his position that the hazards of

I am sure that Dr Selikoffwould be

Crocidolite (blue), Amosite (brown) and Chrysotile (white) are comparable (Letter to Dr P. Loubert, Toronto, 5 November

per centof all cases of this deadly asbestos

cancer.

The UK asbestos industry has had a good run for its money with the myth that only blue asbestos is dangerous. It has fooled the Government, academic scientists and, more important, many workers and other people exposed to white asbestos. But this is no joke. In putting up this deliberate and cynical smokescreen regarding the health hazards of white asbestos they have endangered the lives of many thousands of people. They are in effect guilty of murder and the management and directors of these 'responsible' asbestos companies, and the doctors and scientists who have supplied bogus and bent information on the hazards should be imprisoned for thisact.

1976).

NOW f7
k/I1/7R
WH17!

51

50 people lost their lives in the Summerland

disaster. (ManxPress Pictures)

'Asbestos is indispensable' Many people who would otherwise have perished in fires or on the roads are alive today because of asbestos. ('Asbestos: miracle fibre or killer dust?' Asbestos Information Committee 1976). What is the implication? That the only choice we have is frying alive or dying more slowly from asbestos diseases? In fact at the recent Government Advisory Committee hearings on asbestos the industry suggested that civilisation might collapse without asbestos. Leaving aside the fact that 'civilisation' has only had the benefits and horrors of asbestos for the past seventy years or so, this ignores the fact that most of the tonnage of asbestos has nothingto do with fire protection or friction materialsand that we have plenty of replacements for most uses of asbestos. Nobody doubts the need for effective fire control: the annual loss of life and property testifies to that need. Clearly a major factor in fire prevention and control until the fire brigade arrives is the specification of fireproof materials in construction, furnishingsand fittings. As regards the use of asbestos for fireproofing it is straightforward: asbestos is a health hazard, there are replacements for it, with fewer health these risks, for nearly all uses, and thereforeserious But there is also a more should be used. problem with asbestos. Because of the asbestos industry's oversell of its wonder fireproofer, it has in fact been indirectly responsiblefor deaths

in fires.

52

inforced concrete. But in 1968, 'in the interest of cost' (how often does this In August 1973 the Summer- go down as a fire hazard?) a cheaper corrugated steel land pleasurecomplexon sheet under the patent the Isle of Man caught fire and resulted ri the death of name 'Galbestos' was used. 50 people, the worst peace- Galbestos is zinc-coated steel sheeting with a protime fire in the UK since tective layer of asbestos 1929. The toll could have felt-bonded to it. The been much greater if the official enquiry concluded: fire had broken out a little We have formed the later,when it was dark, and view that the use of many more people would Galbestos in the wall of have been in the building. this building was an Fire damage to the twoerror of judgement... year-old buildingwas the contribution of the estimated at 1,267,000. combustible components Whatcaused the fire? And of Galbestos accelerated why did it spread so the growth of the fire in quickly? These and other the early stages. were askedat the questions official enquiry. ('Report of It is clear from the official report that the architects the Summerland Fire thought that any product Commission', Isle of Man The 1973Summerland fire
1974) The evidence belowcomes from this report. On the evening of 2 August 1973, three Liverpool schoolboys set fire to a disused kiosk near the Summerland pleasure complex. Within minutes the burningkiosk collapsed against one wall of the building. This should not have caused any problems, since according to the Isle of Man By-law 39, the external wallsof any building shall be non-combustible throughoutand have a fire resistanceof two hours. In the original design of 1967 the wall againstwhich the burning kiosk collapsed was to be made of re-

Case one:

people's homeon 5 January 1977 concluded: The fire was started by a

blow-torchpassing througha gap or crack in

an asbestos cement ceiling. The contractorspecified 'asbestossheets',and the asbestos cement, rather than originallyspecified quarter-inch asbestolux, gave the impression that it wasfire resistant and therewas no reason for the heating engineer to suppose it was not (Guardian 21 October
1977).

It seems that in these few

investigated firesasbestos actually helped the fire. Add to this the commentof Dr E.W. Marchant, Department of Fire and Safety Engineering, Edinburgh University: Asbestoscould be designed out of a build-

with a name sounding like

'wonder' fibre would not burn. The enquiry also found that the asbestos applied as fireproofing on the complex's iron girders was 'by no meanscompletely effective at the time of the fire'.
Case two: Asbestossheets cause fire deaths

asbestos and containingthe

other investigations might reveal the part played by poor design and costcutting in the start and spread of fires. For instance, a recent investigation into the cause of the death by fire of 11 men in a Humberside County Councilold
Perhaps

53

ing as other more traditional constructional materials could be replaced in appropriate locations and thereby removing the need for the afterthought material to be used in

Case three:

Asbestosloadcatches

fire On 11 July 1977 a lorry

carrying plastic sacksof
asbestos

frorii

fire divisions. Letter

to BSSRS 1977)
Is there reallya need for
asbestos

in fire protection in view of its known health hazard'Clearlynot

Manchester Docks to Cape's Uxbridge factory in West London burst into flames on the M6 motorway at Great Barr, Birmingham. The deadlydustwas seen to blow all around. Firemen

team of 'trouble-shooters' were called in from Cape. Wearing protective clothing, masks and oxygen equipment, they sprayed the fire and beat it with sticksfor twelve hours before the danger had passed. The asbestos was then put into sealed containers and taken to a dump at Nuneaton. Apart from the Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail and

did not know how to deal with 'burningasbestos', so a

Socialist Worker,no newspaper reported this accident. Manchester is the main port for asbestos imports 54,000tons in 1975 out of a total for the UK of 139,000 tons. Do noneof the plasticbags split? When will the next 'accident' be? How many people living near Great Barr or passing

in cars were given a 'dose' of asbestos? Nobody knows and nobodycares, it seems. In the wordsof the local
fire brigade spokesmanat the time: 'There is no danger to the public as long as the asbestos dust is not breathed in.' But he forgot to tell people to hold their
breath for twelve hours.
Case four:

Firemen ban asbestos

Fire-fightingisa dangerous job at the best of times. On top of the obvious physical hazardsof the job, the increasingly toxic fumes of many fires taketheir toll of a fireman's health, Added to this they facethe less
obvious health hazardsof the dust they breathe when

Fightingan asbestos fire'! (BirminghamPostand Mail) 54

fighting a fire. Thereare not manybuildingsthat

to the wearer. Asbestos antiflash fire helmets were withdrawn from the London Fire Brigade in 1974. During 1976 the Greater London Council Scientific Branch
tested various glovesand fire blankets as possible replacementsfor asbestos. In many cases they found

have not been fire-insulated with asbestos in oneway or another; thermal or acoustic

for protectionor decoration of steelwork or ceilings, and soon. In a fire-damaged building the asbestos will be
more dusty.' Since 1970 it has been known that

insulation, limpet asbestos

'protective'garmentscan give high and

asbestos

actuallyinferiorto the new less hazardous

asbestos

gloves and Nomex fire blankets performed best in the testsand were recommended. ('Firemenfreeze out Asbestos', New Scientist30 September 1976 p.675; 'Performance of Fire Blanket Materials', Fire Research Station Report No.1079 January 1978)

dangerous levels of asbestos

fibre, heat-resistant leather). (Anna/s of Occupational Heat-resistant leatherlined Hygiene vol 121970 p.77)

materials (Nomex, glass

being safer, than asbestos equivalents. (Suppliersofnon.ashestog glovesand fire blankets are: (1) TutorSafety Products, Sentiok Works, Sturminstep Newton, DorsetDTIO IBZ, 0258 7291. (2) Safety Equipment Centres, Elm Road, New Maiden, Surrey, 01-9429557) 55

Heatresisting 'Nomex' glovesare superior in heat resistanceand more comfortable, ott top of

Brakesare dangerous When you look at the number of road accidents each year (in 1975 there were 6,600 killed and nearly 334,000 injured, an increase over the previous year of nearly 5 per cent), you might well wonder whether the claims of the asbestos on the roads is industry to save lives and injuryshoes were first brake not a sick joke. Asbestos introduced around 1910. It might be argued that they contributed to the subsequent massacreon

the roads.

It is clear that the ability of engine designers has

far outstripped the ability of brake designers to one stop the monsters. More importantly, discslook and at the health hazards of brake shoes, to both producersandthe public,shows clutches, there is an urgent need for a re-think. In terms of accidentsand health hazards private transport is the main culprit and should be dealt with first. For necessary personal transport and for the braking systems of public service vehicles alternative friction materials will be required in the short term. Such materials are already used in racing cars and in aeroplane braking systems.

Dunlop have recently invented metallic-type friction brake pads that perform better than asbestos in the wet on motorbikes. The major US friction asbestos producer Raybestos sees itself getting out of asbestos in the next few an years. This is not a technical problem but the economic and political one. Since all of current braking systems produce dust, and no dust is good for your lungs, new non-dust brakingsystems require developing (see also p.l54).

56

Chapter 4 Your protectors

A calendar from the early 1950'sputoutby the
AsbestosMarketingCoLtd,

London,topushthe killer

dust.

In response to the various diseases caused by asbestos some of which have been known for

seventy years various 'responsible' organisations have taken over the role of protectors over those exposed to asbestos. Just how effective are they or do they want to be? The asbestos industry In 1878 Samuel Turner of Rochdale was experimenting, with little success, on using various cotton fabrics for pump and boiler packings. Newly developed mobile steam engines were demanding better sealing and lagging. With the discovery of the Canadian asbestos deposits in 1876 he quickly saw the possibilities and by 1879 he had spun ten tons ofasbestos to fulfil a contract. The report of the Monopolies Commission1 in 1973 commented that the of the asbestosindustry before 1945 was,history 'In effect the history of Turner and Newalls (which grew from Samuel Turner), and to some extentit has remained so today.' Today the asbestos industry is said to employ directly some 20,000 people and to be worth 200 million. In addition to Turner and Newall the other two major UK asbestos companies are Cape Industries (until
1 'Asbestosand Certain AsbestosProducts', Monopolies Commission, HMSO, 1973.

57

the early seventies 'Cape Asbestos') and British Belting Asbestos (BBA). These three major British asbestos companies were the ones whose representatives sat on or more correctly controlled

committhe 1931BritishGovernment for the Suppressingof Dust tee on the 'Methods in Asbestos Textile Factories'. This was set up in response to the revelations of the epidemic of asbestos disease found in the asbestos industry in 1930 (see p.4). No longer could the asbestos industry ignore the hazards of its products, so it sought to limit the Government. regulations and to control their application. The regulations only applied to asbestos textile factories. General recommendations were made for ventilation to remove the asbestos dust, but no method was given apart from a very out-of-date and inaccurate one for checkingthe effectivenessof this ventilation. In fact it seems that the asbestos industry did not record dust levels until the 1950s, twenty years later. Not that all this mattered much. There were only two prosecutions under the 1931 Asbestos Regulations. The only one we know Asbestos.2 anything about is the case of Centralwere the conditions described No doubt fairly typical (see also the story of Hebden Bridge on p.8).
Peter Giliman and Anthony Woolf, 'The Dangerous Dust',Sunday TimesMagazine.2 April 1972. 2

58

Bob Smith(Sunday Times)

fiji.

Central Asbestos Bob Smith, who worked for the company from 1958 to 1966 (note the dates), had the job of pouring hundredweight sacks of South African asbestos into a mill to be ground, and then packing this ground fibre into bags. He commented: It was dustywork. We were half-blindedby the dust when the bags burst...! wore a mask but because I had a narrow face the dust used to get in from the top eventhough I tightened it up. Dust tests done by the Factory Inspectorate in 1961 showed dust levels between 170 and 680, the then allowed and so-called 'safe' level. In 1964 Central Asbestos was fined 170, plus 50p costs (10 shillings in those days), for continuous breaches of the 1931 Asbestos Regulations.This shows how toothless were these regulations, their enforcement and the penalties prescribed. In July 1970 Bob Smith was awarded 16,388 personal injuries damages against Central Asbestos for his asbestosis. A total of 86,469 was paid to seven men by the company'sinsurers. As Mrs Smith said: 'I know we got 16,000. But that's 16,000 for a man's life.' The story of Hebden Bridge shows that thiswas no isolated case. Many other workers testify that negligence was common. What was the asbestos industry's response to the revelationsat Hebden Bridge? Did they suggest better control of the dust? Perhaps a safer dust level? Maybe more compensation? More efforts to find safer substitutes? No! The response was a full-blooded 500,000 public relations campaign on the 'unwarranted, biased and inaccurate' comments on the industry.

Ifdamagedortobe

worked telephone or 01-633 6313

The warninglabel used to drawattentionto the hazardous nature of asbestos by the Greater London CounciL

One of the major features of this campaign to convince us that asbestos is good for us has been full-page advertisements in all the national newspapers. Some of the headingswere:
QUESTIONS YOU ASKED ABOUT ASBESTOS AND HEALTHAND THE ANSWERS 'WHERE WOULD I FIND ASBESTOS IN MY HOME?'
59

20 SENSIBLE

'WE NEED ASBESTOS. THIS IS WHAT THE ASBESTOS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DOING TO MAKE IT SAFE'

Even the AdvertisingStandards Authority not the most critical authorityin the world found that in the first series of advertisements(in July 1976), 'much of the information given in the advert was premature and unsubstantiated.' One paper3 even went as far as to write a detailed criticism of the advert, but the criticism was about one quarter the size of the original which appeared on another page. Money doesn't speak,

it swears!

In 1975-76 the Asbestos Research Council, an asbestos company organisation set up in 1957 to

14.

When the warningis on asbestos products it will often looklike this one. This ison corrugated roofing sheetsat Ealing Broadway Tube in 1978. (Andrew Wiard, Report)

look at every aspect of asbestos disease prevention, had a budget of 87,000; less than onefifth of what its sister organisation,the AIC, has to advertise the non-dangers of asbestos. The 500,000 publicity campaign seems to have worked: Surveys prior to the advertising campaign showed that about one-fifth of the UK population thought asbestos should be banned. Several weeks after the last advertisement a survey indicated this number was halved.4 More than 12,500 people wrote or phoned in asking for information and all of them were answered. Some of these were local government officials and architects whose only source of information was the asbestos industry. A more insidious influence exercised by the asbestos industry and its innocent (or even 'official'-) sounding front organisations such as the Asbestos Information Committee and Asbestos Research Council, is the fact that they generate nearly all the information on asbestos. For instance, the following comments come from several professionalarticles. It is clear that the authors have used asbestos industry handOliverGuile, Misleading claims in ashestos advert', 3 Sunday Times, 4 July 1976. International Management,March 1977. 4

60

"Where would I find Asbestos in my home?" and and

Mesatheloinaanonuotnforyl4'oa000r Tise:orn..ke vnooieutiousesofasoyntosace deaths iso 005umedmote unsung board stands oveo doorseem srrnrsenng nnmmordothas rhis among asbestos markers, pads,ir.uuiationooaudaiioriecrrrn e:erneor sup- parncuiaoty those who were heavhy eoposed a portSrndomesticappliances. blue asbestos fibreisthepast But blue fibrehas ftna,so edotoe buildingmstenalscfsome notbeenimpaned aieoeidly garages and sheds,andin ysurcarSbrake and Irisimponacttoremember that mastashesslut chdninnsUrtl quttetecently 1wasoftenused ms-related diseasesare theresu.t ofhigh capetolagtanksaridppca suse todustyinduststai conditionswhich arenow Ta help you identify aslcstcs mareeacly, theendoftheyeartrout asbestospesduc-s by you nan cup scoops m.d be clearly i000lled oiito a mar. 5a Rob..t,. spenial asbestos s/nobelaod sovice about handthaneth.n? pro.. lingtheor. Yes As withad diseases,somepeople are no bi What thAab aryqmgecoat? dy ffsr fe This asbestoscementsheeting, is g usedforifs enuble, you should netSock'st sort b asptawrth asbesr durability and free resstaooe. AndIf weatcerductswhere dustwght created be proof The anbesrss fibreisasked hecesneet info eard completely sale. unlessreleased intothe err pew sawor drill hya at Asbesf cement sheetingisthemost comos mas use feeasbestostAre The shents en your the garage,like streets factoryandloom buildon mgnare senes-eighrhs cemesr sod one-eighto asbestos retrforcemyof dam Shaatd aid Aabe.ta. pcodtaat. Utary hoar.? NmThenare there to protect you Asbestos preduots are patIently harmless unlesswarsordamaged orsohes ace they being brakes,yoocanlisdourmore obouf atfetfeioetycut, untied orsanded osducesbyfuliag the coupos below A Whatdo that Ashanta. tog totheAsbestos fnfsrmatiooCam

otherquestionsyou haveasked aboutAsbestos health. 1 Wb.r.w,ntd Ifind Anba.te.maryha.,.? stall he hastokeephis rues in moneyhut nor
Ar, d.oIilio

esposed, own clothing separate from workolothog and wearoveralls atwork sheooesaba must be iauodeied attoeplace wtrerehaworbaorbyasuirablyequippeolauo ear Theymust be fakeshame Goverawest regulasasarequire this tosafeguard asbestos workers aedtheafamilies

) Q

oAr.S0tp..pl. odl.....
p

ad biding wasco, 15aa..e.d byth. pennantRob..,.. angel.Si.,.?

to rally protect allworkers who may be b.andliog 5 rod dust as be raspsd ysu ffpouaeeademolifiosorbuildiogworkez dishtheregsiasoosarestat beasg sbserv.of.
Yes Theseregu.050ns were created spend-

I..

Ir

lu

ir

9atthomA.boasj_ INWRABLE
r

5)

Ig.t at

CHEfl treemgrag I Itd COMPLAINTS

if in
midmukedroliaadanoe.

P0

I daana.d 'In0000baaaha.,yka,a..

Idaif

61

outs (readily available) for almost all their

sources:

The Architect's Journal 1 December 1976 (in an article entitled 'Asbestos and alternative materials') commented: 'It is quite likely that many products containing asbestos can continue to be used with little or no risk to health.' Chartered Mechanical Engineer April 1977, 'Asbestos a versatile material', wrote: 'Over the last five years, there has been considerable comment on the health aspects of using asbestos and materials incorporating asbestos. Much of this has been ill-informed, often of a conanxiety, jectural nature, and has given rise tooften the the who are particularly fromin thepublic,or in theirvehicles.' home end users, either The Architect April 1977, 'Do we still need asbestos?': 'The scientific research can be safely left to the asbestos companies,who are working economic non-stop towards improvements.. . theone.' for using asbestos is a strong argument Engineering Materials and Design June 1977, 'Asbestos a new appraisal': 'The position has been clearly over-dramatised -. . fears have largely stemmed from sensational news features.' And so on. When you get away from the 'professional' journals things get even worse. Thus readers of Women's Own were treated to a review of the non-health hazards of asbestos in an article during 1976 by Dr Smither Cape's own medical officer. There is no doubt that in its search for profit the asbestos industry has done a good job of coverits ing up and minimisingthe health hazards of these the actions of a responsible products. Are industry? South Africa: Asbestos Mines At a 1969 conference on asbestos, Dr R.SJ. Toit, of the South African Department of Mines, was talking of 'disappointingly high' levels of asbestos dust in the mines. By August 1977 he was claiming that 'conditions in the asbestos mines of South Africa are under effective
62

control'.6 But figures he released ofdustanalysis done by his department as late as 1976 showed that the dust level in the minesvaried from 1 to 9 fibres per ml (over 4 times the safe level allowed in the UK see p.119). As the Annual During 1949 I made the Report of the South African Government first official governmental Department of Mines for 1973 commented: radiological and clinical 'Current concentrations (of asbestos dust in the survey of the asbestos in the North East- air) still represent a health hazard and further industry ern Transvaal.Atthat time, improvements must be brought about'. In 1975 industrialhygiene in one of Rodney Cowton, a journalist with The Times, these mines and asbestos approached the two major British asbestos workswassimplydeplorable. companies with mines in South Africa Turner and Newall and Cape Industries askingwhat Exposures were crude and unchecked. I found young they were doing. Both companies claimedi it was their policy to bring their operations throughout children,completelyincludedwithin large shipping the world to British standards. 'Both claimedto be making some progress in this direction but bags, tramplingdown neither would give a target date for the fulfilfluffy Amositeasbestos, which all day came cascad- ment of that policy,' he reported.7 Meanwhile blue asbestos, under a voluntary ban by the ing over a hefty whip. I asbestos industry in the UK because of its believe thesechildren to have the ultimatedust dangerous nature, is beingmined more than ever by Cape's in SouthAfrica. One lawfor the white exposure. X-rays revealed and another for the black? several to have radiological
Conditions in asbestos mines in 1949were described by a US doctor, G.W.H. Schepers5
asbestosis

causedby asbestos adhering to our clothes. Even the food at the local hotel was gritty with dust. Playing next toanAfrican asbestos mine.

(failure of the right side of the heart) before the age of 12. Why Dr Sluis-Cremer did not see them 10 years later is fairly evident. There was probably not one of them still alive... To gain a true perspective he should have seen those mines in 1949. In the valley where the mill was located asbestos dust rolled throughlike the morning mist, and I had a hardtime keeping my staff in working trim because of itchingskins

with Corpulmonale

1965, p.246.

Annals ofthe New York Academy ofSciences,vol 132, Letter to BSSRS,August 1977. The Times, 20 January 1975.

6 7

63

The government We live in a democracy. Industry is regulatedby government. Therefore we have no problems. Or do we? The history of government control, or more correctly the lack of it, suggests serious early as 1906 problems as regards industry. As of the health the government were informed hazards of asbestos. A Home Office report of that year8 noted, 'A typical case of Fibroid Phthisis (asbestosis) in a man who had been employed in the workingof asbestoswas brought to our notice.' But nothing was done. Looking back in 1934 the Senior Medical Inspector of Factories, Sir Thomas Legge, who sat on that 1906 committee, commented, 'In the light of present knowledge, it is impossible not to feel that opportunities for discovery and prevention were badly missed.' In 1930, twenty years after they were first informed, the Factory Inspectorate at last conducted a survey10 of the health of asbestos workers. This report found that an incredible
'Report of the Departmental Committee on Compensation for Industrial Diseases', Home Office. HMSO, 1906. 9 T. 1.eggc.IndustrialMaladies, Oxford University Press,1934. Merewether and Price, 'On the Effectof AsbestosDust on 10 the Lungsand Dust Suppressionin the AsbestosIndustry', HMSO, 1930.

64

The conditions at TurnersAsbestos Cement Co around 1930according to Heath Robinson. (TurnersAsbestos Cement Co)

W.

four out of five workers were suffering from crippling asbestosisafter working for more than twenty years in the asbestos textile industry. On the basis of this report and 'consultations' with the asbestos industry a 'safe'process was suggested which allowed for two out ofthree workers to get asbestosis after twenty years. Some protection! This 1930 report concluded, optimistically, 'in the space of a decade or thereabouts, the effect of energetic applications of preventative measures should be apparent in a great reduction in the incidence of Fibrosis (asbestosis). No effort was made to check on the validity ofthis statement byfollow-up studies of the workers involved. By the 1960s the increase in asbestosis and cancer caused by asbestos
65

exposure forced the government to set up another committee, which reported in 1968.11 the This report,which stronglyinfluenced 1969 Asbestos Regulations, propagated the idea that blue asbestos was more dangerous, but had little else to say, except that the incidence of asbestosdiseasewas clearlygrowing. 1969 Asbestos Regulations summary In May 1970 the 1969 Asbestos Regulations became operative. In summarythey require: 1 All types ofasbestos to be regulated. 2 Any process involving the use of Crocidolite (blue asbestos), including the stripping of old lagging, to be notified twenty-eight days before work begins to the district inspector of factories. 3 'A process specified by these regulations shall have exhaust ventilation to prevent entry into the air of any dust containingasbestos that is liable to cause danger to the health of employed persons.' 4 Exhaust ventilation shall be provided to the same standard while maintenance or repair of machinerytakes place. 5 The exhaust equipment shall be inspected at least once every seven days and thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person at least once in every period of 14 months. A written report of such tests shall be made within 14 days of the tests being completed. These reports shall be kept for at least two years for inspection by the FactoryInspectorate. 6 Where it is 'impracticable' to provideexhaust ventilation, approved respiratory equipment shall be provided and protective clothing. Instruction shallbe given in the use ofprotective equipment. The protective equipment shall be kept clean. Accommodation will be provided, including separate facilities for work clothes and for protective equipment. 7 Persons employed shall use such protective clothing and equipment as is supplied.

Ous

ii
1968.

'Problems arising from the the use of Asbestos', HMSO,

66

8 The processes to which these regulations apply shall, 'so far as is reasonably practicable', be kept in a clean state and free from asbestos dust. The cleaning shall be done with vacuum equipment specially designed and constructed such that, 'asbestos dust neither escapes nor is dischargedinto the air of any workplace'. 9 All loose asbestos shall be kept in closed receptacles. No loose asbestos or asbestos waste shall be despatched or received into a factory, 'as far as is reasonably practicable', except in suitably closed containers. Containers with blue asbestos in shall be marked: 'Blue asbestos do not inhale dust'. 10 No persons under the age of 18 may be employed on an asbestos process. Regulations are only as good as their enforcement. How good is this?

W1M.1 ROIJLA1IOt45 SrRJCT

ARE A

IT

ST,.L-MYflt1 WROTE
THEM

So

Mu5ThJ

ASESitS.

-AtJz) WE MAKE

rGRUMBLE'

//
Asbestos Regulations prosecutions Under the 1931 Asbestos Regulations only two prosecutions were everbrought. One was against Central Asbestos (see p.59). But the 1969 Regulationswere tougherand drawn up with the full knowledge of the killer nature of asbestos thirty years later in a different economic climate to the 1931 Regulations. We should expect much more. The following table gives an idea of the total number of prosecutions brought during the years 1971-76.
67

YO()MV5f (5E J0KtJ& My&oo MAW THE AvERAGE Flt-.JE 15 ONLY

/J82

Prosecutions under the 1969 Asbestos Regulations 1971-77 Number of Year Averagefine (L) prosecutions
1971
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

40
15 39
7

22 23
84

79 45
182

Source: Health and Safety ExecutiveAnnual Reports

1971-77.

In additiontherewas, in 1977, 77 other prosecutions under general health

regulations concerning asbestos. The average fine was208. The magistrates fined companies less for breaking the regulations when the asbestos was blue (f123) than with the supposedly safer other types of asbestos (f292)!

It is worth noting the low number of prosecu-

tions and, more depressingly, the pathetic amount companies are fined for endangering people's lives. Further details of the fines to 1975 are given in the tables below. Again their low level should be noted, andalsothe fact that many ofthe companies prosecuted are very large companies (TAC Construction, British Rail Engineering, British Leyland, McAlpine, Burmah Oil, Yarrow Shipbuildersetc) andnot backstreet outfits. Another point of concern is that some of the firms prosecuted are the specialist contractors now being employed to remove asbestos
safely.

Fines under the 1969 Asbestos Regulations 1971-76

numberof
1971

Dan,,Iat,nne ;..farmratinn Reg 7(1) Reg 9 Reg 15 Reg 7(1) Reg 6(2) Reg8(1) Reg 10 Reg6(2) Reg8(1) Reg 15 Reg 7 Reg 7(1)
1

numberof

Penalty
25.00 30.00 15.00

10 Nov
1972 13 Jan

TAC Construction Ltd

Stein Atkinson Ltd Fabcol Ltd Dudley Coles Ltd

Conviction Convictions Conviction Convictions Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Conviction

2
1

9 Feb
1

2
1

Mar

4
1 1

60.00 50.00 240.00

60.00 30.00 600.00 150.00 100.00

l4Mar
27 Mar

ThomasW.Ward

4
1 1 1

4 May
68

Wondertex Ltd Wild BarfieldLtd

50.00

6 Jun 21 Jul
21 Apr

24 Jul
10 Aug 24 Oct
12 Jul

30 Sep
23 Nov 14 Dec

Reg 7(1) Reg 7 Req9 Req 10 J.S. Webb (Smithwick)Ltd Reg 7 Reg 10 Thomas CharlesDoleman Reg 7 S.B.D. Consto Products Ltd Reg 7 A.P.V. Kestner Ltd Reg 7 Maritime Ltd Reg 7 British Rail Engineering Ltd Reg 7 Reg 8 Reg 9 Air Containers (Research Department) Ltd Reg 15 Lanarkshire Steeplejacks Ltd Req 9

Laminated Plastic Ltd

ArmstrongCork Co Ltd

4 2
1 1 1 1 1

Conviction Convictions Convictions

25.00 200.00
100.00 50.00

Conviction
Withdrawn Withdrawn Conviction

75.00
50.00 100.00 60.00

2 2
1 1 1

Conviction
Convictions Convictions Withdrawn Conviction Conviction Conviction 2 Convictions 1 Withdrawn Conviction Conviction Conviction Conviction Withdrawn Conviction

50.00
25.00 50.00

3
1

90.00
25.00 100.00

Reg 18 1973 14 Feb 22 Feb Peter Heatleyand Co Ltd British Leyland (UK) Ltd (Austin-Morris Group) Carrier Engineering Co Ltd
Reg 9

22 Feb

7 Mar 2 Apr

6 Jun

Reg 9 Req 10 Req 11 Reg 20 Bearward Ltd Reg 9 Darlington Insulation Co Ltd Reg 6 Reg 8 Req 9 Req 17 Sir A. McAlpine& Sons Ltd Req 6 Reg8

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

225.00
225.00

Conviction
Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Absolute
Discharge

2
1 1

225.00 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

2
1 1

18 Jun

3Jul 26 Sep
1974 31 Jan

Burmah Oil TRD Ltd British Rail Engineering Ltd T. Bailey Roofing Ltd

Reg 7 Reg6 Req 8

Absolute Discharge Conviction Conviction Convictions

200.00
25.00 225.00

South East Engineering (Romford) Ltd

Dennis Timothy Lowther

4 Mar

Req 6 Req 8 Req 17 Req 6 Req 8 Req 9 Req 15 Req 16

1 1 1 1

Conviction Conviction

10.00

50.00
10.00

Conviction
Withdrawn Convictions Conviction Conviction Withdrawn

2
1 1

100.00

50.00 50.00

69

numberof
Regulations

numberof information
1

Penalty

4 Mar

DemolitionCo Partnership Ltd

Reg 6 Req 8

2
1 1 1 1 1

Req 9 Req 15

19 Feb

5 Apr 9 Apr
27 Apr 29 Apr 10 Sep

K.W. McGill Co Ltd Dismantling Contracts Co

Reg 16 Reg 9 Reg 9 Req 15 Req 7)3) Req 7(4) Reg 9 Req 9 Reg 6
Reg 8 Req 6 Req 8 Reg 6 Reg 15

Conviction Convictions Withdrawn Withdrawn Conviction

100.00 200.00

Conviction
Absolute
Discharge

100.00 200.00

Ltd
1 1 1
1

Delta Fabrications Ltd

B.D.P. Group St. Mary's (Contractor) Ltd

1 1 1

2
1

W.H. Arnott Young & Co

Ltd Goodman Price Ltd

2
1

23 Oct

6 Nov
13 Nov

Smiths Industries Ltd

Reg8 Reg 9 Reg 15 Req 16 Req 8

2
1 1 1

2
1 1 1 1

Fabcol Ltd

Req 9 Req 20 Reg 7(3)

2 Dec
20 Nov
1975

Req 7(4) John Barber Shopfittersand Reg 6 Req 8 Building Contractor Birds (Commercial Motors) Reg 6

2
1

Conviction Withdrawn Conviction Conviction Conviction Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Convictions Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Withdrawn Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction

50.00

25.00 25.00 20.00 20.00 25.00

300.00
30.00

200.00
50.00 10.00 5.00 5.00 6.00 100.00 50.00

50.00

10.00 40.00 100.00 30.00

Ltd
Samuel McI wraith Req 6 Reg 8 Reg 9 Commando Cleaning Co Ltd Req 9 Req 10 Ltd Reg 9 Durasteel
Req 13
1 1 1

9 Jan 3 May 6 Jun 7 Oct

31 Oct

3
1 1 1

W.G. Spittle Ltd

Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd

Req 8 Req 15 Reg 20 Req 8 Req 15

2
1 1

1
1

Conviction Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Conviction Convictions Conviction Conviction Conviction Conviction

20.00
40.00

3000
750.00 250.00 25.00 100.00 100.00 60.00 50.00

60.00
20.00

70

Frost AsbestosRemoval Ltd. A majorasbestos removalfirm were prosecutedforbreaking the

FROST ASBESTOS REMOVAl. LIMITED

1969Asbestos Regulations in December 1975.

Safety Policy
ALL INACCORDANCE WITh HEALTh ANDSAFETY ATWORK ACT1B74 ASBESTOS REGULATIONS %O igeB

BT

TO BE ISSUEDTOAU. E&I.OYEES

27 PURDCYS WAY. PURDEYS INDUSTAI. ESTA1I ROcHPORD, IUSX.

2 Dec
5 Dec

FrostAsbestos Removal Ltd

Perfect Air Ltd

5 Dec

Perfect Heat Engineering

Ltd

Reg 8 Reg 18 Reg 8 Reg9 Reg 15 Reg 20 Reg 8 Reg 9

1 1

Conviction Conviction

25.00 25.00

2
1 1 1

Cases withdrawn

2
1 1 1 1 1 1
1

followinga plea of guilty by another

contractor

Regis 5 Dec
Peter Golding, Wedingos M W Installations Granville Tin Plate & Co Ltd Reg2O Reg 8 Reg 9 Reg 15 Reg 20 Reg 9

Conviction Conviction

30.00

30.00
30.00 30.00 100.00

8 Dec

Conviction Conviction Conviction

Source: Parliamentary reply to Margaret Bain, MP, from Harold Walker,MP, Hansard 5 April 1976

Case one:

Cheaper to break the law

cost that to supplyone set). Sunday Times 23 May 1976)

Case two:

(Gillie 'The Low Cost of Factory Worker's Health',

In 1975Goodman and Price, a London demolition firm, was fined the grand total of 75 for breaking the 1969 Asbestos Regulations, including:
5 for not providing respirators (which cost 5 each); 5 for not providingprotective clothing (it would

ignored warnings froma firm of insulation engineersand employedtwo men to strip asbestos from the boilersof the Central Hotel in Glasgow. The two

Break the law and make money

In March 1976 British Transport Hotelswere prosecuted for breaking the 1969 Asbestos Regulations. The hotel management

workersdid the job for 350and because they did not take precautions saved the firm 3,000. Theywere fined 100. You don't have to be an accountant to work out the saving. (The
Observer4 April 1976)
71

Case three:

Risk 10 lives at 20 per life

In 1974the Factory Inspectorate found K.W. McGill's

Thermal Insulation Engineers,blatantly breaking the 1969 Asbestos Regulations. McGill'swere removing blueasbestos laggingfrom Tunnel Cement Works, Pitstone, Bucks. Although they took most of the required precautions, they failed to clear up after their workeach day. A picture produced in court showed an 15-inch layer of blue asbestos over the floor. The vibrationsfromthe mill helped stir the dust up into the air. The health of at least ten men was put at risk. The court fined McGill's 200. (Guardian 20 Feb 1974)
Case four:

ing areas. An unknown numberof men had been exposed duringa twomonth period in 1977.
Found guilty of breaking the Health and Safetyat Work Act and the 1969 Asbestos Regulations, BSC were fined the crippling sum of 150. After the hearing Mr James Renton, Principal Factory Inspector for metals and minerals in the West of Scotland, said that, several men had been examined by doctors,although no immediate side-effects had been noted'. This is not surprising as the results of asbestos exposure will take at least ten years to showup and more likely twenty. Such medical examinations are used as a cover-up for the ineffectiveness of the Factory Inspectorate in preventingexposure. (Guardian 22 July 1977)
Case five:

Sidcup were fined 200 and 500 each respectively

for:
1

men with protectiveclothing; 2 failing to keep work

area free from asbestos

failing to providework-

dust;

3 failuretonotify district inspector of blue

asbestos

4 failure to use special containers to remove

asbestos waste. (Croydon

work;

Advertiser 27 Oct 1978)

Case six:

16,500highest so far In February 1977, Scottish

and Newcastle Breweries and a demolition firm, WilliamWaugh of Edinburgh, were fined a total of 16,500for creating clouds of asbestos dust when demolishing an old water

Gross contamination BSC fined 150

The anonymous tip-off informedthe Factory

lnspectorate that the

Danger fromasbestos skip Working men removing British Steel Corporation lagging into a skip from (BSC) was not taking adepipes in shop units situated in London'sWimpole quate precautions when blueasbestos from Street in August 1978did stripping not know they were handits DaIzell Worksat Motherwell, Lanarkshire. ling deadly asbestos. The contamination by Gross Factory Inspector prosecutblueasbestos was found ing said, 'It was a very real risk to theworkmen and to over pipeworkbeing dismantled. The workershad the public.' Heuting not been informedof the contractors Marryat, Jackson and Morrisof danger and BSC had failed to ensure the asbestos did Croydon, and builders not leak into the surround- Rush and Tornkin of 72

tank lagged with asbestos at the brewery. This is the highest fine so far under the 1969 Asbestos Regulations. (Guardian 23 Feb
1977)

Themembers ofthe government's Advisory Committee onAsbestos holdinghearings inpublic' in 1977. (MorningStar)

fines should be brought in line with those for criminal offences.' What would you get for murdering thousands of workers? At the moment most likely a knighthood, 'for services to industry'. The asbestos industry has done just that. A couple of years ao in France magistrates put a few company directors in prison for effectively murdering some of their employees. More recently in Italy the managing directors of a chemical firm have been put in prison for up to four years for murdering many of their workers by allowing them to be exposed to known killer chemicals. Under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act it is possible to imprison the officials of asbestos handling companies who endanger the lives of their workers or others. Until this is done the government is only whitewashing the criminal activitiesof these companies. AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos (ACA) As a direct response to the public outcry over the scandal of Hebden Bridge, the government

Prison not fines for breaking Asbestos Regulations Bill Simpson, chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, has said, 'When it comes to negligence of whatever degree I firmly believe that

73

acted in its usual way: it set up a committee. In March 1976 the UK Health and Safety Commission set up the Advisory Committee on Asbestos (ACA) whose terms of reference were: To review the risks to health arising from exposure to asbestos or products containing asbestos including: persons exposed at work; members of the public exposed to asbestos generatedfrom work activities; to asbestos members of the public exposed from consumer products and from asbestos waste; to make recommendations as to whether any further protection is required. The chairman of the ACA is Bill Simpson and there are fourteen members: various academic and government experts, asbestos industry, CBI and senior trade union officials. Clearly be a any reports from this committee willand in It first met in June 1976 compromise. January 1977 brought out an interim statement.12 This pathetic and dangerous statement merely reaffirmed the present unsafe level and In March suggested some general precautions. submitted 1977 the ACA publishedthe evidence to it by various interested parties13 and iniune had a three-day session during which 'the committee met in public', heard amplifications on the written evidence, and asked questions of the organisations. No cross-examination was allowed (when this was tried the chairman, Bill Simpson, threatened to hold the meetings in private) so the meetings were another whitewash to allay rather than deal with worker and public fears. In May 1978 press reports'4 implied that the secretary of the AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos, Mr A.D. Carstairs, was suggesting to government press officers how they could play down the results of two reports due out from the
'Asbestos Health Hazards and Precautions', HMSO, 1976. Selected WrittenEvidence Submitted to the Advtsory Committee on Asbestos', HMSO, 1977. Laurie Flynn, Plan to WhitewashKillerDust Report, 14 Socialist Worker, 6 May 1978; Angela Singer, 'Error in Asbestos l'ests Proves"awkward"', Guardian, 11 May 1978. 12
13

74

committee. At all events when the reports came out15 they turned out to be the expected damp squibs. The first report suggestedlicensing of asbestos stripping firms, a real but it did not suggest that it be anstep forward, offence for a client to use a non-licensed asbestos stripping firm. Because of this it seems as if these goodintent proposals will remain just that. Also rejected was a suggestion that TU safety representatives should have some control overasbestos stripping firms through the licensing system. According to the chairman of the ACA, Bill Simpson, this was not practical because s/he would need 'impossible legal powers' and under the rejected suggestions (from the General and MunicipalWorkers Union) s/he would be able to stop dangerous asbestos work.ttcAnd that, after all, is the last thing this committee wants! The second report concerned the 'embarrassingfact' that there is a 50 per cent error in estimating asbestos concentrations in air. It did not recommend the use of the accurate scanning electron microscope (SEM) because of cost. No mention of the 'cost' in suffering to the many workers and others who have died from asbestosrelated diseases. Profit before health again. A continuation of the 1930 'co-operation' between government and industry can be seen in the fact that the Health and Executive and the asbestos company Safety organisation 'the front Asbestos Research Council' are to do joint research on the variability of asbestos monitoring to the tune of 20,000. Further reports are expected in early 1979. Press reports17 and other leaks indicate that these will be selling the health of working people down the river in the name of profit and production.
15 a 'Asbestos-work on thermal insulation and sprayed coatings', Advisory Committee on Asbestos 1st Report, HMSO, June 1978.

air', AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos 2nd Report,HMSO, June 1978. 16 Angela Singer, 'Licensingsystem for the asbestos industry',Guardian,2 June 197& proposed 17 Laurie Flynn, 'Killer dust OK, says secret report', Socialist Worker, 24 June 1978.

'Asbestos-measurementand monitoring ofasbestos in

75

EEC report goes for a banonasbestos (summary) In November 1977 the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer

Protection of the EEC produced a report'8 on the health hazards of asbestos. In very brief summary the report made the following points: 1 Safety in the workplace is an inalienable right and should be recognisedas such; 2 Asbestos has been classed as a first category pollutant in the Programme of Action of the European Committees; Reform is needed in the area of safety 3 regulations for those working with asbestos andfor the general population; 4 Asbestos causes cancer; 5 Emphasised that all varieties of asbestos used in the community present a danger to health; 6 No agreement can yet be reached as to whether a 'safe level of exposure' exists; 7 Calls for the setting of temporary limits of asbestosin air based on the cancer risk (no suggestionis given as to what these 'temporary' limits mightbe); 8 Calls for a ban on blue asbestosand on the sprayingof asbestos; 9 Hopes for a directive to prevent misleading advertisingthat hasalready occurred in such countries as Britain; 10 Considers that every effort should be made to develop safe substitutes for asbestos and that, as these substitutes become available, the use of asbestos should gradually be phased out (where safe substitutes already exist, the use of asbestosshould be forbidden). The 25-page working document contains much useful information.

John Evans, 'On health hazardsofAsbestos', Rapporteur Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, European Parliament, Document 344/77, November 1977.

18

76

Factoryinspectors: friends or foes? On 18 August 1975 Joe Walker, safety representative of the GMWU Heat and Frost Branch 269, arrived at a construction site in Ealing, West London, to do a job. At the site, Howard Farrows Ltd, he saw large quantities ofasbestos dust lying around and noticed Marinite and Asbestolux sheets being cut by power saw. There were numerous other breaches of the 1969

Factory Inspectorate Technical Data Note No.42 clearly states that Marinite is asbestos insulation board. 27 August: The manager sacks Joe Walker. He refuses to leave and calls in the Factory Inspec1 September: A senior factory inspector, Mr Pilsworth, visits the site and goes straight to management. He tells Joe Walker and other workers on the site that only 'large quantities'
77

20 August: Joe calls in the local factory inspector. No one comes. 22 August: He phones again. 26 August: Mr Westgate, a local factory inspector, calls and says he cannot act because he is not sure if Marinite board contains asbestos.

Asbestos Regulations.

torate again.

of asbestos are dangerous. When Joe Walker complained about this absurd and dangerous statement, the factory inspector got management to order him off the site. 9 September: The senior factory inspector,

Mr Pilsworth, writes to Howard Farrow Ltd, and conmaking further recommendations and con'Your co-operation to date cluding: tinued co-operation to overcome this hazard is appreciated.' 7 January 1976: Bill Simpson, chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, replies to the East London Health and Safety at Work Committee, who had taken up Joe Walker's case: about the dismissal of Mr J. Walker in circumstances surrounding his complaint about asbestos contamination by asbestos dust on a construction site in Ealing... Marinite board contains 25 per cent of a form of asbestosknown as Amosite (brown asbestos) and Mr Westgate advised the employer that the 1969 Asbestos Regulations applied to the work...On Friday the 29 to August 1975 Mr Walker telephoned that the company was not comcomplain Mr plying with the advicegiven by1 Westgate. September On the following Monday, 1975, Mr Westgate again visited the site accompaniedby his colleagueMr Pilsworth. Mr Walker was present during this investiof gation and Mr Pilsworth,the more seniorhis considered that by the two inspectors, impeding them carryinterruptions he was and balanced investiout an orderly ing asked gation. Consequently Mr Walker was scene not to interruptor to leave the either of the investigation...The inspectors concluded there was a potential hazard Mr Pilsworth held a discussion with the men employed and advised them and the site management about the precautions to be observed. This advice was confirmed in letters to the main contractors and subcontractors on the 9 September 1975. 21 june 1976: Mr J.G. Hammer, HM Chief to The Inspector of Factories, in a letter claimdefends Mr Pilsworth's actions, Guardian, risk to working: 'There was not a significant

78

At the same time we required the employer to take appropriate precautions.' Now, was there a risk or wasn't there? Clearly, since precautions had to be taken, there was. These precautions, even if inadequate, were only taken after Joe Walker'scomplaints. All he got for his concern was the sack helped, if not actually carried out, bythe FactoryInspectorate. There is no protection under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act for workers who complain. If that's friendship who needs enemies?
people.

As early as 1906 the then governmentcommittee on industrial diseases, when informed of the first case of asbestosis in a worker, evaded the issue by inquiring: from the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress whether they could
79

furnish us with further information as to the prevalence of the disease in this trade, but they were unable to do so. And the same would be true today. Neither the TUG, nor any individual union, members arranges for studies to be done on its industrial to the incidenceof various with regard diseases. Remember that, as far as cancer from asbestos goes, studies in the US have shown that without exception research based on union records has shown greater risks to the workers than company-based studies, which shows why trade union studies are essential. Trade unions have done little for their members as regards as regards compensations but even less demand. pretrade union They vention, the primary with regard to the 1969 Asbestos were consulted if Regulations, but it is difficult to see what, any, changesthey suggested. of the trade union One of the major efforts movement over asbestos has been the written submission by the TUG to the Government's AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos.'9 to Advisory Summary of good submission on Asbestos Committee In brief the evidence is as follows: is a planned 1 The TUG's major proposal for the progressive compulsory programme of all asbestos applications in substitution the UK over the next ten years. the pos2 More research is required into cancer hazards and safety of all subsible stitutes. 3 An interim maximum allowable concentration of. 0.2 fibres of asbestos per tenth of cubic centimetre of air. This is oneasbestos, for white the present level allowed or but 'In the view of the TUG a TLV subhygiene standard for cancer-producing stances is both impractical and irrelevant: the aim should be the substitution of safer materials for asbestos products and processes.' This is not a safe level.
'Seleccdwriflen CVjdCOCC suhmiitcdto the Advisory CommiteC oo AshestOs 1976-77' (1 UC evidence pill). IIMSO,

1977.

80

4 The TUC is particularly concerned that

result from the briefest exposure to the smallest concentrations of asbestos dust, inc1udin dust which is brought home on
the development

of

these cancers may

workers overalls. 5 The present Asbestos Regulations and Hygiene Standards (as noted in Technical Data Note 13) are totally inadequate to provide protection against cancer risks. 6 The TUC is totally opposed to the proposal that workers be discriminatedagainst on the grounds that they are or are not susceptible to certain hazards. Workplaces should be made safe for all workers. 7 All asbestos-containingproducts should be labelled. 8 Employers should be required to draw up and, at appropriate intervals, revise a register of all asbestos products used or kept. 9 All workers who may regularly be exposed to asbestos dust should be identified andlisted by the employer. 10 Asbestos workers should have regular six-monthly medical checks and their records should be kept for fifty years or until they die. 11 The TUC is very concerned about the 'jungle' of contracting in the thermal insulation field and therefore contractors should be licensed. 12 Some specific details are given with regard to asbestos insulation. 13 Lung cancer and Laryngeal cancer should be prescribed as industrial diseases. 14 All raw asbestos should be imported in strong and secure containers and such containers should be prominently labelled: DANGER RAW ASBESTOS. An appendix to the main report deals with the health hazards ofglass fibre. Most unions submitted their comments to the TUC and these were incorporated in the above submission. Some unions have gone abit further. The Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians(UCATT)conducted a questionnaire
81

Smiling tradeunion officials (TUCand GMWU) with directors Turner of andNewallson a visit to a UKasbestosfactoryin 1977(nBA).

survey of their branches in 1976 and found 15 deaths and 68 cases of asbestosis.2 The 1976 National Delegate Conference passed an emergency resolution which called for a ban on asbestos-based materials by UCATT members.
UCATT actions over asbestos UCATT executive council have not called for a ban, but for a 'planned phasing out of asbestos materials used by our members as soon as possible'. They have produced a folder, 'Use of Asbestos Interim Advice', which is available from regional offices, but intend to review it when the ACA publishes its final report.21 They clearly feel having one of their own union members, Bill Lewis, on the ACA, will make the latter's reportworthwhile (but see p.73). GMWUactions over asbestos

USE OF ASBESTOS

Interim Advice
Union olCeestruction. AlliedTrades wITeceddaes

The thermal insulation side of the General and Municipal Workers' Union (GMWU) have gone further than this, stating that the 1969 Asbestos Regulations are not tight or specific enough and that, 'even if it were possible to get a perfect set of regulations the GMWU believes that the employers are unwilling and the Factory Inspectorate unable to enforce these regulations.'
20
21

Viewpoint',IJCATT Journal, October 1976. 'Viewpoint', UCAT'I' Journal, March 1977.

82

Therefore the GMWU are demanding that the Thermal Insulation Contracting Industry be licensed under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act. As early as March 1977 they produced draft regulations which they regarded as the ACA. In brief summary these regulations: Would require anyone doing thermal insulation work to be licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. The register of licensed operators would be available for inspection and updated every threemonths. Licenceswould be given only to those operators who can clearly meet the asbestos regulations and agreements betweenunion andmanagement. The licence could be revoked if these conditions are not satisfied. Because of the inability of the Factory Inspectorate to police all sites and factories a key part of these proposed regulationsis the appointment of 'workers inspectors' these in addition to the safety representatives appointed under the Health and Safety at Work Act from October

In addition to the workers' inspectors would have the training, rights: following to inspect asbestossites at any time; to bring advisers onto an asbestos site; to inspect any relevant documents; to take any samples; to be present when Health and Safety to issue reports on matters relating to health and safety; to advise workers to stop work where necessary without loss of pay or victimisation for so doing; to have time off with pay for training and duties; to be able to prosecute before a magistrate for breachesof these regulations;
Inspectors are calledin;

1978.

to have access to medical records. The workers' inspector would not have a legal duty under these regulations nor be liable. Any claim that might arise against the workers' inspector should be covered by the licensed operator's insurance. We have seen (p.75) that the proposals of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos do not meet
83

these basic requirements: what will the GMWU do to protect their members if these watered down recommendations become law? We quote Frank Earl, the GMWU National Officerresponsible for thermal insulation workers,22 'They are at the forefront, seeing colleagues dying all the time, and asbestos has become a highly emotive subject. If they see it being treated casually they will not stand for it and will stop work if there is any danger.' From this statement it would seem that the GMWU is prepared to back up its committeeworkwithsupport from the shop floor. But the reality seems far different as this letter23 from GMWU thermalinsulation workers on strike for safe working conditions with asbestos latein 1978 shows:
Peter Hildrew,'Insulation workers help asbestosvictims', 22 Guardian, 3 June 1978. Bulletin, 'Asbestos strike the laggers view',Hazards 23 1978. No.14,December

GMWU in practice the rank and file view

So the men reported this to their Stewards who

area.

The dispute started because itwas decided once and for our men were asked to strip all to take CI on in a fight the topsof some vessels over asbestos stripping which contained asbestos. which we believe only Our men said they would trainedthermal insulation carry Out the workwhen engineersshould do. ICI they had on site the appro- use men who come off priateasbestos protective redundant plants and clothingand showering make them insulators. We facilitieswhich were not have been fighting this on site at that time. issue for a numberof So what happenedwasthe years. The GMWU have day was Friday afternoon always promised us action and we don't workweekand done nothing. We have ends. The men expected to taken strikeaction before start the job on Monday but in our naivetywe have morning. When they went always let the GMWU kid to start they found that us back to work. ICI personnel had already But not this time. We have done it and asbestos insulationwaslying on the been out over 15 weeks now and getting nowhere. We floor in the surrounding
84

called a Site meeting where

started this action by first goingto stewardsstepping up to regional then national. The national officer Frank Earl had a meeting with Id NationalManagement. It brokedown. CI would

not even talk about us; they say theydon't recogniseus

as tradesmen.

clothing, they don't damp down the job or anything like that. If the Factory Inspector calls they can show him all their equipment. The Stewards at Huncorn called them in six timesover different jobs and five times the Factory Inspector agreed with the stewards that
regulations were being

CI don't provide protective

broken. One ICI bosswhen

why asbestos was lying around the site replied 'Oh it's been there ages that' and brushed it off. Can you imagine that? The Inspector goes awayand nothinghappens.You ring and ask and they say it's being dealt with. Dave Gee (the GMWU Health and Safety Officer) phoned me on 15 October to ask what was happening at Runcorn. I explained it all to him. He told me he
asked

would be gettin in touch with Frank Earl our National A lot of men in insulation Officer. I don't know have died in complete whetherhe did or not ignorance to the fact that because after 14 weeks of theywereexposed to this dealing with the GMWU I am very suspiciousof every- deadlysubstance. People talk about HEBDEN thing theydo. BRIDGE which was a As far as an intra-union squabble he is right. The ICI personnel doing our work are in the GMWU. But we have been told in the past by GMWU officials that union policy is that
craftsmen will be protected in our industry,now the GMWU is back-pedalling
because

Association value it at? A measly 50p per hour. no fly by night demolition Not that the money means firms willing to do anything anythingto me I don't for a fast buck. Now because want to go near it if I can we want to get it outlawed help it. I have in the past, so that only trained TIES but the past weeks have strip asbestos insulationwe made me more aware of the are told anybodycan do it dangers. and SHUT UP. Well not me.

being exposed to this deadly substance. But in them daystherewas no panic about it and firms and governmentsweren't offering vast sums of money to get rid of it from their sites and factories. There were

TRAGEDY but also nobody realises that hundreds of men have died in thermal insulation. Whatdo the GMWU and Thermal InsulationContractors

An official GMJVUpicket at the 1977hearings ofthe

government'sAdvisory Committee onAsbestos. But wasthis thelimitof GMWU action? (MorningStar)

our own members

is that we and TIES beforeus have always worked in this industry and may I say that an awful lot of TIES DIED through
asbestos 85

are doing it. People say there is no law stating they cannot carry out work concerning asbestosand that Thermal Insulation Engineers (TIES) have no special training in asbestos. But we dispute this, our knowledge of

It is clear that at the top level the trade unions

are trying to do something.Whether it is enough or how serious they are is debatable. Without some TUC muscle behind theirrecommendations all the fine words will end up as just one more bit of paper produced from the dead bodies of people killed by asbestos. Likewise with the GMWU recommendations. As will be seen from the accounts throughout this pamphlet, the view from the bottom, of trade unionists trying to fight the hazards of asbestos, is not flattering. All too often they get no help from their unions and sometimes obstruction. There are still no union-sponsored health studies on asbestos workers. Very few unions have health and safety departments and those that do are vastly overworked. No unions offer scientific, technical or medical advice and in samplingto their members on the shop floorthe unions are looking at any detailed way. No bestwork procedures: clearly there has got to be a lot more action over this issue than there is at present.

-rELt YoV U/HAT -: WELL po iT IF ThE flONEyc t'I6HU'

SYFETX.. SoME UNIONc BAGA1W Wfl6ES ,(,4iWcT

86

You F)cPT5 H4VE Fos YE.4R5ThII4T A5AES7,s is

&Q4OiPJ

[j.

o& iv...ApJ

vjec'e iee.j

47years afterthatfirst report. Even so, in the UK and most other countries, the studies done on asbestos workers are done with the consent and 'help' of the asbestos industry not to mention the money. This state of affairsencourages research workers to 'understand' 'independent' of the the problems asbestos industry. The net result of all this 'cooperation' is that the workers and communities
87

Scientistsand doctors With very few exceptions doctors and scientists have not played a great part in the prevention of asbestos diseases. Most company doctors and scientists, and many others concerned with the use of asbestos (for example architects and engineers), have accepted the mentality of industry so fully that they are not even aware of the problem. As we shall see, the aim of industry is production and profit for a few not health and safety. And those who pay the piper call the tune. In a way the problems started in 1906 with Dr Montague Murray. He reported on the death from asbestosis of the last survivorof ten men weavingasbestos, but added in his report to the 1906 Government Enquiry on Compensation, 'One hears eneraUy speaking, that considerable trouble is now taken to prevent the inhalation of the dust so that the diseaseis not so likely as heretofore.' Where would he 'generally speaking' have heard this from? Some of the manufacturers? It is very doubtful that he spoke to any workers, for he might then have learnt the truth. By 1930 the British government had woken up and produced a report, but as late as 1956, one of the authors of that report, Dr Merewether, commented in the standard text of the day on industrial medicine: 'Nothing has emerged to suggest departure from this (1930) practical standard'. It would have been more honest to say: has emerged. For when he wrote that, nothing nothing had! No studies had been done by the asbestos industry, its doctors and scientists, to see if these 'practical standards' had in fact worked. It is only recently that we are beginning to see some thorough medical studies in the UK

NOl4S*4$.. JU.STACOIWVL

asbestos can rely on little independent O Pl.S*4 fighting help. expert This was illustrated in June 1977 when in Cork, Eire, the localresidentsappealed againstplanning permissionfor an asbestos dump. Ranged against them at the enquiry was the Irish government,in the form of the Irish Development Authority, and the company Raybestos Manhattan of the USA. With the vast amount of money available to them 10,000 was spent on a public rela-

tions exercise by Raybestos alone before the hearing the industryand government brought over many experts to defend theircase, including McDonald, Professor of Professor Corbett at the University ofLondon Occupational Health head of the TUC Centenary Institute of and OccupationalHealth, Dr Robert Murray, now an independent consultant and formerly the medical adviserofthe TUC, Dr Muriel Newbouse, reader in Occupational Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a world authority on asbestos diseases. Indirectly, Professor Irvin Selikoff of the USA was also used by the asbestos industry for their defence, together with many others. Against this, with few resources, the local residents had a local doctor,JimO'Neil,who hadhad to bring himself up to date on asbestosdiseases, Professor P.F. Holt, retired, from Reading University, and several local experts.
Clearly, money had already tipped the scales in

favour of the asbestos industry. Some of the experts brought over by the IDA have interesting backgrounds: 1971 published Professor Corbett McDonald inof miners at the a major study24 on the health Canada. two largest asbestos mines in Quebec, This study showed few health hazards in fact it went further and suggested that asbestos miners were healthier than non-asbestosminers in Quebec of the same age. Asbestos is goodfor you! 24 Archives ofEnvironmental Health, vol 22, 1971, p.667.
88

This study has been criticised for having many flaws, not least the inclusion of many workers who had worked for less than a year in the mines. As Herbert Seidman, chief of Statistical analysis at the American Cancer Society, commented: 'I think the data has been collected fairly well but analysed quite poorly.' At the 1972 US government hearings, where the standard for asbestos was set at 5 fibres/cc, reducible to 2 in 1976 (the US unions wanted 2 at once), McDonald argued for a 'reasonable' standard of 5 to 9 fibres/cc. The research he did was supported by the Canadian asbestos industry. In November 1976 McDonaldwas brought over to Ireland as independent expert by the Irish government to allay local residents' fears about the asbestos factory. He assured the residents the plant would be safe, but in a letter to one of the residents he admitted he did not know what he wastalking about. Ifhewas not 'professionally competent', as he admits, what was he doing assuringpeople the asbestosplant was safe?

t.d,e $.A..I.9 HypIsu. sul Tr.pBssI

KappsI San.,(Go.... $m.e.) Lend.. WCIB7HT THE TUCC(NTThU,lNsTrn

FM;

Tp5w.,01

lS3 (St 251

JCMcO/CTB

January 19th 1977

Hr P Burke,

7 Westcowt,

Ballincollig. Co Cork, Bepihlic of Ireland.

Dear Hr Burke.

I am replying to your letter of 2nd January o,s return fro. a visit to North I do not considar coetant to the adr,uacy of the proposedopself profesion.l1y of asb.ut.. cont or level of the fibres fr-a. the kaybestos factory in Ovens,Co Cork. eu(ssior I Ieesr, recent visit that the essential point was that local speisasizedduring ena.nitoring should sure that Operation of the factory did not result in any significant increase in the level of asbestos fibr.x locallyat the emission Standirdto be observed would groved lanai. and was assured thit achieve providadthat this is so. I us cowaletely confident that operation of this, the plant will lot sible for the Occurrenceof any anbests related disease in the persems responliving or working In the area. was infordthat be used In th, plant, and this beingso. I a. only chrysotilo asbeota. was to that there is no rational cause for anxiety. Convincedfr-s.past eqariance

I.

Yours Sincerely.

Corhett McDonald. PC,FHEp Professor

C.4.,n

89

DrRobertMurray, exTUCMedicalAdviser. (The Observer)

Dr Robert Murray is very well qualified in industrial medicine. He holds many degrees and diplomas in the subject, has lectured at Manchester University on occupational health, was a medical inspector of factories from 1947 to 1956. He has been involved in this field at the International Labour Office and, perhaps most important of all, was the medical adviser to the TUC from 1962 until 1974. He was awarded the OBE in 1978, and is now a consultant in occupational health. Dr Murray's involvementwith the effects of asbestos started early in his career, when he was a medical inspector of factories for the government. He was responsible for he inspecting Hebden Bridge in 1949. Althoughthe 'criticised strongly' the methods of handling crude asbestos used at the company, he thought they were just 'teething troubles' and commented in a letter to the management: Conditions as they are now are likely to exercise some influence on clinical appearances in the future (that is they will cause asbestos diseases). . In general conditions at the factory are good.. .Once you are over your teething troubles the factory should be a very good one. 25 A good one for what? Certainly not for the workers' health. He visited the factory again in 1952 and was satisfied with the exhaust ventilation arrangements.The industrial carnage at Hebden Bridge speaks for itself and anybody who has been associated with it has it on their conscience. At the Cork hearing Dr Murray commented: 'I don't think I was the subject of any criticism.' A very insensitivestatement. In 1967 Dr Murray, as the medical adviserto the TUC, produced a joint leaflet with the Port by Management (published, it should be added,the the Asbestos Information Committee) on hazards of asbestos to dockers. Basically the gist of the report was that 'no unacceptable risk at present exists' and 'Dockers may proceed with confidence in the handling of asbestos cargoes'. The report did add that if an asbestos bag burst
25 Report by the ParliamentaryCommissionerfor Administration (Ombudsman)',Hebden Bridge, March 1976,p.9.

90

open then: 'Respiratory protection would be advisable during clean-up operations' (our emphasis). The response of the London dockers was to ban asbestos.The last word on thisreport should go to Roger Hurley, TGWU Southampton Docks, 'We've seen the damagethis stuff can do. If this committee of enquiry thought there was no risk to dockers in the handling of asbestos and it hasn't damaged our health in the past they should have come to Southampton. It's disgusting that the TUC medical adviser should have supported this whitewash of its handling in the docks.'

a circular27 concluding, 'The position of Robert Murray is entirely in line with the most conservativeindustry policies conceivableand is totally contrary to the position of the entire trade union movement.' Apparently when he was the TUC's medicaladviserhe would jokingly refer to the time he had been called a 'bosses' lackey.'28
issued

Dr Murray supported26 the building of the new asbestos factory in Cork, Ireland, and in July 1978 the International Federation of Chemical, Energy and General Workers' Union (ICEF), informed about Murray's action inthe US where, 'He testified on behalf of management, and in total opposition to the American trade union position in regard to an acceptablecancer policy'

hazards to those living near asbestos factories and to the families of asbestos workers. For all this work, while not funded directly by the asbestos industry, Dr Newhousehas had to rely on their 'co-operation' for most of her information. There are indications that this close relationship with the industry has enabled her to
26 LawrenceMcGinty,'Asbestos Allegationcouldlead to legal action', New Scientist, 14 July 1977, p.69. 27 'Testimony of Robert Murray...',Circular 115/78, International Federation ofChemical,Energy and General Workers' Union, 27 July 1978. 28 NewScienrist, 28 January i975,p.28.

Dr Muriel Newbouse has since 1965 published some excellent medical papers on the dangers of asbestos.These, in particular, showup the health

91

JI

instance, appreciate their problems of late. Forcancer in at a US conference29 on industrial 1975 she commented: an Recently an industrial physician at his asbestos factory explained with tears in flbIS'EASEs eyes how difficult it was to make asbestos LJSE workers wear caps at work. Our factory workers are boys who particularly favour I k.1ib Ai wild hair, and I expect they go home covered in asbestos, because they will not wear their caps. As Professor Selikoff commented in reply: 'I think if we kept asbestos out ofthe long hairwe would also keep it out of the workers' lungs'. More recently, Dr Newhouse was brought over to defend by the Irish Development Authorityschool. She the siting of an asbestos dump near a commented: 'On health grounds, I would not mind having an asbestosdump, like the one proThose end posed, sited at the of of my garden'. numbers companies and contracincreasing tors looking for sites to dump asbestos waste might like to takeup her offer! doubt, if Professor Irvin Selikoff There is no with the were to ask anyone familiar you asbestos controversy who in the world had been the most critical of the safety standards, the answer would be Professor Selikoff of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. He has also produced the most meaningfulfigures for asbestos diseases in workers, based on union records. But he still has to finance the studies and his department, and produce results. Where will the money come from? In January 1977 (New York Times) it was announced that he had obtained a joint contract from the asbestos industry and the unions for an attempt to cure asbestos cancers. This was to look at attempts to cure the estimated 70,000 Mesotheliomasthat will occur in US workers in the next 40 years due to asbestos, according to Professor Selikoff. The amount given was
29 Annals

ofthe New York Academy ofSciences, vol 271,

1976, p.505. 92

S250,000 each from the asbestos industry and unions. This may sound a lot, but in terms of lawsuits for S1,000,000 or so to individual US workers crippled and killed by asbestos diseases it is not. What the US asbestos industry has The corruption and existbought is goodwill. Already it is paying ence of the 'medicalThat's how it S: however independent off. industrial complex'in the in the end he or she has got to make a Australia has recentlybeen expert, living. This means selling yourself to the highest documented ('Workas a bidder, like the rest of us, and in the area of Health Hazard', Matt industrial health and safety this is nearly Peacock, LegalService always a company. Workers and community have little Bulletin January 1979, money and resourcesavailable to them. p.2) with regard to the over asbestos cover-up These are just some of the worldwideexperts on health hazardsand asbestos diseases. It has to such a state in standards. t seems that a Britain that lawyers acting for asbestosis sufsimilarrole of scientists and ferers find it hard to get a doctor with specialist doctorsposing as 'indepenknowledge on asbestos to testify for them. They dent experts'whilst being are nearly all connected to the asbestos industry close to the asbestos one way or another. This has been well docuindustry,has recently mented in the US3 and called the 'medicaloccurred over the building industrial complex'. There is little pointin menof an asbestos brake lining tioning them all, except perhaps Professor Sir factory in Balerna, Italy. Richard Doll who is the most authoritative (Asbestos February 1979, British medical expert on the investigation of p.43) industrial and socialillness (epidemiology).

ot

Professor Sir Richard Doll of Oxford University has been associated with the the health hazards of asbestosinvestigation of since 1955. In that year he published a medical paper based information from Turnerand Newall's factoryon at Rochdale, which confirmed the lung cancer hazard of working with asbestos as ten times that of the average population (see a 1968 medical paperhe reported: p.25). But in Men and women who were since January 1st 1933 (theexposed only date of the introduction of the 1931 Asbestos Regulations), have had a ence close to themortality (death) experinational results provide grounds for average...The that
30 Rachel Carson,Muscle andBlood; c Bill Richards, 'Newdata on asbestos indicate cover-up of effects on workers',WashingtonPost, November 1978. 93

believing a Expendable Americans, VikingPress, 1974; b

eliminated.31 Needless to say the asbestos industry made much use of this conclusion, but in 1972 a new medical officer at Turner Brothers, Dr Lewinsohn, found a much higher incidence of asbestos

the occupational hazard of bronchial cancer (lung cancer) has been largely

diseaseat the factory. Morewas to come. In January 1977 the Sunday Times32 released the results of an up-dated study of the 1968 work done in Professor Doll's laboratory by Julian Peto. In brief, Peto's study showed that the 'safe' level, based on information from Turner Brothers' Rochdale factory, which claimed to allow 'only' 1 in every 100 workers to get asbestos-related diseases after a lifetime's exposure to 2 fibres allow 1 per cubic centimetre of air, may in factdiseases! 14 to get asbestos-related in every
THE OXFORD TIMES. FRIDAY.FEBRUARY4

asbestos safety story

Ido An Oxford professor has denied that research thrown

Ihas

parteflent

almost cersatr,ly tintrue. said So Richard and Soeday addedtheassutopUons had tobe financedby Research been has be wadetoter sahat thetmploaand the Departmentof Healthteam tions mouldbe fortheptodtactaon Soctat Sectae,ty. and the of thedisoase. tee oeorhtes 51 lx hoxsod,etthir en The teportsttad both he car. the lfnirersay departmentr,edcutreitbtttnashextontodtet ltisduetohetollottiedbY tty SttRicbatdeatd feeloety another also teoptablisbed ,ttonglnittatarttclecshOtihu not ,eport by both Mt prto and so eittnefl ,eitttoUt seeing the Rechaod.whsChsidltaoktnaxhee' to tepOrt tot safety at its main lisouldsoythatthttpteSent of emingltso& The chances ,rporttst,senttallrirtetecatteto 25 cancot would be increatedby port t,om II safety The teat rn ,JiistUlCSdOfl data cent At petntitnedIcons the wtxh skit report esteacted out stiortlrIfigmentesotsid be ruiceas ugh sirRtchardsaidthefirsttepon millbe cowittaof disease rates Rut Professor Sir Richard Ptrdtctiors satety couldsotbeanedtoSf000 riots ofasbestos Dolt Rejas ptofrsso,ot standatdt tntc dcccl with the Medicine who ts head of util not be confirmed uettl I thinktome oftheassistttp' Cancet EpsdemiclOgy and Clint-

doubt onasbestos safety standards. The report. a, yet unpubStilted, will show predtctions thatasbestosbuds athalt tite rmttted safe I sd on, force could cx It person na hussdr,d exposed to asbestos for allhis orher workang Itfe dytng of ashes-

serIous

The report wasproducedby member of Ste Rtchatds team. Mt JaIt.fl Peto..staxsttotan. and is eupecledtohe pubhsfsed .n pipe' spphedmathematics

fl

absolutesafety with Whichcan cauto oaucer ste Rthard satd thereporthad assunted that asbeStOs depOstted in beonctasilobes acctateulated

t,isis

'I

tart

,t.

%n0

wit

;od:cbnedt000,nwero

31

British JournalofIndustrial Medicine, vol 25, 1968,

p.293. 32 Official Safe Limit for asbestos may put one in fourteen at risk', Sunday Times, 30 January 1977.

94

Professor Doll replied at once. In the Oxford Times (4 February 1977) he commented: 'I don't think we have anyjustification for doubting the safe levels', and his view was well used by Ted Deane, managing director of Raybestos Manhattan (Ireland), on a radio programme about the safetylevels in the new asbestos factory in Cork.
directorofRaybestos' factory in Cork. (Donal
Sheehan) TedDeane, managing

He who paye

calls the tune..,

the piper

Those who pay the piper It is clear that workers and community groups have the odds weighted heavily against them, mainly because they do not have the money, and hence the power, that companiesand government organisationshave. But there is more to it than that: most of the information in the ten years or so about asbestos comes frompast the asbestos industry. We have already examined some of the red herrings it has spread around, but equally important, and far more insidious and difficult to document, is the social effect of this information. Even doctors and scientists sympathetic to the labour movement have to use this information, or at least wade through it. Couple this with the social background of most doctors, and to a lesser degree the other professions, and you will see why they find it easier to talk and work with asbestos executivesthan shop stewardsor councilindustry We have seen how even the asbestos tenants. fiercest critic, Professor Selikoff, industry's has now become indirectly employed by it. There is no suggestion that these doctors and scientists have deliberately sold themselves to the highest bidder, just that, being non-politicalin apolitical world, they are beingused. Obviouslythe labour movement must directly employ more doctors and professionals in direct contactwith and controlled by the rank and file members, but this is only a partial solution. A society that puts the health of all its people as a first will automatically produce professionals priority likewho do wise. This is one of the essentials of a socialist
society.

95

tflyw
C

1-pctT jc*') a'tlf &

NOW

N
Lf

Case one:

residents who live here. Another UCATT steward, ly that they would notwork architect's job with asbestos. They informed AIf Reid,said: The 1976 Barbican building their Our strike to get the employer, John workers' strikeover the dustout is not just Laing, of their decision. healthhazards of asbestos aboutthe buildingof the Despite this, Laing's shows how the profescentre now, but about on to the broughtasbestos sionals' in this case the the people who move in site. On 26 May the men architects, give no thought as well. They are planning found a pile of asbestos when specifying materials to use a lot more of it men and dust. The to the health hazardsto the scraphad worked with this here, on a suspended who workersusing them, nor to material had no safety ceiling, for fire-proofing the people subsequently a cafeteria and for equipment. Management exposed to them. In this insulation. to clean it up. were told casethe workers, at some The projectmanager for happened, so the Nothing cost to themselves,forced Laing's on the site, Mr H. men went out on strike for to think the architects the UCATT Denning, replied: 2 weeks. As again. In nearly all cases Convenor Steward, Jim They'vegot it all wrong. they could have donewith- Franklin, commented: The dangerous material out asbestos. No doubt if was a blueone, which Six weeks ago we were the original design had wasbanned from this told the offending been right in all cases country in 1970... If the would be material asbestos would not have workersabide by the banned from the site... been required. listed precautions there ourselves In April 1976 the building It is not only is no dangerat all. They concerned about. workerson the 55 million we are

Buiiding workersdo

Barbican Arts Centre site in London decided unanimous-

but our familiesand the

96

 ..We are using it as a fire precaution, and F wish people would think aboutthe number of lives it savesa year. As Jim Franklin commented: 'Not a complete victory, but when you were completelyignored as to the using of asbestos on site beforethe dispute,we did achievesomething.' Several points arise out of this dispute: 1 Why did the architects specify asbestos in the first place? Cheapness or ignorance because of the fact Thesign says it all that their majorsource of Barbi workers can striking informationon asbestos is overasbestos hazards in the industryitself through 1975. (EveningStandard) the Asbestos Information Committee (see p.60 ).

know well enough they must simply put water on the floor whenthey are sweepingup the dust

It seems that all the asbesaway with, if it had been designedthat way. Why was only Y2" of space

tos could have been done

3OHN LAIAJ BROL/aHT A8ouy TI/IS

THIS KILLER ASeESTOS
ON T1415 CONTRACT
UNKNLAJ1J TO ThE S5O_PERATIV

DISPUTE By

BR/Nc!

allowedwhen fitting
'irreplaceable' Durasteel? 2 Why didn't UCATT immediately ban the use of asbestos in the above areas?

Why didn't UCATTseek alternative products or designs from architects as

regardsDurasteel? 3 The residents, maintenance staff and future demolition workersowe a great debt to the 550 Barbican workerswho struck in 1976at their own
expense.

BAI?6f(AN

ARTS ((A/T,c[

MEN Li/U NOT RETUJ TO LJO UNTiL THE KILLER ASBESTOS is

KE.

REt'1Qv0

F1?o,i

97

Case two: Laggers

of TGWU 7/162

toesare getting worse and worse. You have to wear

shoesa size bigger and they'll probably go bigger again. You become very self-consciousabout the whole thing... it affects the mostintimate parts of your life. I came into the lagging industryas a boy in 1952. I'veworked for most of them Capes, Newalls, Anderson Insulation. All the time I got no trainingin safety whatsoever. We didn't know to ask about the asbestos we were spraying. And the employers, well, they didn't tell us. Aftergoing to court and with some argument, I got 2,500. It'sa wonderful system for the employers 2,500 for a man's life! If you rob a bank or someonethen there'll be a squad of policeofficers after you. They'll bring you to trial and you'll get

He loved dancing and

fightback
The GlasgowTGWU 7/162 Thermal InsulationBranch has traced up to August 1978 115 dead and confirmed sufferers from

football. Thenall of a sudden he took this pain and wentinto hospital. They gave him a biopsy. After that he reallygot bad. When he went home he

asbestos-relateddiseases out of about 600 members mainly asbestosis, heart attacksand cancer. Many of those that have died were in the 40-60 age group. As one of the past secretaries of the branch, James P. McKenna, said: It'sa sore thing, you know, you couldalmost call me a professional mourner. I wentto 26 funerals in one year. Four were in one week. Every one of themdied from the bug, the asbestos.

was a changed man He couldn't be bothered to see anyone. He couldn't walk. His hair went grey. His legs were as thinas a child's. It was pathetic. I used to hope that I'd never see him again. That'swhat it does to you. They took his football and his dancing. It got so bad he couldn't even takea glass of beer. He just witheredaway, sitting and sitting,with the dog for company. During the Second World War some members of the 7/162 branch called for an Arthur Rhodie, a former investigation into health member of the branch, conditionsin the insulation as having been classified industry.They got nowhere 30 per centdisabled by with their local group asbestosis, added: secretary and the bossof I'm 38 years old and I'll their union, Ernest Bevin, be lucky if I'vegot five plenty for it. But what told them there wasa war these people and about years to live. By chance on and he didn'twant any what they do to us? my doctor spotted my nonsense aboutsafety at and sent Apparentlythat's quite clubbing fingers work. In 1959 the workers me for a check-up. They acceptable. confirmedI had asbestosis. Nettie Brown'shusband, Jas, at Newalls Insulation Whatthe hell's asbestosis? died fromcancer caused by started asking questions asbestos exposure at the age about health and requesting The way it gets you is investigations and the like. of 47. The biopsy showed bad. You get these sharp he had a cancerous fluid on As John Todd says: pains in your side and We asked and asked the lung. In seven months shoulders. It comes on again. We got precisely he was dead. Jas worked you sudden. You'll be nowhere We were told with them all: Newalls, out shopping with your the laggers weren't Andersons wife andthen suddenly Cape,Wright, covered by the 1930 and Norbury. Nettie will go. The your legs Asbestos Regulations. described his last days pains in my fingers and 9g

Then, in 1966, we decided to fightand demanded health checks, masks and protective clothing. We

were on strike for 41/2 weeks. As a result the

employers agreed to give us medical examinations

everytwo years. They gave them to us once. Since then nothing. They also agreed to set up a joint health committee. It met a few times just after the dispute. But it hasn't

Nf!1PA.

Council agreed to 'indicate interestand concern'.As In 1967 the men of 7/162 a resultof an article in the raised their fate with their Scots Sunday Mall in Members of Parliament, January 19681by Profeswho raised it with the sor Alexander Mair, head of the Scottish Occupational government, who raised it with their civil servants,who Health Service, pleading for raised it with the Factory workersto inform himof Inspectorate, who produst hazardsand promising videda little bit of quick action, the men of information the men of 7/1 62 wrote to him inform7/162 already knew. The ing himof their plight. The same happenedwhen they Professor was too busy to wrote to the Scottish TUC. write back himself, so one James Jack,general secreof his assistantsreplied: tary, said the General We can only enter a factory..,at the invitation of managementwho must of course pay us a fee for the investigation. We have already tried writing to all registered handlers of asbestos to try and persuadethem to let us investigate their environments. But with few exceptions, the replies have been quite
years!

met for about four

Lt S

firmly negative.
That was an academic deadend as far as the men of 7/162 were concerned. John Todd has spent many years trying to get his union, the TGWU, to do
something over asbestos. He has been barred from the Scottish TUC's health and safety schools after attackingthe union's record of total inaction.

John Todd(left) and Jim

'
Heggie outside Newallsworks

In 1972 he had to write to the US AsbestosWorkers Union for informationas his own union insisted that all informationwas con99

fidential. He was granted an interview with Mr A.C. Blygton,the TGWU's legal departmentsecretary and the person responsible for

health and safety at the TGWU. When Mr Blygton found out who John Todd wasthe interview was refused and a letter written to the US AsbestosWorkers Union indicating that there were no problems, and everything was under

control. Currently Mr Blygton is the TGWU representativeon the

government's Advisory

Committeeon Asbestos. With this view held at the

top of the TGWU, it is easy to see why they are applying the 'bigstick' to

the actions of John Todd and other rank and file tradeunionists. It is clear that other trade union branches must supportand extend the struggles of John Todd and his branch to eliminatethe health hazards

Case three:

I was able to quote him from

the Chief Inspector of Factories, saying that he was not prepared to say that any amountof asbestos exposure was safe. Well, even I didn't realise that the
asbestos was being used as

of asbestos.2
1

'Health? Scots workers

do not care Prof.',

Sunday Mail, 28 January 1968. 2 Much of the storyof the struggles of John Todd and other members of TGWU 7/162 comes from an excellent and seminal pamphlet, 'Asbestos the

The struggle to ban asbestos on a building sight Micky Hoolihan describes thestruggle to ban asbestos at the GreaterLondon Councilbuildingsite in JuniperStreet, Stepney: When the 1974 Health and Safetyat Work Act was being discussed we got an agreement from the G LC that we would not wait for the Act to become law, On our particularsite, the lads
accepted me to be their Safety Steward. It'svery

important that you know

whatyou're talking about.

As an example, we had a bloke down from Cape Asbestos telling us all the old bollocksthat asbestos wassafe when worked properly. In that situation,

dust that kills in the name of Profit', SocialistWorkers

Party, 1973.

extensively as it was. In fact it was one of the carpenters who came to the Stewards' meeting and gave a reporton how dangerous the stuff was. Therewas a coating of it all over the floor. The site agent was completelyunaware of the dangersof asbestos. We banned the stuff from the site completely, and that position remains in effect to this day.

Now, in a sense, I've made it sound all too easy. I've

100

work in that area, we got two new machines on the site. When the lads decided not to work in that area, their bonus could not be maintained at the levelsthey was connected with the had been earning a drop asbestos companies! I'd in wages as a resultof taking ratherhave had an indepen- a stand on asbestos We dent assessor. I called in the asked that the management factory inspector and he should make up their earnsaid the asbestos should be ings. Thisdemand was removed with an industrial eventually won though it vacuum cleaner equipped took a stoppageand some with special filter etc. When very hard bargaining to get the industrial cleaners it. In factthe lads lost arrived they broughtsome money throughgoing out old antiquated machine. the gate on this matter of

got a wholedossier on the dispute. In particularwe had a run-in with the third from top in the GLC constructionbranch. The person who did the asbestos dust countsin the air

Eventually having stopped

principle.Just for the record, it was the lads who stopped work in that area. The factory inspector could have prosecuted if he had wanted to. But he was reallyleavingitup to us.

'I think the lesson ofall

themselves.., arm them-

this is that shop stewards are goingto have to prepare

selves with all information

possible. (Hazards Bulletin No 6Apr11 1977)

IT, A CRY/Nh 5if/1ME 1qii- Tht7$E

WOR/cR5

CFNEf

p,p flQW5

I
p

I-

-I.

'_

4_

101

Chapter 5 Substitutes for asbestos

SECTION ____

The prevention of asbestosdiseases

no Any good chest specialist will tell you that therefore common dust is good for your lungs, sense tells you that you should not breathe any dust. Now, the only problem is that the dust that is really harmful to your lungs is the dust sometimes you can't see the dust you seeroom. For a the sun shines into a darkened when start you want to make sure your job does not see. Call produce dust you can'tA recent in the scientists it for you. to measure reportfrom the Industrial Hygiene Department of the British Steel Corporation concluded: The risks (of asbestos) are very real, and maintaining the required standards of control in use, and in disposal may be costly. Every effort should therefore be made to substitute other materials for asbestos, as offset against any cost penalty may well becost of mainthe risk of disease, and the taining adequate precautions. Ideally one would wish to dispense with asbestos. But as Dr P.G. Harries of the Naval Dockyard at Devonport has stated: 'Unfortunately, most of the (asbestos) substitute high temperature insulating materials are very dusty, especially those containing calcium silicate.' The evidence show presented below will health there are a lot of hazards of asbestos about the unknowns but the medicaland scientificevidence substitues, the subsuggests that almost without exception asbestos. Of course the stitutes are safer than lack of real information has led the asbestos industry to jump on the bandwagon: better the devil you know than the devilyou don't!

102

ANDARD After asbestos, sclentIst

give glass fibre warning

'DEATH DUST' PERIL

S M,d,,t.1
O,,rcoM,sr,

nO,, h rt,

14n40,,: Moth4 IkoNqhfl 4 474

passages and coughs. Onerecent medical report2 showed that a family of four mother aged 40, father 48, and two children aged 8 and 11 all sufferedfrom these after the installation in their house of symptoms
D.C.F. Muir,Annals ofOccupationalHygiene,vol 19, 1976, p.139. 2 t-L.H. Newball and S.A. Brahim, 'Respiratory responseto domestic fibrousglass exposure', Environmental Research, voLl2,l976,p.201.
1

placement for asbestos. A recent review1 concluded: Any durable fibre having the appropriate dimensions must be considered a hazard until proven otherwise..,potential there is urgent need for appropriate research... there seems little doubt that alternative materials (to asbestos) should be subject to thorough investigation. Glassfibre health hazards Glass fibre has been produced since the 1930s, although production only really got going after the Second World War and, in particular, during the last few years when it has become a major replacement for asbestos. By the 1940s skin complaints (Dermatitis) had been reported in the medical literature by glass fibre workers. Currently it is thoughtthat 1 in 20 workersma become 'sensitised' and unable to work wit glass fibre or the resins that bind it. As early as 1945 chest complaints were reported and by 1960 this had been named 'fibre glass pneumoconiosis' or fibre glass lung scarring. The main chest troubles were asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis. Workers near others working with glass fibre also reported chest troubes: typical complaints were chest pain, troubled breathing, sore throats, pain in the nose, congested nasal

hazards of glass fibre in some detail as it is a major re-

The answer to this problem is for workers and community groups exposed to asbestos to demand substitutes, but to demand the same precautions with these substitutes as for asbestos until they are proved safe, as none have yet been so proved. To give an example of the problemsand lack of
information we shall discussthe health

103

a central heating system where the ducting was Even their

lined with glass fibre. 14-year-old breathing difficulties mongrel dog suffered from and was put down by a vet while dyinghe had a massive pumonary hemorrhage with blood flowing from his nose and mouth. Glass fibre was found in the dog's lungs and also a cancer (Hemangiosarcoma) which had spread to the lungs. The mother had abnormal uterine bleeding in 1975 and this led to a hysterectomy and the finding that she had cancer (Adenocarcinoma). The authors commented: The relationship of fibrous glass exposure to the Hemangiosarcomain the dog's lung, that was responsible for its death, and a Carcinoma in a member of the family can only be speculative. In 1972 fine glass fibre was found to cause the same, previously rare, cancer in animals as asbestos Mesothelioma. Recent medical research3 has indicated that there may be a cancer hazard with small diameter glass fibre in humans and there is certainly a respiratory hazard (bronchitis). Further evidence that any fibre of similar dimensions to deadly asbestos may cause the cancer Mesothelioma has been provided by the study4 of a Turkish village. About 6-800 people live in Karain (which in Turkish means 'pain in the belly') and between (PAiN iNTHE BELII

KJiRAIN
TWIN
TOWN

wirN

I-IIROSH'MA

DL. Bayliss and others, 'Mortality patterns among fibrous 3 AnnalsoftheNewYork Academy of glass production workers',
Sciences,vol 271, 1976, p.324. a Lawrence MeGinty, 'Cancer epidemic raisesdoubtson 4 mineral fihres',NewScientist, 18 May 1978; b GeoffreyLean, 'Fibres may cause cancer', Observer,
1 October 1978.

11

104

their production.Whatof the health hazards? Little is known. Some recent studies indicate that when worked a lot of visible dust is produced, but that this dust is not small enough to get deep intoyour lung where much of the damage is done. Tests on guinea pigs exposed to this dusthave shown no health hazards but the authors caution, 'While no pathalogical effectshave been found in the short term,only long term experiments can show whether carbon fibre is
innocuous.' (Environmental Research vol 17 1978 p.276) Until these researches are completed workers exposed to carbon fibre dust should ensure that the dust is kept to a minimum by goodwork methods a ventilation to prevent themselvesbeing used as guinea pigs.

Carbon Fibre Carbon fibre, developed at the RAE Farnborough,was hailed in the early 1960's as a new wondermaterial seven times the strength of steel and a quarterthe weight. Since its failure to replace Titanium in the Rolls Royce RB 211 Jet its fortuneshave fluctuated. Although in the UK Courtaulds have expanded

1970 and 1974 twenty-four people died from of this cancer is around one per million, which points to there being an epidemic of this cancer in the village. At first it was thought to be due to asbestos, but now it seems to be due to volcanic silicates called zeolites which are similar to asbestos. More evidence not to mimic the fine nature of asbestos with substitute fibres. As the editor of a prestigiousoccupation health journal commented5 in 1976: 'Since the manufacture of glass wool of fine fibre diameter is a recent development, it looks as if we shall have to sacrifice a good many animals to the gods of science and technology before we know the
Mesothelioma. The normal incidence

truth.'

This mounting medical and scientific concern about the health hazards of glassfibre and, more importantly, the fears ofworkers using it, led to the glass fibre industry setting up a research project to look into the hazards. The leading glass fibre andmineral wool industry'companies (representing fibres made from glass, rock and slag) who had been in business for thirty years, decided only in January 1976 to set up this 5year research project to 'establish whether or not there are any cancer hazards

occtiona1

AIITIIDPJTY

5 'Oncogenicity of Fibre Glass',ArchivesofEnvironmental Health, vol 31, 1976, p.107. 105

to Europe'. There are serious limitationsthat this the research and they admitted company in its planning. As unions had not been involved some delegates at a recent conference6 commented: Astonishment was expressed that the possible health hazards of man-made mineral fibres had initially been taken up by management and the medical staff apparently without reference to the workers.. . It was argued that formal independencefrom industry was no guarantee of neutrality of science and research and also that, although research may be valid, it may not be fulfilling the aim of protecting workers' health. In April 1977 the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended a new safer standard for the allowed concentration of glass fibre dust in the air very similarto the current white asbestos standard. Whilst not being satisfied with the evidence on the safety of glass fibre they did comment: 'fibrous glass seems to be considerably less hazardous than asbestos'. Perhaps the most important point was made by John Grant, Secretary of State for Employment, in reply to a question in the House of Commons on 2 March 1977: the Any serious health hazard arising fromtake fibres is likely to inhalation of these many years to develop. The research now being planned or undertaken is unlikely to yield definite results in the near future. What do workers with glass fibre and other substitutes do in the meantime? It is obvious we must demand the same precautions as for asbestos. If, in five years' time, this research shows glass fibre to be perfectly safe we can always relax the precautions, but we cannot put the clock back and remove dust from people's lungs ifthe tests confirm its danger.
6
Workshop on the biological effects of manmade mineral Annals ofOccupational Hygiene,vol 20, 1977, fibres (MMMF), p.149.

for workers in man-mademineral fibre plants in

106

Health risks of other 'safe' replacements for asbestos Even less is known about the health hazards of the other substitutes for asbestos. For instance, the Royal Navy Dockyard at Devonport were actively looking for replacements for asbestosin the late 1960s. A report published in 1969 showed that when 1aing with the asbestos replacement Calcium Silicate, very high levels of dust are produced. According to one recent report,7 'In a shipyard, studieswere beingundertaken of CalciumSilicate used as a substitute for asbestos; this arose because of questions by the unions of possible health hazards.' Again, tests )/ after the material has been in use for many 4 1 years, and then only because the unions asked ) j for it! What if it is dangerous?Will they vacuum out the ( it? The lungsof those workers who have inhaled same old story: workers being used as L guinea-pigs for the testing of anything industry sees fit to producefor without a thought 6c.NE-i -PI6s... to its possibledanger toprofit health. Below is some of the slight evidence that exists on some of the substitutes for asbestos:
Summary of health risk
General Name Ceramic Fibres Triton Kaowool Maker's Name Fiberfax (Carborundum Company) McKechnie Ceramics

MedicalEvidence
Generally compared by the industry to glassfibres. Much evidencefromcornpanies or scientists sympathetic to industry.

JournalofExperimental Pathology vol 11972 p.190) and in animals the

Some evidenceof cell damage (British

deadly asbestos ncer Mesothelioma has been found (BritishJournalof Cancer vol 128 1973 p.173) Tested so far on only fifty rats no asbestos type cancers (British Journalof Industrial Medicine vol 301973 p.167) No human data yet reported. Can be contaminated with asbestos; but Mandoval claim theirsis not.

Vermiculite

Mandoval

Annals ofOccupationaiHygiene, vol 20, i977, p.i52. 107

general name Perlite

maker's name

medical evidence
Has

Tilling
Construction British Gypsum

full effects of lungdamage to show up. Company sponsoredsurveys (Journalof

Occupational Medicine vol 18 1976 p.723) indicate no major lunghazard but still recommend 'continued control of the dust to ensure exposures below nuisancedust levelsis essential'. Tests so far on only 40 rats (Anna/s of Occupational Hygiene 19 1976 p.63) have shown no lung scarring (fibrosis) comparable to asbestos. Dust produced no lung scarring (fibrosis) in 50 rats tested. (Toxicologyand Applied Pharmacology vol 25 1973 p.l45(

not been in use long enough for the

The British
Ceca Co Ltd

Saffil fibres
(alumina and zirconia)

CI

Ceramic foam

Dow
Chemicals

There has been a recent report8 that many fibres look the same as asbestos under the microscope. The ones mentioned were Calcium sulphate (a

major component of common plaster board), fibrous silicates, iron (oxides?), sodium and potassium chloride, zeolites and many 'organic' (that is, derived from plant products) fibres. Until we know more about the exact effects of all these 'safe' fibres on the lung we should clearly treat them all with the same precautions as for asbestos. Other fibrous dusts (such as nylon) have been shown to cause lung disease among the workers making these fibres. Synthetic fibres such as 'synthetic wood pulp' (Hoechst Ltd) which finds uses replacing asbestos as a pumping aid, in paper and so on, are claimed to be inert, but no studies have been reported. As a 'fluffed preparation' it is admitted that dust can be created and the makers suggest 'measures should be taken to avoid inhalation'.

A.P. Middleton. 'On the occurrence offibres of calcium sulphate resemblingamphibole asbestosin samplestaken for the evaluation of airborne asbestos',Annals ofOccupationalHygiene, vol 21, 1978, p.91 and letter from A.P. Middleton to BSSRS dated 6 Ncvcmhcr 1978.

108

LJ
4tm
Highly magnifiedphotomicrographsof a calcium sulphate a commoncomponent of plaster b brown asbestos (amosite) c blue asbestos (crocidolite) d a clump (aggregate) of calcium sulphateshowing theirsimilarity underthe microscope. Are theirhealthhazards

_L4m,
IL...
Safe substitutes for asbestos? From the medicaland scientificevidence ted so far it is clear that most of the presenreplacements for asbestos are safer than asbestos and should therefore be used to replace it wherever possible;and this means in all cations.9 However, that doesvirtually that the not mean applisubstitutes are safe. Not enough research has been done the substitutes and therefore workers on any of with these replacements should demand the same precautions as for asbestos. Such demands will 'encourage' the manufacturers to carry out their duty under the 1974 Health and at Work Act and pre-test their products Safety using workers as guinea-pigs. There is no before that some of the non-fibrous substitutesdoubt as Vermiculite and Perlite) will be a lot (such safer, although the dusts produced will possibly cause or aggravate bronchitis etc. something not to
'Asbestos characteristics,applications and alternatives', Eulmer ResearchInstitute, 1976.
9

the same?

(Annals ofOccupational Hygiene,vol 21, 1978, p.91)

109

be ignored. Substitutes that are fibres (such as greater glass, rock, slag and ceramic fibres) pose fibrous for it is currently thoughtthat problems, material can do much more damage to your
lungs. One immediate way

ably this hazard is to make the fibres nonshould be respirable: the diameter of the fibres metre) in the above 3.5 micrometres (0.0000035 air you breathe when working with the stuff Such fibres would not get deep into your lung where most of the damage is done. This is rush to technologically possible, but in the substitute mimic asbestos the makers of these fibres have cut down the size to get nearer the very thin asbestos-typefibres. is a list Bearing these comments in mind, belowin most for asbestos of the major substitutes
situations:
The substitutes for asbestos: what they are and where to get them
Group
Use

to reduce consider-

Substitute (gf= glass fibre)

Saffil fibre
Refrasil fibre Fibreroc Sillite rock fibre Fibrefax Triton KaowoOl Ceramic fibre Glasswool Kerlane fibre

(numbers refer to

suppliers address in
appendix 3 (P.268) 1,2 3 4 4 5 2 6
7

(a) Bulk fibres

Cavity and joint filling; back-up insulation; furnace linings; valve and gland packing.

12 8 1,2 5 2 6 9 4 4 4 4 7 7

(b) Fibre Sheetsand board;

reinforced asbestos cement; boards, corrugated roof sheets, sheeting; slabs and pipes; guttering; cladding etc. blocks

Calcium Silicate (GE) Saffil Fibrefax Triton Kaowool Vacuum board Gyproc (Calcium sulphate) Sillite Rock fibre Newtherm (Calcium Silicate) Therblock slats Superglassfibre Crown HT slab (gf) Rigid duct insulation

110

Vicuclad(Vermiculite) Insuliteboard (Vermiculite) Kipblock (mineral fibre)

Kipsulate (Calcium Silicate) Keralne (aluminium Silicate) Pyronap (aluminiumSilicate) Keranap (aluminium Silicate) Amberex H.T. (asbestos free) Cem-fil (gf)

10
11 11

ii
12 12
12

17

(c)

Corn-

positions, to strengthen cements, other materials

adhesives, castables

Use of asbestos

7,25
13

Potrite (Magnesium,Calcium Silicate) DarlingtonMagnesia 66

(Magnesium,Calcium Silicate) High aluminacement Newtherm 800 Fiberfax cement Moistpackcement Plaster (Calcium Sulphate) Triton Kaowoot mastic McKechnie premix Monocast casta Cerano spray (ceramic fibre) Fiberfax(ceramic fibre) Mandoval spray (Vermiculite) McKechnie premix (Alumina-Silicate) Limpetspray (mineral fibre)

3 14

4 5
5

9 2 6
11

(d) Spray- 6
able

15

Insulation

5
16

26
1,2 3

(e) Matt, Rolls for batt, insulating mattresses material, hot face and insulation,

Saffil
Ferrasil batts Gf bonded mat

blankets

seals, gaskets, bedding layers,

expansionjoints, stress relief in welding etc

Sillite mat Triton Kaowool blanket Ceramic fibre blanket Crown 75 gf mat Kerlone ceramic fibre blanket
Fiberwall

4 4
2 6
7

12

5 1,2

(f)

and pipe

Shapes Pre-formed shapes

sections

Saffil from vacuum Refrasil and pressmethods; Fiberforrn tubes; cylinders; Triton Kaowool
McKechnie ceramics Darlington super magnesia Paratemp Newtherm 800 Rockwell Lafinus Resin bonded gf

3
5 2 6 3 3 4

crucibles; cups; channles etc

4
7 111

Group

Use

Substitute (makers name and address in appendix 3) (gf = glass fibre)

Marglasgf Glass cloths Tyglas
18

(g) Woven fabrics (see also

Eel

Clothsand
textiles

19, 20 & 21 22, 23 5 3 3 5 19, 20,22

for
UsetocoVer cables and
hoses against

non-woven)

Fiberfaxcloth Refrasil cloth

Refrasil

(h) Flex-

bletape
and sleeving

Fibrefax

Gf tape
Wet felt Moist felt
Keralne HD Refrasil

high temperature

(i) Wet
felts

Soft-boardthat can be moulded when wet

1,2 6
12 3 12

(j) Yarns,
cordage and strong

Gf yarn or twine

(k)

Paper

Saffii
Fiberfax

1,2
5
2

Triton Kaowool Ceramic fibre paper (I) Rope, Widely used

square braid

6
21

for packing

Thermochem 770; 2, 300; and 2, 700 (note: Thermopac contains asbestos) Refrasil McKechnie rope Glassrope Triton Kaowool Kerlane rope

3 6
19

2
14

Fiberfax rope
(m) Paints To cover
dust suppressing and asbestos and

Decadex firecheck Coating paInt

24 2, 5, 6

other fibrous
products

fire
resistant

(n)

Pro-

Nomex cloth

tective clothing (0) Loose Cavity fill insulation 112

Multitect (:10th
Vermiculite Perlite

22 27
16 31

Case one:

The Isle of Grain strike Firstly, imagine working day after day at some menial task, such as digging. When it's cold and wet you're cold and wet, when it's dry you're working in a sandstorm. Not very nice,you may agree. But you may not even know what you're digging for or why. You are spoken to as if you're a mental defective. You dream aboutmaking enough money to get out of this mess. Nobody givestwo hootsabout you, you're an easy-toreplace item on the books. Derek Cracknell, first TGWU steward on the Isle of Grain power station Site, letter to the Sunday Times 24 October 1976.
The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) Isle of Grain powerstation in Kent is the biggest in Europe. As powerstations go it is one of the better organised in an area notoriouslydifficult for trade unionists. Throughout 1976they had a bitter ninemonth strike over the health haiards of glass fibre. Factory Inspectorate now use for all All workerswith glass fibre Before thismineral fibres. strike they had and other mineral fibres not thought aboutthe such as rock fibre have problemand classed such benefittedfrom their fibres as 'nuisance dust'. struggle, both in termsof the belated research now In February 1976fourteen being done and the unoffiinsulationengineers cial 'Code of practice' the employed by the sub-

contractorsCape, Darlington
and Newall (CDN) were assured in writing by the company industrial relations officer that when they worked with glass fibre they would get protectiveclothing. When they asked for it theywere sacked.After nine weeks of picketing the site 113

gatesthe Advisory, Conciliatoryand Arbitration Service (ACAS)stepped in. ACAS considered the letter to have two interpretations and said, in effect, that the strikerswould lose status on

They did not takedust samples until 21 -25 June. The dust sampling showed that the 'air in the immediate area surrounding the lagging
was heavily contaminated with the dust'. In some cases the levels recorded were 30 times the soca/led governmen safe/eve! of 10 milligrams per cubic metre of air. The demandsof the strikers were simple: Reinstatement of the 1 twenty-eightmembers sacked or lockedout; 2 One back allback, no phased return to work; 3 No subcontractors; 4 Continuity ofemploymen t

1976),they seem to have been out of their depth on this contractand, as always, the workerssuffered. Agreedprocedure won for safer working with asbestos

the gate if they did not compromise. The site

stewards were also of this opinion.The men returned to work with protective clothing provided, but 46p per week was stopped from their wagesfor the clothing.The employers argued that if they gave some men free protective

clothingthey'd all want it. In April 1976AUEW ConstructionSection scaffolders working for anothercontractor Babcock and Wilcox struck for protectivefree clothing against the dust in the boiler rooms, which were beinglagged with Rocksil.Despite the fact that therewas a site agreementto provide overalls for work in areas of rust, grease,

substitutes Towards Christmas 1976 the men went back to work. As Fred Baker, a local boilermakers' union regional official, commented: 'There is no victory for anyone: it is a common sense settlementon both sides.' But, as already mentioned, the strike made the Factory Inspectorate think seriously about the health hazardsof asbestos substitutes and to issue an internal memorandum to their inspectors on the subject. EquallyimportOn 14 September Babcock's ant, by 12 January 1977, the agreedto provideprotective Isle of Grainworkershad clothing and to pay for it, got a comprehensivesite afternearly onethousand safety agreement from the menhad been on strike for CEGB on the working prothree months! But they also cedure for handling asbestos tried to impose other insulation substitutes to conditions: minimise the dust.
1

CEGB workingprocedure for the safe handlingofmanmade mineralfibre insulation supply the discipline); (January 1977) men were sacked in April, 3 A new bonusscheme; 1 This procedure will at the anothertwenty-five 4 Subcontractors with coverall man-made mineral of Juneand by 15 beginning possible loss of jobs to those fibre insulation (e.g. glass June the entire workforceof who were in dispute. fibre, ceramic, slag wool, 928 men had walked Out in rockwool) and Calcium the The CEGB have now taken sympathy.During May Silicateinsulation. stewardshad explored Babcock's off certain parts shop 2 The aims of these everyavenue to get the dis- of the contract mainly 13 May pipe fitting and scaffolding. proceduresare to cut down, pute resolved.On as far as possible, contact Despite Babcock's increasthe Factory Inspectorate with such materials. Asfar were on site and voiced the ing profitability (return on rose from 8.7 per as possible dust shall be cut capital opinion that protective down to 'ensure that its should be provided. cent in 1971 to 15.4 in clothing

oil, junk, mud and confined

A Code ofPractice spaces, Babcock's refused to (whichamounted to more overalls. Three

2

Moreproduction,'

114

concentration in air breathed by an employee does not exceedthe timeweighted nuisancedustTLV (Threshold Limit Value: this level may soon be lowered see below). 3 Routine measurements of this dust level will be carried out wherethese materials are being worked and in adjacent areas. These results will be made availableto the workforce. 4 Thermal insulation materials shall be handled by the methods which cause least dust. Scrap and waste shall be collected in impermeable bags and dumped in an approved place. 5 Wherever possible a special enclosurewill be provided near the workface for the cutting of thermal insulation. The enclosure will be fittedwith suitable dust control equipment. 6 Dust control by local exhaust ventilationwill be provided wherever possible and it shall be of an type.

7 In order to limit the spread of dustopen-mesh flooringwill be coveredwith a layer of plywoodor similar. Likewise scaffold boards shall be well fitted. 8 Work areas shall be cleaned by vacuum to stop spread of dust. 9 Areas where the 'safe' dust level is exceeded (socalled TLV see below) shall be termed 'designated
areas'. 10 Accessto designated areas shall be restricted to

provided with special precautions. Lockers will be provided and vacuum cleanersto remove dust.
Persons

tective clothing (from gloves to full protection depending on job done). Laundering facilitieswill be

13 Persons working in designatedareas long term shall be provided with pro-

authorised personnel only while lagging is in operation and until thorough cleaning is completed. 11 A designatedarea shall be identified by coloured tape and warningnotices. 12 Persons exposed to airborne dustabove the socalled safe level (TLV: 10mg/rn3) shall be provided with suitable dust respirators according to BS 4275 and theseshall be worn.
F

nated areas' short term will collect overalls and return themon completionof the work in the 'designated area'. 14 Scaffolding will be thoroughly cleaned down by vacuum or otherappropriate methods prior to stripping. The Isle of Grainworkers had won a procedure that will benefit all workers with asbestos replacements if it is enforced. There are still details to be worked out with the union (GMWU) as to who will do the sampling and so on.

working in 'desig-

Another important concern is: Whatis a dangerouslevel

Isle ofGrain glassfibre strike 1976(MorningStar)

ofdust?

115

A safer Glass Fibre Standard

The present UK standard for nearly all nuisance dusts (fine mica and talc apart) is 10 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over a normal 8hour workday or 40-hour week (a so-called Threshold Limit Value or TLV). In April 1977 the US National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended1 a more stringent standard for 'fibrous glass' and also considered that, until more information is available, the standard should be applied to other 'man-made mineral fibres' (for example rock, slag and ceramic). that fibres Recognising the extra health hazard two standards: pose they give a No worker shall be exposed to an airborne concentration greater than 3 fibres per cubic centimetre of air. The fibres counted are those having a diameter equal or less than 3.5 micrometres and equal or greater than 10 micrometres in length. (This may be compared with the current UK standard for white asbestos of 2 fibres per cubic centimetre of air. Clearly it is thought that small diameter glass fibre may be almost as dangerousas white asbestos.) b The total dust shall not be greater than 5 milligrams per cubic metre, which is halfthe current 'safe' level.1 1
Criteria for a recommendedstandard occupational 10 exposure to fibrous glass, NIOSH,April 1977. 11 For more details see: 'Glass Fibre a safe substitute?', BSSRS pamphlet, 1979.

Case two: One of the first lettersthey The fight for safer fire doors wrote was to their local council's environmental To complywith fire regula-

tions the tenants of a house in Londonwere informed during 1977 that the doors of their house wereto be fireproofed.They found that the substanceto be
used contained asbestos.

aware of the dangers of asbestos and started asking around aboutwhether an alternative could be used.
116

Luckily theywere partly

health officer, Mr B.J. Parsons of the London Borough of Brent, who assured the tenants that the asbestos insulating board was'completelysafe' provided the asbestos industry precautions, which he enclosed,were taken. The tenants were also threatened in the same letter with court action under the Housing

Act 1961 and repossession by the landlady. The tenants were not satisfied and asked for a copy of the specifications for fire protection. They found that either plasterboard or 3/16"
asbestos wallboard was

specified, but the owner did not seem to want plasterboard used on doors because it darriages more
easily.

After more pressureand

letters, consultation with

the GLC Fire Prevention Service revealed that

'Supalux', an asbestos-free insulating board,was suitable. In this instance a 6mm board was used and the owner informed of the alternative. The local MP, Reg Freeson, generally supported Brent'sposition on theuse of asbestos, but commented: I gather that a new Code

of practiceis in preparationat the present and

may, when finalised, permitthe cladding of certain panelled doors with hardboard. Apparently,with the increasedcost of labour, the cost of supplyingnew purposemade fire check doors is not now a great deal more than that of modifyingexistingdoors and the finished product is considered to be aesthetically preferable.
Case three:

SecretsAct. The safety rep got informationfrom the TUC Centenary Institute of Occupational Health that showed that rockwool should be treated with

safe. The Factory Inspectorate were worse than useless. They told the safety rep their document on the hazards of rockwoolwas 'classified information' and covered by the Official

refused to believe the assurancesof managementand manufacturers that it was

(which covered the Isle of Grainstrike) and the local factory inspector they have demanded and to the following precautions for working with glassfibre:
1 The rail unitis worked on as far away as possible from other

caution.After the NALGO members picketed the new offices the council managers gave in and agreed to regular monitoringof the air and releases of the results, using the same 'acceptable' level for rockwoolas for asbestos. This is a partial victory since the current 'safe' level for rockwool is that of a 'nuisance dust' allowinga
much greater concentration of dust in the air. (Evening Echo29 September and 9 October 1978; and HazardsBulletin No.14 December 1978 p.8)
Case four:

workers; 2 The open parts of the carriage (doors and ventilationopenings) are sealed with polythene; 3 The area is thoroughly cleaned with an industrialvacuum
cleaner;

All glassfibre is workedwet to Cut down dust. A cutting table is set up inside the carriage. As the glass fibre is cut the knife is followed
4 5 Nylon boiler suits are worn with hood, elasticated wrists and ankles, goggles, masks
bags are carried

with a vacuum nozzle;

and gauntlettype gloves.

Impermeable plastic small offcuts of glass

NALGOworkerswin safer conditionswith rockwool Basildon councilbuilt its new office block, Church Walk House, in the record time of 9 months at a cost of 500,000. But they used rockwool as ceiling insulation, and when the time
came for 150 NALGO members to move in they refused. They were concerned about the possible health haiards(skin trouble and cancer) from rockwool. The NALGOsafety rep

to put

Safer work proceduresfor

fibre in; Anyonewho has to

won by British Rail workers at Doncaster that asbestos has takenof workersbuildingand servicing rail coaches has been described elsewherein this booklet (p.37). Using the recommendations from Hazards Bulletin No.3
The deadly effects and toll

use with glass fibre

leave the carriage is vacuumed downas they are done at the end of a shift or completion of the job; 7 Shower facilities are available for all workers; 8 Only the workers doing the job are allowed

in the carriages.

117

Demands for much safer workingprodo

cedures it'ith ziass fibre

not Srcmii unreason-

able when ompared mt-it/i these precautions that C1B. 1-GE/U (('K) use (or cutting 118

glassfibre clot/i used in makingresins. The a/ores amid the ta/i/c with downdrought exhaust jon. extract 1 i-en so time tor it-as in ocised hr tlu divisionalimmcdical oflicen. Dr I .4- Craigen

because his gloves u-crc

not coven/mghis sleeves.'

(CIBA-GEIG} (UK) Ltd.

l95)

Chapter 6 Removal of asbestos dust

that

What is a 'safe' dust level? Asbestos was one of the first eversubstances for which a so-called safe level (actually a so-called safe process in this case) was ever set. In some ways this set the thinking that there were levels of dust in the air that were actually safe. The first 'standard' for asbestos came from the 1930 UK Factory Inspectorate survey.1 This suggested

In order to prevent the full development of the disease (asbestosis) amongst asbestos workers within the space of an average working lifetime, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of dust in the air of the workrooms to a figure below that pertaining to spinning. The employer-dominatedreport that formed the basis for the 1931 Asbestos Regulationsjumped

at this, saying:

This report is based on one important assumption, namely, the existence of a critical limit of dust concentration below which workers may be employed without injury to health. ..the only working basis suggests that the conditions of fly spinning carried on without exhaust ventilation may be regarded as the 'dust datum '2

1 Merewether and Price, 'On the effects of asbestos duston the lungs and dust suppressionin the asbestos industry',HMSO1930. 2 'Methods for suppressingdust in textile factories', Home Office,HMSO, 1931.

119

Leaving aside the important fact that this 'safe

level' or 'dust datum' only applied to textile factories, how on earth did you compare one process with another anyway? A very crude method, the sugar tube, was briefly described, but this method was out of date within six How safe was this 'safe' process anyway? Information given in the 1930 report shows that it allowed for one worker in three to succumb to crippling asbestosis after 15 to 19 years at the job. And that's called safe! No wonder the asbestos industry jumped at this official government standard. This was the 'safe' UK standard for asbestos in the air for 29years until 1960. Of course other doctors and experts were applying their own 'safe' standards. Thus we find a standard industrial health textbook in 1957k
suggesting, years.3

kJ

/
(

A rough but useful means of judging the dustiness of a workroom is to look at the back of a girl's hair to see how much
asbestos is caught there.

In 1960 the British Factory Inspectorate adopted the equally criminal5 American 'safe' standard of 1938, set as a result of a studyof a group of asbestos textile workers. It studied the health of 541 North Carolina textile workers; but 150 had been sacked before the study because they were suspectedofhaving asbestosis. Also the group contained hardly more than one worker in 10 who had been there more than ten years, while the 1930 UK report had established that the true rate of asbestosis did not show up for 20 years. The 'safe' standard based on this report was the US standard for 30 years and the UK standard for 8 years. It allowed for an exposure to asbestos in the air of about 15 times today'sso-called safe standard.
3 'Selected written evidencesubmitted to the Advisory Committee on Asbestos 1976-77',HMSO, 1977, p.40. 4 TA. Lloyd Davies,The practice ofindustrial medicine, J.A. Churchill, 1957. 5 Annals ofthe New YorkAcademy ofSciences,vol 132, 1965, p.31; vol 271, 1976, p.152.

120

By the late 1960s it was becoming clear that a new 'safe' level for asbestos in working air would

be required. All asbestos-related diseases

(
1

..

-_ 'they fN1
------

_____

rti\\ J

unlike 1930, it did not wait for a government report: it published its own report6 under the aegis of the 'independent and authoritative' British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS). Practically all the industrial hygienistsin the UK are employed by industry, none by the trade unions, and a few by government and academic establishments, so it is no surprise to find that BOHS is virtually a company front. Five of the nine members of its 'asbestos sub-committee' were actually employed by the asbestosindustry. On the basis of a single study done by asbestos company doctors and scientists at Turner and Newall's Rochdale plant, this 'independent' committee came up with the idea that a level of 2 fibres of white asbestos (Chrysotile) per cubic centimetre of air was acceptable. At this level estimated that someone employed for 50 years stood a 1 in 100 risk ofgetting asbestosis. They decided that was acceptable. They also said they could say nothing about protecting the worker from the cancer risk very convenient for the experts, but it doesn't mean the cancer risk disappeared. 1965, three years before this In committee reported, it had already been shown that cancerwas responsible over half the for deathsfrom asbestosexposure. How 'convenient' to ignore it! The 1968 BOHS standard of 2 fibres per cubic centimetre of air became a world-widestandard, where standards of any kind existed. For instance, in 1972 the US government set their own (identical) standard and they stated that the BOHS standard 'was given great weight'.7 But worse was to come. In 1969, Turner's doctor, who had done the medical studies on which the BOHS safe level was based, was succeeded by anew ChiefMedical
6 Annals ofOccupationalHygiene,vol 1968, P.47. 7 'Occupational Exposure to Asbestos', criteriadocument, US National Instituteof Occupational Safety and Health, 1972.

were still high, and still increasing. The asbestos industry realised that the governmentregulations on asbestos would soon be revised. This time,

ii,

121,

Officer, Dr Hilton Lewinsohn, who re-investiKnox gated the 290 workers Dr had had examined fouryears earlier. Dr Knox only found 3 per cent (eight men out of 290) with signs of asbestosis. Dr Lewinsohn found nearly 50 per cent (140 or so). This was far more than could be accounted for by the four-year interval or improved X-ray techniques. Clearly there had been a serious error by Dr Knox, that would endanger the lives of thousands of workers with asbestos. What did Dr Lewinsohn do? He told no-one, it seems. Of course,we do not know if Turner and Newall were told. We do know they did nothing if they were. But in 1972 Dr Lewinsohngavea talk to a local medical group on how he kept asbestos workers under observation. The talk was published in a littleknown journal in the industrial health field.8 Because the results were presented in a confusjournal, ing manner and in this Professorthey made no Irvin Selikoff. impact, but fortunately, in the USA, has a computer which picks up all the articles published on asbestos diseases. He raised these tigures at a public meeting and standard. the 1968 openly questioned furious. He BOHS to Profeswrote Dr Lewinsohn was sor Selikoff in July 1973, We cannot accept the implication that the on publication allows doubt to be cast of the of the standard and are the validity opinion that such a conclusion is unwarranted. You have used the information provided in order to launch what seems to us to be a political campaign in the USA aimed at discreditingour HygieneStandard

for asbestos. Nearly all the above first came out in the 1974

Granada TV World in Action programme, Killer Dust: A Standard Mistake? In this proadmitted that until gramme Turner Brothers 26 men traced, confirmed cases of 1972, of 285 asbestosis had been found. Of 28 men who had died in the original 290, seven died from lung cancer and three from Mesothelioma. Thus, instead of a few per cent, almost ten per cent
H. Lewinsohn, I'he medical surveillanceof asbestos workers', Journalofthe RoyalSocietyofHealth, vol 2, 1972. p.69.
8

122

one in ten sufferedasbestosis,and on that was set a 'safe' standard to cover millions ofworkers with asbestosthe world over. More recentstudies, and evidenceto the Government's Advisory Committee on Asbestos,9 have confirmed these earlier results and suggest that as many as 1 in 10workersmay contractasbestosrelated diseases at the so-called safe level of 2
fibres per cubic centimetre ofair.

All this discussionof the fixing of safe standards

standards; 2 How doctors and scientists are bought to giveofficial support to such standards; off 3 How the government and unions go along with the fixing of such standards. Clearly then people have got to assumetheworst in a society such as ours, where health and safety are second to production and profitfor a few. This means setting your own standards. You, or your family, friends and children are the ones who will contract the diseases, so you should decide what, ifany, is an acceptable risk.
Measuring the dust level Basically, this means taking a sample of the air shows: 1 How the asbestos industry sets its own

you breathe (and not a sample of what you would like to breathe) and examining it for its asbestos content. Simple enough, you might think: in fact it is not. First of all there is plenty of room for errors either way. Points to rememberare a Positioning of the head which takes the air/ asbestos sample. You want it as near to where you breathe as possible. b It is important that the amount of air flowing through the filter head, which collects the dust, is measured at frequent intervals. Obviously as the filter gets covered with dust the amount of air flowing through falls off.
9 'Official safety limitfor asbestos may put one in fourteen at risk',Sunday Times, 30 January 1977; Julian Pew'swritten and verbal evidenceto the AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestosin 1977. The Lancet, 4 March 1978, p.484. 12

AS8CSTOS SA!4PLING is )NPCUP.ATE

RY

methods the membranefilter method with optical microscope have shown differencesof almost 100 times amongexperiencedlaboratories. Equally important, this commonly used method as 1 may only estimate as littlefibres in 200 of the actual number of asbestos present in the
air.

The method used to count the dust must be accurate. Studies1 using the most common

There are otherproblems (such as transportation of the sample). All that is said for asbestos clearly goes for other dangerous dusts. The figures given below applyto industrial situations: there is, at the moment, no environmental standard; although in effect one exists in Cork, Eire. The method used to measureenvironmental asbestos is more accurate and should be the one used for all exposures. However, it needs a bit more work done on it and is more expensive. The method used by the Factory Inspectorate, managements and other laboratories, is not so accurate but is better than nothing. The details of measurement and so on are given in publications1 1 from the Health and Safety Executive.
a AnnalsofOccupationalHygiene,vol 19, 1976, p.215; b AnnalsofOccupationalHygiene,vol 30. 1978; c Duggan & Calley, Counting of small numbers of asbestos fihres..'Annals ofOccupationalHygiene, 1978. a 'Asbestos: hygiene standardsand measurementof air10

borne dust concentrations', Guidance note EH 10, HMSO, December 1976; b 'Asbestos', Guidance note MS 13, FIMSO, March 1978; of c 'Asbestos-measurementand monitoring asbestos in air',Advisory Committee on Asbestos,HMSO. June 1978.

ii

124

For blue asbestos: (Crocidolite) For other types

The 'safe' standard the government works to is the one which may allow 1 worker in 10 to get asbestos-relateddiseases. It iS:
0.2 fibres/mI when measuredover any ten-minute period;

of asbestos

2 fibres/mI when averaged over a 4-hourperiod; shorttermexposure should not exceed 12 fibres/when measuredover any 10-minute period. Some

explanation is required about short and long-term periods. Ten minutes is about the minimum sampling time. What the regulations say is that for blue asbestos at any time you cannot be exposed to more than 0.2 fibres! ml of air without protection. For white and other forms of asbestos you cannot be exposed to more than 12 fibres per ml of air at any time withoutprotection. In addition, with white and the others you should not be exposed to more than 2 fibres per ml averaged over4 hours. For example: Let's say in doing a job with asbestos the air you breathed was sampled and it showed you had received 12 fibres per ml of white (Chrysotile) asbestos for 10 minutes. In other words the maximum. Now let's imagine for the next 3 hours 50 minutes there was no measurable asbestos in the air you breathed. Your average exposure would then be: Concentration x time (mm) 120 0.5 Total time (mm) 240 or 1/2 fibre/mi

The samplingheadis on this man 'sshoulder and air issucked through it bya smallpumpon his waist. (Health andSafety Executive) 125

not going to Now, since a factory inspector isfibres action until it reaches 2 per ml, take any will get no support there. To give another you with asbestos example: suppose a job workingfor two hours. to 4 fibres per ml exposed you The average four-hour exposure would be: 4 x 120 = 480 Concentration x time (mm) 240 240 240 (4 hours) = 2 fibres/mi Therefore even though you were exposed for twice the government 'safe' limit for two hours, on a four-hour average you would be found to be onlyjust on the limit. No action. is Because of the increasing evidence that there of asbestos, the US National no safe level Health Institute of Occupational Safety and 197612 December (NIOSH) recommended in the followingstandard for all types of asbestos: a For an 8-hour average: 0.1 fibres per ml. That is 1/20th of the current UK standard
given above. a b Based on a 15-minute sampling period, is ml of air. That maximum of 0.5 fibres per above. 1/24th of the current UK standard given this is US NIOSH emphasises that Further, the can be routinenot a safe level; just a level that available today. ly measuredwith the equipment

to The TUC in its December 1976 submissionon

the Government's Advisory Committee Allowable Asbestos13 argued for a Maximum of asbestos in the air of Concentration (MAC) 0.2 fibres per ml. Whilst this is twice the US recommended average of 0.1, because it is in effect a maximum it is more strict. Clearly wherever possible you want it as low as possible. That is, go for the lowest figure.

National 'Revised recommended asbestos standard'. US 12 1976. Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, December evidencesubmitted to the Advisory 13 'Selected written Committee on Asbestos1976-77. HMSO. 1977.

pill.

126

What are the asbestos dust levels at your workplace?

Dust concentrations at Construction processes:
Asbestos spraying (no longer done)

fibres/mi

(or cc)
over 100
1

a with pre-damping b withoutdamping

c with good soaking d using water sprays
e

510
-5

Demolition (de-lagging)

dry machine drilling hand sawing machine sawing withoutextraction

1

5 - 40
over 20
less than 2

Using asbestos/cement sheetsandpipes

f
g

2-4

2 circularsaw
I

jigsaw

2-10
10- 20
less than 2

machine sawing with good extraction

Use ofasbestos insulation j drilling: board (e.g. Asbestolux 1 vertical (e.g. column casting) Turnasbestos Turnall LDR, 2 overhead (e.g. suspendedceilings) Marinite and equivalents) k sanding and surforming
I

2-5

4-10 1-5 5-12

scribing and breaking m hand sawing n machine sawingwithout good extraction: 1 jigsaw 2 circular saw o machine sawing with goodextraction p unloading deliveries of board
1

620

5 - 20 2-4
5-15 1-5

20 upwards

cutpieces

manufactured standard sheets

Getthem measured (see The levels can vary so p.270) and find out. to much it is difficult generalise. Those given above come from the Health and Safety Executive's Technical Data Note Number 42: There is plenty of evidence that these estimates may be on the low side. Even so, compare them with the US recommended standards and the TUC recommended standards oreven the government's unsafe level of 2 fibres per ml and you can see there is little you can do with without exposing yourself to dangerous asbestos levels of the deadly dust; even the stuff We mentioned above unloading that the standard method
127

of estimatingthe numbers of fibres in the sample It's only measures a fraction of them.withas though bad eyewere reading the daily paper you the headlines. That sight and could only see is not there. Now, doesn't mean the small print the method used (looking at the fibres in a light
microscope under phase contrast conditions) can see only fibres with a length treater than 5 micrometres. How many shorter fibresare there? The followingtables give you some idea.

Job done
Cutting CalciumSilicate block Mixirigcemeflt Making brown asbestos blankets

Numberof fibresseenbystandard method forevery 100fibresseen using more accuratemethod (electron microscope)
3.5 1.2 29 5.9 0.4

Removal of pipe covering Indirectexposure duringapplication of insulation in an engine room

Textile Fibre preparation and carding Spinning, twisting and weaving Friction Mixing
Finishing Asbestos cementpipe Mixing Finishing

4
2

2 2 2
1

Pipeinsulation Pipe forming Gold mining

Miners

51 10

Source: Annals of New York Academy of Sciences vol 271 1978 pp.158, 345 What does all this mean? Well, for every 29

fibres recorded in the making of asbestos blankets by the light microscope method there were actually 100. For indirect exposure, for instance, a normal measurement may havegiven a reading of 0.4 fibres/ml when in fact you would have been exposed to 100 fibres per ml. In gold mining, using the standard method of measurement, you will record less than 1 in 10 of the actual number of fibres present.

128

The asbestos industry has tried to get round this by using its sympathetic scientists to claim that these small fibres are not important,'4 but increasingevidence'5 points to their hazard

to health.

A recent authoratjve
study by Julian Peto (Lancet4 March 1978 p.484) on workersat Turnerand Newalls has concluded, 'Fibre counts based on optical microscopy are likely to be less relevant than totalcounts

by electron microscopy.'

The measurement of dust levels clearly shows the benefits of substituting for asbestos. During 197316 some studies were done on the dust produced by machining Marinite asbestosreinforced board and comparing these with the results from machining glass fibre-reinforced Calcium Silicate insulating board. Various machining jobs were tested milling, sawing and grooving and milling was found to produce the most dust. In this process the substitute produced 0.1 fibres per ml, and this dust was largely non-respirable.The asbestos Marinite board produced levels around 200 fibres per ml 2,000 times that of the substitute, and about half thesefibres were respirable. Ventilation and extraction of the asbestos dust If you have to work with asbestos or another dust-producingsubstitutetryto do it in a special enclosure fitted with efficient extraction. This was one of the demands won in the Isle of Grain strike for working with glass fibre and Calcium Silicate. Substitution of the dangerous material apart, ventilation is the major protection for your health when working with dusty materials. Remember though, it is second best to finding safer materials because no extraction system yet invented removes all the dust from the air you breathe even when in perfect working order. The sole purpose of an extraction system designed to remove hazardous materials (for example asbestos dust, glass fibre dust) from the air you breathe is to cut them down to a mini14 Paul Gross, 'Is short-fibred asbestosdust a biological hazard?',Archives ofEnvironmental H ealth vol 29, 1974, p.115. 15 AN. Rohi and others, 'Asbestos contentofdust encounteredin brake and maintenance and repair',Proceedingsofthe RoyalSociety ofMedicine, vol 70, 1977, p.32. 16 See referencesin J.W. Hill, 'Health aspects ofman-made mineral fibres, a review'Annals ofOccupational Hygiene, vol 20, 1977, p.161.

129

ExTRACTION
UNIT
NOT

GE1 THE $tST

TH CtIEPST

p.
S

,.
I.

mum. The question iS: what is the minimum

that can be achieved? The truth is we do not

know. Few ventilation companies do tests of

dust in the air after their equipment is installed; and those that do will not release the results. In the area of extraction and ventilation there are many cowboys, that is, sheet-metal workers who have set themselvesup in an increasingly profit-

able area. Bluntly, many extraction systems are useless. As the FactoryInspectorate commented in their Annual Report for 1966: 'The socalled ventilation plant may amount to no more than an exercise in more or less complicated sheet-metal work.' Therefore it is vitally important that workers demanding ventilation and extraction make sure the equipment purchased is that which gives the lowest levels of dust or fumes. Obviously the cheapest, although it may look very complicated, may not be the best. Yet it is so often the cheapest that gets the tender if management have the say. Ventilation should be localised to the job you are doing. That is, the hazardous dust or fumes are sucked away from you before they enterthe air you breathe. No system of ventilation or extraction is totally safe. A recent review17 commented: There is virtually no information published
130

Speciallighting shows up thisleakfrom an extraction system rightby the workers' nose. 1'Health and Safety Executive)

on absolute emissions of fabric filters in reducing the emission of fine particles of asbestos. This lack of information is unfortunate because serious occupational health problems may result from the common practice of recirculatingair to conserve energy... there are a substantial number of fibres which penetrate the fabric filter... Therc is certainly a possibility that a human health hazard penalty could off-set economic advantages of recirculation of air from the filter.
General ventilation This is the type of ventilation you've got in your

home: open the front window and the back door. Sometimes (for example the kitchen or bathroom) you may need to help the airflow along, especially on still days, with an extractor fan. This type of ventilation is never acceptable for any type of hazardous material such as asbestos and its substitutes. It is only acceptable for things such as heatand non-dangeroussmells. Clearly all this type of ventilation does is dilute the hazard and spread it around.

17

American Industrial HygieneJournal, 1975, p.595. 131

Fixed localisedextraction equipment This is the most efficient: wherever possible use this type of equipment when working with dusty materials. Try and get all jobsmade up on this type of equipment. Some jobs have to be done on site. Recently several types of portable equipment (drills, saws etc) have come onto the market fitted with extraction equipment. How good are they? Frankly we do not know. For the Factory Inspectorate do not do comparative tests and the information given with the equipmentis very scanty. Youwill have to get a choice of these machines, see which one reduces the dust levels to a minimum on your particular job, is easy to use, and so on.

Fixedextraction equipmentwithand without exhaustyen tilation.

a without exhaust:
2660fibres/cc b with exhaust: 2.3fibres/cc

132

A range ofhand tools

(drill, rip, saw, router,jig saws,orbitalsander) fittedwithexhaustequipment:Bosch drills, ELU rip saws,ELUplunging router,Boschjigsaw and ELU orbitsander. (Trend)

Cutting with exhaust extraction fitted. (Asbestos Research Council)

133

right: High speed orbital sander fittedwith extraction equipment. (Trend)

Drilling asbestos (or glass fibreetc) withvacuum equipment. Levelsofdust in theatmosphere were: withoutextraction: 40fibres/cc with extraction: 0.16 fibres/cc A goodreduction but still above US proposed limits whichare 0.1 fibres! cc. Beware that thedrill does not go right through and contaminate the next room. (BVCLtd)

134

Efficiencyof some of the better asbestos extraction equipment

Vacuum cleaner maker and model

Below are some of the figures the better makers give. Remember these are almost certainly tested under ideal conditions. Even so it can be seen that in the breathing zone, the only test that really counts, the levels are in general still way above the US and TUC recommended levels (tests 1 and 2).
Asbestos concentration air (fibres/mi) in In breathing In vacuum zone exhaust
1.1.

Jobdone

Trend MH65
rip-saw

50 x 3/8"
Asbestolux cut in 10 mm. vacuuming up over 3 mm.

2 Bivac ACL

0.84

41b of high fibre asbestos cement

less than 0.02

3 BVC EV 21

drilling asbestos
sheets

0.16 above 40.

Note: with no exhaust

4 Superfine

Ultimat
5 Nilfisk

? (Factory lnspectorate standard test)

0.02

900g of flock and 2kg cement of white

asbestos vacuumed

0.02

off floor over

20 mm.
6 GA 70 - 73 GB 733 VB 73
7

general exhaust

emission below 0.01; always less than 0.02

less than 0.025

Norris 74511

and Ill
Trend: Stirling Way, Stirling Corner, Borehamwood, Herts (01-953 0711) Bivac: Beehive Works, Marsland Street, Stock port (061-480 3468/9) BVC: Leatherhead, Surrey (037 22 76121) Ni/fisk: Newriiarket Road, Bury St Edrnunds, Suffolk (0284-63163) Norris.' Wellingborough Road, Rushden, Northampton (0933-58811/6 135

Note too that the most important test the Factory Inspectorate are concerned with is the emission of asbestos from the vacuum exhaust. Very properly too, since it is no use having a vacuum cleaner which spreads the dangerous dust around, as an ordinary household vacuum cleaner would. The Factory Inspectorate have a rule of thumb which says the emission from the vacuum exhaust should be less than one tenth of the current 'safe' level (TLV). Since this is as of now 2.0 fibres per ml for white asbestos;the allowed exhaust level is therefore 0.2. Clearly, from the above table, even with filters ten times as good as this (0.02) it is possible to have concentrations in your breathing zone of above the US and TUC recommended levels. Having said all that, and bearing in mind the limitation of this type of test, clearly from test 3 there is a massive reduction in the amount of dust produced: from 40 to 0.16 a reduction of over

200 times.

,t' c%JR, vi1W, IW1T1 mis Is 71f '-)' FFS.T(V PRQTC77cW/

136

General checklistfor extraction units 1 Get new equipment which will reduce the dust to a minimum. Get the claimed level the makers say it will cut down the dust to written into the contract. 2 Geta written procedure for operation, cleaning and maintenance from the makers. Have people responsible for such procedures (a duty under the 1969 Asbestos Regulations). 3 Try to get visual checks (for examplemanometers) on extraction where possible, so that the operator can tell when the equipmentisworking. Do not allow machine to be operated without extraction. Have a procedure for replacing filter bags as this is a particularly dangerousjob. 4 Have regular monitoring of the air with results available to the workforce. 5 Check that the dangerous dust is not going straight outside to the community. 6 Make sure the exhaust equipment used is Factory Inspectorate approved for use with asbestos, even when being used on other dusts (e.g. glassfibre).
Fact0tl Act
TI-IE

ASES1OS REG'-)

OF TIlO pORT4 COMP 'pE1SON EQUIPNT TEST BY

AND EXAMINATION EXHAUST OF

969

VENT1LATI
fromthe addre

t.

Name

o Cupier
if

in part i.

Addeem. diffet

DjejnguiShiflI or number
name

$tnguthtng

cmmit and
non

aa'P

the

137

Some simple equipment to see harmful dust The dust that does the real damagedeep in your lung is dust you cannot see in normal lighting conditions. Of course dust and grit of the larger size should not be ignored since it can cause or aggravate bronchitis. The dust that does the deep lung damage to your lungs is that which shows up sometimes when sunlightbeams into a darkened room. Use has been made of this effect uy the Factory Inspectorate to construct some simple equipment to show this dust up. Some of the photos showing dust in this booklet have been taken using this method. This invisible dust will show up if the area where dust leakage is suspected or likely is illuminated by a high intensity beam of light. The dust cloud can be shown up shinning this light at it and by looking at this beam of lightat an angle. If you were to look straight at the bright light your eyesight would suffer and you would not see the dust. A camera can replace your eye. The test is very sensitive, especially if you use a background as near black as possible is achieved. The process is illustrated in diagrammatic form below and more details can be obtained from the Factory Inspectorate.

eIhhtbem
Lamp Shield

I
(at any position round the as the light beamso longabout iO) is
md cated angle

Eye orCamera

Dust cloud
138

asbestosfrom baginto drum. (Health andSafety Executive)

Using the simplelight- source method toshowheavy contamination ofdust when pouring
4

_.__i

Case one:

Shopfloor action wins glass fibre extraction

George Corbyn of Portsmouth UCATT described how shop floor action at an internationally famous yacht building company won improved ventilation. In yacht

out. In addition to goggles and a Martindale dust mask they got an industrial
vacuum cleaner attached to the exhaust of the tarplaner where most of the dust was coming from. The hose of the vacuum cleaner proved cumbersome. So a second operator was used to control the hose and enable the tarplaner to have better control of the machine. This method has been in use for three years with no complaints.

a grinder-sander used for grinding small Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GRP) mouldings and are now awaiting a demonstration. They also use very small amounts of asbestos, under the following conditions:
1

building the glass fibre

dust mask worn at all

used;

Disposablegloves and

bulwarks are 'sheared down' prior to sheathing in teak timber. Originally this was donewith a wood chisel and mallet but the requirements of increased production led to a mechanical diamond grit tarplaner beingused. Thiscreated a lot of dust, so the convenor stopped the job until the dust problem was sorted

times; 2 No powertools to be

3 Material kept wet

when being worked; 4 Waste material disposed of in plastic bags which are marked: ASBESTOS WASTE. 5 We are also looking for suitable alternative materials to replace
asbestos.

During 1977 the stewards pushed for the use of an 'approved vacuum cleaner' for use with asbestos dust, for dust counts and for X-rays. They also wanted hooded extraction fitted to

139

a new method of cutting sheets fibrous This machine cuts by using a contoured smooth edge blade which performs a punching-sheering action on boards fed through the head. Tests done by the asbestos industry in 1976 showed levels of 0.35 fibres per ml in the breathing zone of the operator when cutting Asbestolux. This is well below the government 'safe' level (see p.1 19) but above the TUC and US government recommended levels. All cutting must be done with an approved vacuum cleaner for asbestos attached. Because of the nature of the well be an cutting process the machine mayit does leave other methods, but advantage over a ragged edge which has to be sealed for safety. (Nibblertine Ltd, AllianceWorks, Lancelot Road, Wembley, Middlesex,01-903 6611)
The Nibblertine:
The Nibblertine

(GilbertDavis)

140

Chapter 7 Working with asbestos and its substitutes

The most vital working practice is to do the job in such a way that the minimum amount of dust is created. This sounds easy. But is it, since you can't see the really dangerous dust? Obviously you want to get rid of the visible dust first, since removing this will almost certainly get rid of some of the more harmful invisible dust as well. After that you should try to use dust counts to guide you to the best procedures to use. Below are givensome examplesofnegotiated procedures: they could all be improved.

Cleaningup asbestos dust the safe way. Note theairfedmasks (the only safe ones), impermeableoveralls and special vacuum approped for use with asbestos.Allgotby TU actionatC.A. Parsons. (R. Murdoch)

Case one:
AUEW-TASS members say clean up properly

At C.A. Parsons in
Newcastle until 1967 blue
asbestos was used

for

packing the ends of small furnaces. The lab was cleared of blueasbestos at that time. But in 1976 AUEW-TASS members thought, to be on the safe side, the lab shouldbe given a secondcleaning. They themselvesput forward the cleaning proposals: industrial vacuum cleaners approved'for use with asbestos, cover-all overalls
141

and special respirators with external air supply. The company were not too keen and said that a filter mask would be adequate. But as
one AUEW-TASS technician commented: The cleaning work has to be doneand those working on it are the people who have to be satisfied with the safety positions. Anyway,who knows what is safe or unsafe?

Case two:

Dockyardasbestos disease

A substantial quantity of
asbestos was

found. The TASS committee insisted that the asbestos levels be monitoredbeforeanyone waslet back in the lab. The company said this would take weeks, maybe months until they were told the lab would be closed until the air was tested, when the results were made available immediately following the weekend's cleaning. TASS members were present during the testing and were involved on discussionsas to how the results were
analysed.1

H. Murdoch, Asbes tos follow our example',Socialist Worker. 24 July 1976.

1

BritishNavy Code of Practice produced in 1970 I am concerned by the Asbestoshas been used considerable developnaval ships since about nient during the war 1830. and the Second years in the use of World War saw a great asbestos, eitheraloneor increase in the amount of as part of a mixture, in asbestos used in ships of all the Shipbuilding and types. In August 1945, HM of F actories, Shiprepairing Industries, Chief Inspector mainly for the purpose Factory Inspectorate, serif of heat and sound inthe following letter tO the sula ion, arid the aicorlishipbuildingarid shippariyiog orreas in the repairing ridustry: rimirriher of workers Asbestos Insulationaboard Ships

42

exposed to risks of

injury to healththrough
asbestosis.

I would, however,
that, while the dustmay not have any apparent effectsat first, experience shows that, particularly if the workersare exposed to dust in substantial conemphasjse

centrations, serious results are apt to develop later, It is therefore

important that, even if the work will be only

temporary,
all reason-

the risks to a minimum.

ably practicablesteps shouldbe taken to reduce

156 men were awarded disHe then suggested a series ability pensions for asbesof detailed steps to take to tosis. But the important Had these precautions been minimise the dust: on taken over 30 years ago we thing is that most of these board,although the men only not be seeing the worked near might Asbestos Industry epidemic of asbestos diseases those working with asbestos. Regulations did not apply, In the same ten years there now occurringamong air 'spirit' should be were 55 deaths from the workersin the shipbuilding followed good ventilaand repairing industry,Of deadly asbestos cancer tion; damping down and Mesothelioma The course they were ignored. clearing up of dust; proviIn March 1965 routine averageage of death was sion of an 'approved' 63 years (with the youngest X-rays of 120 laggers in respirator and provision for aged40) and the average the cleaning and storage of Devonport Dockyard revealed that over 1 in 10 length of timefrom first ame; no one to work un had possible signsof exposure to death was 39 protected whenspraying asbestosis. This was con years (lowest time 20). As as going on; no one with asbestosis,-onlytwo of firmed in ten workers. A under 18 to be employed thesedeaths occurred in comprehensivestudy was on this work,etc. men who couldbe regarded made, mainlyby Surgeon He continued asasbestosworkers(one Commander PG. Harries, I maysay that these' which revealed an epidemic lagger and one sprayer). arrangementshave been of asbestos disease The restjustworkednear among accepted by the Shipasbestosworkersor shipyard workers. In four building Employers' Naval Dockyards, involving occasionally fittedand Federation and the 42,000 people, about3.5 per removed asbestos.2 Trade Unions concerned, cent, or almost The reason for this was 1,500, are and I therefore hope said to have X-ray abnormali- foundwhen they started you will be prepared at ties consistent with asbestos doing dust counts in 1967.
143

once to accept the precautions suggested. A.W. Garrett,HM Chief Inspector of Factories

exposurel At Devonport in the ten years up to 1973,

sO

Asbestos fibre concentrations(blue and white) were found as high as 2,000 fibres/miwhile sweeping and bagging asbestos waste. in general the concentrations were 50-500 fibres per ml. As regards 'indirect' exposure, in monitoring a processwhich involved strippingbluesprayed
asbestos, a level of 311

0,i6l9

b0 If.

fibres per ml wasrecorded, but two decks above, a of concentration 30 fibres ml wasrecorded 150 per timesthegovernment's socalledsafe level.
British Navy Code of Practice for working with
asbestos

\'
S

6 To provide cleaning
and decontamination
arrangemefltS

By 1970 the BritishNavy had produced a Code of Practice 'WorkingWith

Asbestos' and was actively phasing out all asbestos. The pamphlet recommended:

7 To carry out regular

dust sampling. Apparentlyan increase in pay wasgiven to the men for the discomfortof working with all this protectivegear.3 We tried to obtain more detailed information on those procedures, but the Navy

And in Belfasta study of 162 laggersfirst employed in 1940 showed that by 1975 122 had died when only 54 would have been expected to 68 extra deaths There are 40 more likely to die so the death toll taken by asbestos will be higher.6
Guardian, 24June 1976. 2 Environmental Research, vol 11 1976, p.261.
1

To keep asbestos work separateand away from otherwork; 2 ToimprovewOrkmethods and materials to
1

reduce dust;

3 To protect all employees earlyas 1969. whetherthey work with There is a regular industry asbestos or not; now in observing the diseases caused by asbestos 4 To keep a register of
everyone who is employed

refused to be helpful, even though they published an unclassified report4 as

Proceedings of the 3 RoyalSociety ofMedicine, vol 63,1970, p.1041. 4 PG. Harries, 'The effects and controlof diseases associated with exposureto asbestos in

directly on asbestos work; 5 To provide protective clothing and equipment:

in shipyard towns. For

personal respirators, plastic hoods and caps, green nylon overalls, skull caps, overalls made of rubberised fabric, glovesand footwear; 144

instance, in Barrow-il?Furness, 579 men have been found with X-ray changes: 28 cases of the deadly asbestos cancer Mesotheliomahave been observed, with another8 cases under investigation.5

Devonport Dockyard', Thesis, London University, 1969. Environmental 5 Research, vol 11, 1976, p.244. BritishJournal of Industrial Medicine, vol 34, 1977, p.174.

health risks would be Where hand tools are made. all dust produced to be There can be little doubt fightback vacuumed up at once. that the actionsof Les and 5 All waste to be bagged Fred 'encouraged' Swan in special containers and Since the introduction of the Hunter to use this substitute, under Safety Officers' Asbestos Regulations in although as Les Stephenson guidance all waste to be 1969shop stewardsat cautions: properly dumped; Swan Hunter'sshipyard on The new material being 6 Wherever possible CutTyneside, Les Stephenson used is a limpet board ting to be doneoff ship and Fred Webster, have which I gather contains in special cutting area; campaignedto get rid of calcium silicate and is 7 Where cutting on ship asbestos from the industry. manufactured by to be done, may be donein As Les says: DarlingtonInsulation situ, with proper extraction, After eightyears and Co Ltd: what effect this outside normalworking withoutmuch support dust has on one's health hours; from the EEPTU our only timewill tell. (Too 8 Shopstewards to be union we managed to true see especially consulted over difficult achieve this. The last p.107) situations; ship with Mariniteboard In the meantime the pre9 Procedure agreed by was built this year cautions for asbestos should company and shop (1977). not be relaxed. Les Asbestosdust samplestaken stewards; breaking it may Stephenson knows of some result in disciplinaryaction. in October 1974 showed fourconfirmedcases in the that even whendrilling Another dust survey done in last threeyears, all electristeel grounds throughpre1976showed levelsduring cians, who had worked in drilledMarinite Roof the drilling and sawing of his department, all of whom Panels, with a portablehandMarinjteasbestos board to died: held vacuum in use, levels be around5 to 7 fibres/mI, Case 7 wasan electrician of 4.5 fibres per ml were even when holding exhaust who had a history of chest reached. trouble and when he died it In 1974a Code of Practice near the tools.A drill with built-in extractionwas much was found to be asbestosis. for the use of asbestos was Case 2 was a Tyneside better, giving levelsbelow agreed whilst the material 0.05 fibres per ml. The lecturerwho diedafter wasbeing phasedout: Ironic thing is that as early working near asbestos. He 1 as 1973 tests8were doneon Everything possible served his apprenticeship as must be done to use pre-cut a replacement for Marinite an electrician,left at the age rriaterial; at the Yardand the tester of 24, anddied 26 years 2 Extractionattachments concluded: later. must be used for drilling The physical properties Case3 was an electrician and jig sawing; of the new material who, afterserving his 3 All extraction equip(glass fibre calcium apprenticeship wentto an mentshall be checked each office position. In the past silicate) are such that day, bags emptied if little or nothingwould provingliability on one required, etc. Weekly be lost by using it for specificcompany was recorded inspection of bulkheads in place of difficult. In this casewe such equipmentby a Marinitewhile subthought we had a concrete responsible person; stantial gains in potential case; the man concerned
Case three: Shipyard asbestos workers used 145

had been all his life with the Swan HunterGroup. This case was settled out of court because it was found when goingthroughhis records that he had lived in a prefab house from 1939 to 1946, detrimentalto his case.
made of asbestos board, and this would have been
Case 4 is of an electrician

who recentlydied. The

EEPTU are proceeding with

his case but the factthat he worked in otherestablishments is causing problems.

8 K. Speakrnan and

Health Aspectsof an Asbestos Board Substitute', Building Research Establishment,

A.J. Majumdar,

:)'
Only four out of ten US respirators 'approved'for use with asbestos were foundsuitable. (US Navy) A portabletable with downdraft exhaust from an asbestos approved vacuum cleaneris used. It catches a lot ofthe saw cuttings but note that a face mask is still used to beon the safe side. (USNavy) L. Polakoff,of Herrich Memorial Hospital, California. The results becameavailable in July 1977. Of 359 Mare Island shipyard workers(boilermakers,electricians, insulators, welders and laggers) who were first exposed ten or moreyears
ago

Professor Selikoff found that 17 of the 25 X-rays showed workers US Shipyard signsof abnormalityconback fight sistent with asbestosIt is known that large induced lung diseases. The amounts of asbestos have original X-rays had been in been used in the fabrication the possession of the Navy of ships in the US during but it had never told any the last forty years. In the workersthey had lung autumn of 1976 the unions disease. As Dr George M. at Mare Island Naval ShipLawton,a Navy Captain, yard, California,became for Occupaconcerned aboutthe health responsible and Preventional Health of their members. The local tative Medicine, asbestos union branch commented: (AsbestosWorkers Local 20, If I order an automobile Long Beach) and the Federal and the way they make Employees Metal Trades automobiles is to throw Council sent25 chest X-rays people in the furnace, I of Mare Island asbestos am not responsible for workersto the well-known that. asbestos expert, Professor The unionspushed for a
Case four:

Irvin Selikoff, for analysis.

146

bigger survey by Dr Philip

to asbestos, 213 (59 per

cent) had abnormal chest X-rays 'compatiblewith

asbestos-related disease'. The CalifornianUnions have described this epidemic of 'white lung', as they call it, as 'the largest peacetime genocide in history'. As a result of thesestudies, the Unions are pushing for guaranteed compensation and tough legislation. They want9 removal of asbestos from the workplace and a comprehensive'medical surveillance program'by Dr Polakoff.

d SMA-12blood test, for workerswith more than 20 years exposure

also e sputum cytology moreoften than

wasdoneof the ten best

approved respirators and fourwereselected on the basisof goodfacefit, good visibilityandease of breathing through. Thisshows the needfor choice in a
respirator.

2 Ventilationcontrolsare difficult but can be done if follow-up and written care and effort is taken. reports (includingresults of tests and X-rays) will return 3 Substitution of asbestos to regional resource centre with glassfibre, synthetic for analysis. Resultswill be rubber foams and, in e handling of data,
given to each worker.

for smokers, tests of urineand stool for occult blood.

yearly

a registryofemp/oyees

maintenance

All employees who have

worked in the shipyard

The regional resourcecentre will keep all medical records.

ofrecord&

particularceramic foam has been successfulin many

areas.

4 A detailed list of changes

in work procedures is given: pre-wetting (Cuts dust down

(civilian and Navy) since World War II. To include: full name, current address, telephone number, social security number, date of birth and employment history. It will be compiled from company and union records.

b an educational programfor workersto make them aware of the risk, the value of medical testsand the added danger

Some details10 have been given of the US Navy control by half); ventilationwhereeverpossible; plenty of waste programme for asbestos. containers about for scrap The major points in the etc; cutting instead of ripping control programme are: out during stripping; sealing a adequate respiratory of areas;much use of protection; approved vacuum cleaners b change in work practices and so on. and handling methods; 5 Treating the workers as c engineeringcontrols human beings telling by such as ventilation;

d aneducational programme themwhatthe effectsof asbestos are, whatshould to retrainworkersto use

less hazardousmaterials; e substitutionof less

of smoking with asbestos

exposure.

c cooperationwith local doctors Thiswillbe

developed as the program will depend a lot on this.

d periodicmedical
examinations

and can bedone and why, and asking them for their opinionsand suggestions hazardous materials; in many f a monitoringprogramme. resultedbetter. changes for the Moredetails are given in the 9 P.L. Polakoff, article, and some particu'Asbestos-related disease larly important points are:
1

for workerswith less than 20 yearsexposure:

a yearly examination, b chest X-ray, c lung function tests,

to include:

of four men did notwear

1968 found that threeout

A survey in January

their respirators; poor face

fit, difficultyin breathing and lack of comfort were given as reasons. A survey

Environm.nlRes.an,h,
vol 11, 1976, p.248. 147

amongstshipyard workers', Metal TradeCouncil, Ma1e Island, California, 1977. 10 'Asbestosexposure control at PugetSound Naval shipyard'

Insulatorwearingapproved
respirator, disposable paperoveralls and showing close location ofplastic

refusebag.
right: Magnesiapre-formed insulation is sawed under controlled vacuum conditions off ship where possible note they useface mask still. (USNavy)
Case five:

Dockers fightasbestos

Early in 1964 some dockers

in Surrey Docks, London, went to see one of their

mates in hospital and learntthat he had asbestosis. As a result the branch, Number 3, blacked asbestos and called for a total

blackingof asbestos. This became official union policy in the London Docks in 1967. Harry Walker, a TGWU member in the Port of London West India Dock,

first became concerned

about the health haiardsof asbestos whenhe read about the African women and
148

childrendying from asbestos Officer in a Circular.But at the meeting was Dr Murray, diseases near Rhodesian mines. At that time the TUC Medical Adviserat asbestos hewasworking on asbestos the time, who was asked the following question by Harry from Rhodesia. At his he moved that unless Walker 'Wouldyou personbranch asbestos was properlybagged, ally handle asbestos?' Dr Murray replied: 'Handleit? palletised and wrapped in I would not go near it.' would not be polythene,it From then on asbestos was The employers worked. blacked in the PLAWest offered lOp an hour on the and a India Dock. normal rates, overalls One London docker,John of water to wash bucket their hands in! Not satisfied, Challingsworth, TGWU Branch 1/6, who is certified Harry Walker pressed for a union officials as having 10 per cent meeting with asbestosis, has written an and doctors. The TGWU union officials assured the open letter to other do k was workers branch that the asbestos Dear brothers, and I safe, as did the Port Medical

Chairman of Southampton Docks Shop stewards committeecommented in yourselves and your 1977: 'We've worked on loved ones in, if you cargoes in the pastwhen it's still handleasbestos. been falling like snowaround us. We recentlyhad a case Importsof asbestos into Britain were 139,000 metric whena Southampton docker and exceptional loss of tons in 1975 (down from applied for ajob in Saudi weight (onestone) in August 1967...specialists 168,000 in 1971)andcame Arabiaand got turneddown on health grounds. He had confirmed I had asbesto- in mainly through the asbestosis and he's only 43.' sis and with great help following ports: Why haven't they followed from the legaldepartThousand the example of London and rnent of the TGWU I metric banned asbestos? In some succeeded in extracting tons cases they have tried, and a 10 per centdisability Manchester 53.7 few days later been pension from the Liverpool 25.3 approached by the conMinistry.., brothers, 12.9 Southampton venors of asbestos factories you have got a fight on Avonmouth 9.9 on bended knee saying that your hands, believe you 9.8 Tilbury such action will put hunme, if unfortunately Lowestoft 8.2 dreds of workersout ofjobs. you are thought to have Other ports 19.4 And goodtrade unionists the disease. wouldn't want to do that It did not show itself in Source: Parliamentary Mrs Bain, would they? Yourmoney my case until after a ten- question by March Hansard 5-Il 1976 or your life. year lapse.

EI4N 4S&ES-rOs. mean that to incorporate every port worker not only in the UK but throughoutthe world. I write as a confirmed asbestosis case. - .My own particularcase came to light througha visitto my doctor througha chest cough

WNt'ON D7CK&S
I

SO(11HA'I?iZ'N
Z'O
will leave it to your

NO'.

ikx$

own conscience to understand the highly dangerous situation, healthwise, you leave

Conditionsat other ports are bad. As Ritchie Pearce,

149

Servicing brake andclutch linings

'Is brake lining dust harmful?' asks a leaflet from the asbestos industry front organisation, the Asbestos Information Committee. 'No', answers the leaflet; unless you do a lot of it and then the recommendations in their sister organisation's pamphlet1 are adequate to protect your
health.

Is this true? As early as 1965 UK 'official'

showed figures2 (and therefore underestimates) of diagnosed asbestosis that out of 247 cases during 1955-63, four gave theirmain occupation as brake liners. The deadly asbestos cancer Mesothelioma in garage workers, even has been shown to occur

was re-lining brake among those whose hobbyresearchersat Profesand clutch linings. By 1976 sor Selikoff's laboratory in the US had conducted a preliminary survey of 90 New York garage workers (mainly general mechanics plus a few panel beaters, painters and lubricators). They found3: Over one quarter of a group of experienced vehicular maintenance workers examined had evidence of X-ray abnormalities consistent with asbestosis;one quarter also had restrictive pulmonary function testfindings. Clearly then there is a real and serious health hazard to motormechanics. Asbestos brake shoes were first used in cars around 1910 to replace the woven cotton textile ones used at that time. This has allowed the By 1963k the present high speeds on the road.Modern Urban that asbestos was 'A possibility Health Hazard' wasnoted. In 1968 the hazard was investigated5 by an engineer working for the US Cincinnati Public
'AsbestOs-based friction materials and asbestos reinforced resinousmoulded materials', AsbestosisResearch Council, Guide No.8. 2 AnnalsoftheNew YorkAcademy ofSciences,vol 132, 1965, p.128. 3 TheMount Sinai JournalofMedicine,vol 43, 1976,
1

p107.
4 5

South African MedicalJournal, 19 January 1963, p.77.

JournaloftheAirPollution ControlAssociation,vol 18,

1968, p.824.

150

Health Service. He found that although the original brake shoes contained 30 to 50 per cent of white asbestos, the dust generated on braking contained less than one per cent fibre, therefore 'free fibre from brake liningwear seems to be an inconsequential health factor in urban air pollution.' He also concluded that most of the decomposition product was non-fibrous, and later authorso from the asbestos industry ted this was the non-fibrous 'fosterite'. suggesSo everythingwas OK, and the asbestos industry made much publicity out of this research. But recent research7 has shown that asbestos in the brake shoes is not broken down to a fibrous material. In fact it seems that thenonlast thing the asbestos brake-shoe industry want is this 'fosterite' as it is very hard and scores and gouges the brake drums and discs, so they add
6
7

AnnalsofOccupational Hygiene, vol 13, Atmospheric Environment, vol 10, 1976, 1970, p.17. p.583.

(DrF.D. Trevarthen)

Grinding brake shoes.

151

forma'reconditioning agents' to prevent its broken claim asbestos is being tion!8 They all down to a 'safe' non-fibrous substitute and rid their necks to get the time they are breaking old of this safe substitute and back to the goodand killer asbestos. Talk about having your cake eating it! Furthermore, nobody even knows if this nonfibrous 'fosterite' is safe. Fords promised9 animal tests in 1969. None were done, it seems, as in

Research Council's PneumoconiOSiS Unit commented1 pathetically One of the major sources of asbestos pollution in the urban air was likely to be dust from the brake linings of vehicles. Fortuleast nately, the asbestos is one of the strucand undergoes a biologically active, tural breakdown during braking which is said to be inert. There is a strong case tor examining this dust for biologicalactivity, but it should be done by the industries or industrial associations concerned. Some hope! And what type of results would we is again get if they did? But there has Dr Gilson in the faith he always had only showing whether 'responsible' industry. It is doubtful sufferers is shared by the thousands of his faith from asbestos diseases.
8 9
10 EnvironmentalResearch, vol 12, 1976, p.110. AnnalsofOccupationalHygiene,vol 13, 1970, p.20. Guardian, 24 June 1976.

1976 Dr Gilson, then head

of the

Medical

Ford's vacuum brush method ofcleaning off asbestosdust from brake

shoes. Recommendedin acadt journals as early as 19). But stillnot in common use. (Ford MotorCo)

152

right: Blowing.offbrakedust containingasbestos (a dust sampler ispinnedto the man'slapel). (A.N. Rohi)
below: Bevelling

truck brake linings. The arrow shows accumulation ofdeadly asbestosdust. (A.N. RohI)

In 1970 investigations by the Ford Motor Company showed that peak asbestos dust levels of 87 fibres per ml (seven times today'sallowed 'safe' peak level) could be reachedwhen off dust from brake drums. Punching,blowingriveting and grinding could lead to levels as high as 29 fibres per ml. They suggested a vacuum brush method of cleaning brake shoes which cut the peak sample down from 87 to 0.6 fibres per ml. By 1977 more complete sampling11 had shown that most of the dust formed was too small to be picked up by the sampling method used before. Up to 80 per cent may not be visible in the standard test method. Using the standard test method, they found that 'blowing-off' could give levels as high as 29 fibres per ml. The bevelling of truck linings could lead to levels as high as 72 fibres per ml. Even at a distance of 25 ft or more (9.1 metres) the levels were 0.3 fibres per ml, above the recommendationof the US Health Agency and the TUC. Drilling, grinding and riveting led to levels as high as 29 fibres

per ml.
11

Proceedingsofthe RoyalSociety ofMedicine, vol 170, 1977, p.32.

w
'-I

I
I'

F.

153

Recommendations for a safer procedure for servicing brake and clutch linings. As a result of these studies the US National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) has recommended12 the procedure outlined below. Some American unions (e.g. United Automobile Workers Local 259, New York) have issued similar instructions to their
members.
1 Areas where brake and clutch servicing is done shall be separated from the main working area and posted with asbestoswarning signs:

Danger asbestos dust hazard Avoid breathing dust Breathing dust leads to incurable lung disease (asbestosis) and lungcancer Do not remain in the area unlessyour work requires it

After wheels are removed and during reassembly, and before removing brake drums or clutch housing, the mechanic should wear a respirator approved for use with asbestos dust. 3 Suitable (see photos) and asbestos-approved vacuum equipment should be used for cleaning Out asbestos dust. Compressedair should never be used to blow offasbestos dust. After vacuum cleaning any remainingdust should be removed with a rag soaked in waterand wrung nearly dry. Make sure the rag, afteruse, is not left around to dry out and spread the dust around. Putthe rag in a plastic bag and dump it in an approved
2

manner.

As much stripping, drilling, sanding and so on as possible should be done in the place of manufacture. It is far easier to take adequate precautions in a specialist factory than a general workshop. 5 Any drilling, punching, sanding and so on that has to be done in the workshop must be done in the approved area using approved extractionequipment suitable for asbestos dust. 4
interim procedure for asbestos brake and clutch servicing, US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Current Intelligence Bulletin, 8 August 1975.
12

154

One type ofextra ction equipment thatmakes the cleaning ofbrake drums safer.A cornpressedair line blows offthedust and itis collected bya vacuum cleanerapproved foruse with asbestos. (BVC)

6 All cleaning in the approved area will be done with an asbestos approved vacuum cleaner. Fitters and others working with asbestos shall have correct protective clothing, changingrooms, laundryfacilities, andso on. 7 Personal and fixed air sampling shall be carried out periodically (e.g. monthly) to determine the effectiveness of these measures. Regularmedical checks shall be done on workers in contact with asbestoswith results available to the workforce. In 1976 Mr Anthony Mandelle,former director of Cape's asbestos factory inmanaging Barking, London, commentedl3: It would be commercially reasonable to introduce automation. Instead of brake linings costing 5 they might cost 8, but after all the market price is determined by the demand. You are dealing with men's lives. You must pay in money and not men's lives.
13 Guardian, 31 March 1976.

155

The type of vacuum equipment that is best for to minimum keeping the asbestos dustthe aworkers' should opinions be determined by both and checks on the dust levels. We have heard
reports

one bit of extraction equipment to a garage wit no instructions on its use, on changing of the vacuum bags and no revision of the bonus thejob takes longer system and so on. Clearly ifbonus must be rethe equipment the using negotiated. In the US one automechanic, Nelson O'Connor, has gone further and designed14 and

of managements, under

pressure, givin

patented his own 'Kleen Air Brake Dust Collector' and he is trying to interest manufacturers. A new type of brake shoe cleaning unit, the 'Gerni Pony Brake Washers', has come on the British market in 1978. This unit uses a mixture of degreasing fluid and water to flush off the dirt and dust. Whilst there is no doubt that this unit is better than blowing out the shoes/hubs/ clutch housings, there is no evidenceas to what level this machine reduces the asbestos dust level down to. Further, the degreasing agent may be harmful to lungs and skin. This unit is favoured by management because it is cheaper than extraction units, but beware. The implementation of these and other safety asbestos in garages procedures for working withof asbestos diseases reduce the incidence should in garage workers. It is not known if it will eliminate the hazard entirely, but what it will do is make brake and clutch manufacturers more active in finding substitutes. As early as 1969, Mr D. Hatch, of Ferodo said 15 it cannot be said that the use of asbestos in disc brake pads remains a technical necessity, and it is in this field of friction materials that some departure from resinasbestos based composites could occur in the next few years on technical and performance grounds. What happened? There has not been enough pressure on the manufacturers to force them to market safer substitutes. Alternatives have been
14
15

Monitor, vol 3, No.6, 1976. AnnalsofOccupationalHygiene,vol 13, 1970, p.26.

156

found for Concorde and some racing cars and will be found for all such uses if forced. Dunlop have already developed metallic-type friction brake pads that perform better than asbestos equivalentsfor motorcycles. The largest US friction brake pad manufacturer, RaybestosManhattan Inc., has indicated in its 1977 report to its shareholders that 'due to escalating costs and continuouslyrevisedgovernmentregulations' the company believes it is in its best interest and those of its customers to get out of asbestos. They expect to do this gradually over the next few years.
had to work fitting panels and furniture in carriages where there was a layer of asbestos dust that had been sprayed by the night shift. Ralph Picketwas a nonsmoker. He was a very fit making and servicing these man, a cyclist of Olympic carriagesseem to have been standard whocycledto work each day until March 1974. appalling. In 1975 He had a wife and two a solicitor was claiming1 thatan entire team of children.He was aged 51 in 1974. In the spring of that eight whose job it was to year he becameshort of spray asbestos onto British breath. He underwent Rail carriageshad died. medical examination and from the deaths Judging that have occurred in York and operation in January 1975 revealed that he had among workersat the the deadlyasbestos cancer British Rail works in the town the solicitor maywell Mesothelioma The cancer have been right. Two recent couldnot be removed deaths, David Bull aged47 completelyand the operation and Brian Kings aged 39, left him wearing a corset as the nervescontrolling his bring the known total to six in the past two years.2 stomach had been severed. He was given less than two Compensation for years to live. asbestos victim's 'lost In July 1975 he started years' court proceedingsto claim From 1949to 1974 Ralph damagesfrom his employer Picket worked at the British British Rail Eastleigh works, 1976 he Rail. In October was awared the Hants. During the day he
Case six: General damages

British Rail British Rail have used a lot of asbestos over the years, mainly to insulate their carriagesfrom noise and so on. Conditionsfor the men

for loss of

amenities, painand suffering 7000.00 Interest on the above 7000 at 9% since service of writ:

787.50
1508.88

Sum for loss of earnings: Sum for loss of expectation of

life: 500.00 Thisamounted to a grand total of 14,947.64. The going rate fora life in 1976 was less than 15,000it seems. Four mont/is later Ralph Picket was dead. He died on 15 March 1977. Before he died he appealed. The appealwasheard after his death in November 1977 and the 7000award raised to 10,000. But no interest was awarded on that sum. His widow appealedto the

that the sum for loss of earningswastoo small (fl508). On 2 November

House of Lords. She claimed

following damages:

1978the Lordsgavejudgement.Theyreduced the lump

157

sum from 10,000back to 7000. but did give interest. More importantly, they decided that the sum for the 'lost years' was too small. The final sum has yet to be decided but there is no doubt it will be much greater than the insulting
1508 previously awarded for the loss of earnings of a fit and active 51-year-old.3 British Rail have made no efforts, it seems to trace otherworkersfrom the factories to check on their health. This neglect is criminal. Drivers have reported blue asbestos

called safe level, are well above the background levels and indicate a very real health hazard.

DoNr
IF YOUt POT
M0RTEM'5
YOU'LL (!E if'!
FOPS 5OME

It appearsthat in the short term British Rail maywell seal off the asbestos surfaces and blank off the ceiling ventilatorsinto the passengers compartments

(not the

driver's),but in the longterm BR is strippingthe 7,000of its 17,000 passenger coaches insulated with
asbestos.
1

COMPEJ5TION

Daily Telegraph,

fibres floating in their cabs4

10 October 1975. 2 Guardian, 21 October 1977.

3

and measurementsof blue asbestos in cabsand carriages show levels of 0.008to 0.012 fibresper ml (letter from BR to Sir Bernard Braine MP) which, although below the government so-

a Daily Telegraph,
b

13 October 1976;

'inflation casts a

shadowover damages awards, Financial Times. 13 November 1978.

4 Daily Telegraph, 28 June 1976.

British Rail work methods followingmethods are in According to BR16 the'asbestos houses': operation at 17 special These 'asbestos houses' are essentially sealed 1 and sheds fitted with high powered extraction flow so as to maintain the air filtration systems from clean to dirty areas; 2 The men work in PVC wet suits with positive and pass through pressure or air-line respirators after working facilities and air locks shower sessions to changing rooms and equipment rooms; out both 3 Regular air sampling is carried inside the suits and in the clean areas and dirty areas. There are also regular fibre checks of
letter from Dr R.l'.G.Dickerson, GroupMedical Officer for British Rail,to I3SSRS, 7 April 1977.
16 58

exhaust air to ensure no pollution to the neighbourhood (but see p.128); applied asbestos is 0.05 fibres per ml (that is one-quarter of the Factory Inspectorate 'safe' level), and the level of 2 fibres per ml for whiteasbestos is taken as a ceiling level (that is one-sixth of the current ceiling level), above which action the 1969 Asbestos Regulations is taken under According to one report17 the men working in these shedsget an extra 10 a week. They it! But reports vary. One worker18 deserve at the Doncaster 'asbestos house' said they were paid an extra lop an hour 4 a week. On top of this, because of congestion and poor lighting in the 'asbestos houses', carriages are going out with asbestos still in them, men in other departments are refusing to work with them, and at that time the 'asbestos house' men were on a work-to-rule The accusations that the 'asbestos house' at BR Doncaster is not effective been confirmed in a report by the TUC's have medical adviser, Dr Ronald Owen. The report was in June 1977 and BR engineers released made The Guardian in December 1977.19 The it to supposedly elaborate procedures are not As oneshop representative at Doncasterworking. said: We have found lumps of asbestos as big as 4 The standard

to blue

dinner plates in the heating worries us is how much is ducts. What getting that we don't see and going backthrough traffic. Once the heating gets goingout to it will dry out and be discharged everywhere. Clearly both the public at risk. The workers haveand BR employees are to work on contaminatedlost money by refusing cars back to the 'asbestos house', and sending them because they are paid by piece-work.In May 1977, after a dispute lasting ten weeks on this issue, 25 workers travelled to NUR headquarters in London and accused the union of a conspiracy of silence to protect jobs. These workers need the of other NUR and ASLEF members andsupport all who
17
18

19

Guardian, 22 March 1977. Socialist Worker, 14 May 1977. Guardian, 9 December 1977.

159

at BR use the railway. As Dick Holden, a fitter Doncaster added: The management's attitude is that we are source of over-reacting. But it is a justified friends when your anger. You feel angrycertain levels of risk; die. We have to accept we there are risks in all industries. Butthat British Rail telling the press resent 'we've cracked it' when clearlythey haven't.
Sealing and stripping asbestos

to the In general both the TUC in the evidence the on Asbestos2 and

Advisory Committee favour asbestos sealing Factory Inspectorate21 second best, rather than stripping. But sealing is No work has is still present. because the asbestos are been done to see how effective these seals can whetherthe asbestos after a few years' wear, and so on. If you decide on pass through the sealis one approved by the Facsealing make sure it asbestos. One tory inspectorate for sealing painting of an that latex spray study22 showed asbestos ceiling cut downthe number of asbestos but it did not

Asbestos in a had stale.

(HSE)

fibres in the air by over half, did that eliminate the hazard only strippinghave the will On top of these unknowns you is constant problem of checking whether the seal task: damaged; in a school an almost impossible is done, checking every time any maintenance Finally, and so on. new installations carried out, the hazard will reappear on removal.Will anyone ten or fifty remember that asbestos is present inworkers endemolition years' time? Will future public unwittingly? themselvesandthe danger

Selected written evidence to the Governments Advisory Committee Ofl AsbcstOS 1976-77', IIMSO. 1977. p.111. Health ha,ards ol sprayed asbestos coatings in buildings,
2(1 21

Technical DataNoc 52, HMSO, May 1976. 22 'Aheiosexposure in a \'alc building, E,ir,ronmefllal vol Research. 13. 1977. p146. 160

Sealingasbestos with an approved sealer.Note the use ofprotective equipment. (Dee Ceel, Sun)

An iron girdersprayed

with asbestos and- sealed with an approved sealing spray. (Liquid Plastics)
161

Stripping asbestos the safer answer. (HSE)

162

this aspect: To seal, paint and label blue asbestos-covered Rolled Steel Joists (RSJs): 16.79 per m2 (C1.56 per ft2) To strip and seal residual fibres to RSJ surfaces with a Silicate adhesive: 26.00 per m2 (C2.50 per ft2) plus an additional cost for replacingthe asbestos insulation with a non-asbestos substitute. British Leyland, where this work was
done, chose sealing. The only guidance we have for procedures for stripping comes from the asbestos industry itself. They have produced a Code of Practice (Asbestos Research Council Guide No.3) which is 'approved' (although not formally under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act) by the Factory Inspectorate. Recently, an improved procedure has been described22 and brief details given below. Clearly workers stripping have got to negotiate the best procedures and those around the stripping have got to check on those procedures; using the comments and photos in this booklet as a start.
23

Sealing versus stripping: COStS Clearly the case for careful stripping is strong. The only reason it is not recommended is cost. Some recentfigures23 givenfor the cost illustrate

Annals ofOccupationalHygiene,vol 17, 1974, p.49.

Twoexamples of better stripping procedures

Case one:

An improved stripping
procedure

cent of white asbestos (Chrysotile). Under the normal influences of air

early 1970s the health

hazardsof asbestos were

In 1963the Yale University School of Art and Architecture wascompleted. This building has 35,000 square feet (3150 m2) of suspended gypsum board ceiling surfaces that had been sprayed to between '/2 in. and 1 in. in thickness with a coating containing15 per

currentsventilation leaks, vibrationand servicing etc the ceilingsoon beganto deteriorate.Also some of the ceilings were only 6 ft 8 in. (203cm) high and easily reached. In 1967a maga/ine article interviewed a student '...as he pulls off a handfulof ceiling'. By the

finally becoming known.A survey doneby the University andConnecticutState Department found a maxione-tenthof the then US standard of 5 fibres per ml. Earlyin 1972the ceilings
were sprayed with latex paint to reduce asbestos

air of 0.5 tibres per ml of air;

mum level of asbestos in the

163

fibre loss to the air. This cutdown the fibre count by over half (67 per cent) to 0.2 fibres per ml. But Itdid noteliminatethe hazard. The ceilings still looked to be in a bad state. Desks, library books and scientific equipmentgot sprinkled with ceiling material. Equipmentgot jammed with 'white grit'. Therefore, anotherinvestigation took place in 1974-75. It was found that the original 197172 sampling, which found
'safe' levelsof asbestos in the air, had been done in unnaturallyquiet conditions: hardly typical of a building used by 2,000 personsa year. Several new sets of sampling gave the results in the table: Sampling Fibres

Art done. Very dangerous levels Yale University and Architecture Building. are reached, especially by (Yale Lnn'ersltv)
maintenance staff. Only a level of0.00 fibresper rn/is
acceptable.
below: Repair ofthis light will

As the author of the report, exposure. (Yale University) Robert N. Sawyer, states
methods of sealing or enclosing the ceilings were less satisfactory because of the ineffectiveness of fibre control, hazards of application,flammability, ceiling contactand maintenance', thereforestrippingunder

cause dangerousasbestos

carefully contrailed conditionswas used. The cost of this work was around 25,000 (nearly 1/ft2 or 8-9/m2), and this did not include the replacement of ductingand lighting.
Procedure
1

conditions

All constructionworkers (40 in this case) attended perml talks on the correct proce0.00 dures, equipment, regulations and health hazards;

Air in the city of

New Haven

Quiet conditions
(as for sampling in 1971-72) Ceiling contacted by stacked books

0-02 off with double parallel

15.5

Work was done during the college holidays. Contammated areas were sealed
layers of polythenesheets taped to each door jamb. It was found that two rooms were needed for the safe

Fittersremoving 17.1 ceilingsections and staff Students 0 normallyworking Cleaning staff working:

'
6

insulationof non-asbestos areas from the stripping

area.

dry sweeping 2 dry dusting

1

much dust (see table). 40 Soaking with ordinary Clearly the sampling done in water reduced the dust, but spraying with water 1971-72 was totally misplus surfactant(a soap leading, yet it is the most solution) was much better. common way sampling is
164

3 Dry stripping

created

It enabled a fasterand
more complete wetting of the area to be stripped. Fibres produced during

stripping (fibres per ml)

asbestos

stripping dry
immediate

wet

workarea

75

8
2.0

next room (sealed off) 6.4 next but one

room (also

partitionsto sealoff

Carpenters erecting

sealed

off)

2.0

0.0

stripping areas. Wearing protective clothingand dust samplers. (Yale

University)

Stripping
method

Dust count (fibres per ml)

below: Typicalpolythene barrier across doorway to reduce, butnoteliminate, asbestos dust movement. (Yale University)

I plus 50 per centpolyoxy-

(water plus reduced to surfactant) 4.2) The wetting agent which acts like soap was 50 per cent polyoxyethylene ester

dry 82 wet 23 (plain water) wet 8 (in practice

ethylene ether in a concentration of one ounce (30 ml) per 5 gallons (19 litres) of water, It wasestimated that this method cut down the time of strippingby half.

4 To get down tozero dust

counts (using the light saryto have two extra cleaning of the stripped rooms, with at least 24 ing to allow the dust to
settle.
165

microscope) it was neces-

hours between each clean-

6 All waste was disintegrated in a machine to reduce its volumefor easy disposal. It
was packed in 6mm plastic bags,sealed in strong cardboard drums and dumped according to US regulations. 6 All the materials (books, equipmentand so on) that were in the area before strippingweredecontaminated in a special area. Dusting wasdonewith high filtration vacuum cleaners, but the

workers still wore protective

clothing. The use of vacuum cleanersreduced the asbestos dust in the air from4.0 fibres per ml (dry dusting) to 0.4; hence the need for respirators. contaminated Cleaning bookswith approved and vacuum equipment protective clothing. (W.If. Wittstein)

7 A special cleaning area

was provided, equipped with a changing room, shower room, equipment area and laundryspace. The clothing of the 40 men was

twice cycled througheach day. The two laundrymen and respiratormen wore protectiveclothing also. 8 Dust monitoringof the cleaned building continued well after the job had finished. The results of 24

samplesshowed levelsof 0.0 fibresper ml ronsistently.

The above improved

technique shows considerable advanceover the current asbestos industry 'safe' technique. It also shows

what could be donewith a bit of thought and some testing. Much moreis pos-

sible if those exposed push

for it.
166

,'

Machine forcrushing

asbestos waste. Compacted waste dropsinto drums and issealed. (Yale

University)

for waste asbestos

Oneofthe drums,lined withaplasticbag, used

disposal.(Yale University)

167

- *
t...

.-4.

/t
Sealed drums ofasbestos waste readyforremoval. Compare this withthe common skip method. (Yale University) (Socialist Worker)

168

Case two: The basicstripping

procedure

Sealing off area where asbestos is to be stripped with strong plastic sheeting. (ACS) Safer asbestos strippingprocedure
Only in areas101 clean can workers NOT wear protectine equipment. is not certain that enen this procedure will prenent of escape all asbestos to surrounding areas, theretore isadnisableto clear the immediate

It

it

air enhaussfrom
approvedasbestos filtration anit cleac area

area.

atrflow

sealed

to appronedasbestos dursiping site with

safe procedure

skip

asbestoscontainers nacciirned down with approvedSacs cci

cleaner

Strongcardboard bins w.sn polbtnene liners sealedafter cse

dirty area

seo,edtunnel to cci a Oecontairination soc

169

Stripping asbestos (ACS)

Decontaminating of

dust on clothing using approved vacuum equipment note that workersare still wearing protectivemasks. (ACS)
asbestos

170

Asbestos waste for disposal in sealed units

(skips.
(Envirocor)

171

Chapter 8 Personal protection

It cannot be emphasised too much that all forms

of personal protection should be considered as the last resort only or for short-termemergencies or maintenance. Not only is this method inefficient and uncomfortable, but equipment like ear defenders and masks isolates you from your workmates. It is something that suits management more than it does you. Nor is that all. The
wearing

such gear apparently places the responsibility for the health hazard on you. If then you go deaf, suffer from lung damage etc,muffs the ear it's your fault for not wearing and muzzles. Who makes the noise and dust in the first place? Not you, the worker. Who has the choice of a quieter machine and less dusty process? Not you, the worker. Who makes the big profits? Not you, the worker. Management made the hazards: make them clear them up.
Muzzles (respirators)

of

mask for An approved' use with asheslos. Not a safe mask though. (OGA W 172

The First World War saw the rise of the gas mask, which has been introduced into industry as the personal respirator. Before that time, in the absence of any real form of efficient muzzle, the Factory Inspectorate had always insistedon efficient ventilation (little though they knew about it). The principle was the right one: remove the dust or fume at source, before it gets to the worker. But the rise of gas masks soon gave employers a cheaper way of getting round regulations. By 1931 the Asbestos Regulations allowed the use of respirators instead of efficient ventilation. Nowadays the manufacture

toacarmechanic during
Some protection against shoes.

This face mask wasissued

1977when heaskedfor

MARTJNDALEPROTECTIVE MASKS
Permit Free Breathing Clear Vision
Easy Speech your health agarnst dust and preuenc dirt and irritants from reaching the nose, throat and
lungs.

asbestosdust from brake protection Asfor the claim that, 'workers enjoy wearingthem' no comment!

It is useless for

PROTECT-

WAR NINC
Genuine MARTINDALE ReGis are safe and only they should be used withthis mask. Substitutes can be ineffect,ce anddangerous Poiei,.,andSoi, Maeafacia,e,s

below.

MikeGlyn and colleague

ofSabre Safety. (Sabre safety)

MARTINDAIE PROTECTION LTD., L .L NWO15W.Engknd. THE MOST POPULAR LIGHTWEIGHT

Nd.n

MASK FOR OVER 40 YEARS

ELS4I

EeaEscr

I-

industry, as a flip through any health and safety magazine (Hazards Bulletin apart!) will show. But these developments are not allowed to even go too far. As Mike Glynn, managing director of Sabre Safety, a company that recently produced a new British Standard in breathing apparatus, commented Customers wanted something just a little better than what they had, but not dramatically better (Sunday Times 21 Mar76)
173

of these respirators is a lucrative

Even the dust mask makers can't make anything too good (this is too costly) unless the wearers and trade unions push for it. Good basic guidance on the selection and maintenance of dust respirators for asbestosand its replacements are given in the Asbestos Research Council's Guide no.1 (revised January Data 1977) and the government's Technical 24 (2nd revision). In these publications Note there is given a list of 'Factory Inspectorateteapproved'respirators.Only Factory-Inspectora should ever be used for approved respirators substitutes. protection against asbestos and its An 'approved' respirator All this really means is that some basic testing has been done on the mask to indicate that it works reasonably well; according to British Standard 4275 :1974. For instance, leakage tests are done on the mask to determine how much it leaks, but excluded from the tests are those with 'unusual facial contours' (whoever they might be!), those with beards, long sideburns and heavy stubble. After this selection with perfect they are, presumably, left crude a fewthe Factests faces. As a result of these tory Inspectorate say the following:
Concentration Blue up to 4

of asbestos dust (fibre per ml)

Other types
up to 40 40 to 200

Typeofrespiratorto be used
1/2

mask respirator

4 to 20
20 to 80
above 80

200 to 800
above 800

positivepowered respirator high efficiency dustor positive

powered respirator self-contained breathing apparatus (oxygen, fresh or compessed air)

of the mask depends Clearly the so-called safety dust of expected (or on the concentration

the sobetter, determined by sampling) and in mask quescalled 'protection factor' of the means is the tion. All the 'protective factor' amount by which the mask will reduce the dust. For the four types of mask given above, the 400 and above protect1on factors' are 20, 100,
174

level.

400. Therefore, for a half mask, the dust level inside the mask is reduced by one-twentieth of what it is outside the mask, and so on. Therefore, in a white asbestos dust level of 40 fibres per ml the mask will reduce the level you breathe (that is the level inside your mask) to 2 fibres per ml, the government's current 'safe'

Many authorities consider there is no safe level for asbestos exposure: therefore you want maximum protection. That is, the above table should be reversed:
1 Safest: independent air line or Oxygen supply; 2 Moderate: high efficiency dust respirator; 3 Fair: positivepower respirator; 4 Poor: half mask respirator. Simple gauze masks are almost than useless because they give useless; worse you a false sense of security. They were designed for so-called nuisance dusts such as cement and dusts that were thoughtat one time glass fibre, no harm. It is very doubtful if to do you dusts exist: all dust will harm any harmless or bronchial tubes, Of course, theseyour lungsthe masks are cheapest and that alone accounts for their popularity among employers. Workers havingto wear

Testingthe leakageofa face mask. (HsE)

175

BREATHING APPARATUS

muzzles should demand a full choice of respira-

PURETHA

GAS MASKS

SPIRELMO SMOKE HELMETS

.d Sho. fl,h.ng

Frh:A

O.yg'. Ri,OoAppo

tors from all those on the market. A recent masks study of the ten best 'approved' asbestos good on the basis of in the US selected only four face fit, visibility and ease of breathing. In 1971 developed for use disposable face masks were ofa dockyardworkwith asbestos in the US;half favoured this type force working with asbestos of mask. Such masks have not yet been approved There is by the UK Factory Inspectorate. developand clearly need for a lot more researchthat are both ment on new forms of face masks comfortable and effective. One such development has been the Racal Amplivox Airstream Helmet. According to the manufacturers this mask is suitable for glass fibre dust; the helmet conforms to BS 2091 for Type A filtering effi-

0.5 all ciency and will filter an particles above of 90 per efficiency micrometres in size to cent. However, it is not approved for asbestos,

fyinghelmet. A new Not concept in respirators. suitable foruse with

asbestos although ithas been approved for such use in the US. (Racal)

The 'Airstream 'airpuri-

Protective clothing It is important that special protective clothing is available for the use of workers with asbestos choice (and other fibrous dusts). Again a full The best should be selected should be available. adby the workforce on the basis of minimum and comfort. herenceandpenetration of asbestos A full list of suppliers is given in Asbestos Research Council PublicationNo.1.'
Protective equipment in the asbestos industry-respiratory i Research Council. equipment and protective clothing',Ashestosis

176

Standard protective clothing. (1/SE)

Compressedair suits and fullyenclosed protective clothing. (Bullard, USA)

177

Case one:

Clearly there is a need for

Case two:

Asbestos penetrates

moreresearch on the best

materials to prevent the

Old washing machine not

good enough

protectiveclothing Contractors strippingblue asbestos at British Leyland,

Longbridge, Birmingham, had to strip a girder whereit was necessary to workbelow the girder due to confined space. The men wore syntheticfibre overalls with self-contained hood and airfed mask. After a shift of

passage of asbestos through In May 1976 (not 1876), 24 overalls. Does this mean that men working with asbestos workerswho wear their at the Belvedere Power

home clothing underneath overalls and who are in

power stations, for the proper cleaning of their overalls. The contractors, Darlington Insulation Co, lies and friends? It looks were using a domestic like it! It shows you cannot second-handwashing about 1 hour, theworkers be too careful. In the US machine to clean the men's left the contaminated area Naval Dockyards they have overalls. throughan air-lock, placed their overalls in a sealed bag favoured disposable, plastic- As Jim Reynolds, GMWU with branch safety rep, on health in anothersealed chamber, impregnated overalls zips. These overalls are and safety, said, 'The men removed their respirators in permeable to air and do not could see blue asbestos in anotherroomand finally moisture. They their overalls'. (Guardian entered a shower room. They trap body cost about75p per pair at 12 May 1976) wore only bathingtrunks 1976 prices. When special belowtheir overalls. Washing laundry,transportand safe consisted of a hot shower, disposal are taken into involving washing the entire account they are said to be body with soap.The men with competitive who worked under the girder fibre overalls. synthetic had their hair checked for asbestos. Sure enough, blue On no accountshoulddirty overalls be blown-off with asbestos wasfound and it compressedair. There are took five hair washings to remove it to 'negligible special booths available Use of a proportions'. equipped with vacuum 'ladies' plasticshower cap', lines. Such contaminated overalls should be washed worn over the hood of the overall prevented penetraby special firms equipped to handle asbestos clothing. tion and no fibreswere detected in the men's hair. Takingcontaminated overalls home will endanger both Testsshowed that blue

contactwith wet asbestos are likely to be taking asbestos hometo endangerboth themselvesand their fami-

Station had to go on strike, with support from five other

yourself,your family and in waterdid pass throughthe material of the friends. overalls and very heavy contamination Crocidoby lite (blue asbests) was
asbestos

observed. (Annals of OccupationalHygiene vol 20 1977 p.197)

178

Chapter 9 asbestos

Environmental

Asbestos is found everywhere to a small degree. In the land, water and to a greater extent the air. Apart from a very few countries,forexample Finland, where there are large areas of exposed rocks containing asbestos and weathering leads to airborne asbestos, most ofthis environmental asbestos comes from the past hundred years' industrial usage of asbestos. Asbestos in the air is the most common form of contamination. Nearly all this comes from vehicle brake and clutches, people working with and on asbestos products and the demolition of buildings containing asbestos (especially in the US where they favour demolition of tower blocks by explosion). Recently' high levels have been found near quarries in the US that were mining rock contaminated with asbestos. This has led to public pressure through the courts and by withdrawing children from school; and one county, Montgomery, is now committed to a programme of dust supression that will involve extensive resurfacing of the roads, playgrounds and recreation areas at a cost of up to 5 million. The US governmentis considering regulations to control the amount of minerals contaminated with asbestos and is requiring all quarry operators, in suspect geological areas, to report the asbestos content of their rocks. Nothing seems to be being done along these lines in the UK.
1 Asbestos: troublein the air from Maryland rock quarry', Science, vol 197, 1977, p.237.

179

to what could be a very serious health hazard from environmental asbestos, but this is a difficult question to answer, and not too many people are trying to answer it. For instance, a study in 19772 on the incidence of the deadly asbestos cancer Mesothelioma found a tenfold increase in the disease in the US State of Connecticut during the years 1935 to 1972. The authors conclude: The rapid rise in Connecticut's Mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) incidence rate closely follows the increase in the State's cumulative asbestosconsumption. As long ago as 1960 it was speculated that the use of asbestos tailings for road surfaces in South Africa may have been responsiblefor the large amount of Mesotheliomaobserved among at non-asbestosworkers theminesthere. Since then plenty of medical reports3 have observed these cancers around factories and among the relations of asbestos workers. We have already pointed out the possible connection between the 33,000 deaths from lung cancer each year and nonoccupational exposure to asbestos (see p.26). Clearly with many experts admitting there is no safe level to asbestos there is a great need to prevent unnecessary exposure to asbestos anywhere. As the US Environmental Protection Agency havestated1 Safe levels of Carcinogenic substances (cancer-forming, as all forms of asbestos are) have not been established. Therefore, the proper public policy should be to act to minimise to the greatest extent possible emissionsof such substances.
Medical evidence points

Asbestos in the air One of the most general exposuresto asbestos is that which occurs in the air we breathe. The sources of this are: Asbestos from household goods and insulation! fire protection,
2
3

Journalofthe Air Pollution Control Association,vol 127, Asbestospollution', Science. vol i97, 1977, p.716.

1977, p.121.

iso

Asbestos rubbed off from brakes, clutches and mufflers, Asbestos from asbestos factories (often from the extraction designed to offer some protection to the workers inside), Asbestos from the illegal and legal dumping of asbestos waste, Asbestos from the demolition of buildings and possibly from the erosion of asbestos-clad
buildings.

There are other sources of asbestos in the air, for example, asbestos from the aregates used in road works, but these are the most common sources known at the present time. Before we discuss some of the areas where asbestos been found in the general environment, lethas us first look at the levels of asbestosthat are being found in the general atmosphere. How much asbestos is there in the air? A good question and onewe are onlyjust beginfling to answer. Even now the only reliable information we have comes from the USA,since in this country the only figures we have come from the asbestos industry itself which is like asking a prisoner to supply the information to convict her or himself. Almost ten years in 1968, the Department of Health and ago, Social Security (DHSS) Standing Medical Advisory Committee reported on the cancer hazards of asbestosto thegeneralpublic and recommended: Local authorities should be make measurements of the encouraged to concentration of asbestos particles of respirable size in the air a building sites where asbestos sprays are beingused; b asbestos dumps, and c factories from which particles may be dispersed in smoke and fumes. This report, and a subsequent update in 1971, was covered up and remained confidential until, under pressure, it was made available' (that is, it went into the 'publicly of Commons library), in April 1976. So House for much 'opengovernment' in asocial democratic society.
181

Was this report kept confidential in the national

Asbestos industry samplingequipment formeasuring asbestos dust in rural air. (AsbestosInformation Committee)

interest? Or the interest ofthe asbestosindustry? Is it in fact one andthe same? What was done as a result of this report? Nothing. Perhaps that is why it was confidential. As mentioned above, the only environmental measurementswe have in the UK come from the asbestos industry. Even when they are done under a local council authority guidance the crucial counting has been done by the asbestos industry.4 Some of these asbestos companies, such as Richard Klinger (Sidcup), who claim to ie 'one of the largest users of asbestos in the UK', are honest andadmit, If emissions of asbestos into the environment do occur we have no means of recording them with the type of equipment we use at present and, therefore, we assume they are zero.5 Pitythe poor inhabitants of Sidcup, Kent.
4
AdvisoryCommittee on Asbestos 1976-77. 5 See previousreference.

For example see the evidenceof the BBA groups to the

182

The other asbestos industry giants are more subtle than this: they have a method of measuring asbestoswhichdeveloped asbestos shows that levels in the air 'do not differ from those found... at many sites ranging from Gravelly Hill to the YorkshireMoors.'6 However, measurements from at least three different laboratories in the USA have shown that higher levels of asbestos in the air occur near demolition sites, asbestos factories, asbestos dumps and motorways. Once again the UK asbestos industry has shown itselfto be untrustworthy as far as the health hazards of its products go. Ofcourse,it hasnotbeen untrustworthy to its shareholders by producing such results, which have served to stave off the reality for a few more years while there is re-investmentout of asbestos. When we talk of trust and responsibility we must be clear to whom we are trustworthy andresponsible.
6

a Nature,vol 234, 1971, p.93; b Analytical Chern vol 45, 1973, p.809. ist,

See reference4 aboveand

Case one: French Metro workersact over asbestos

Asbestos has been used in the French Metro in large quantitiessince the 1960s. It's all over the Metro.At least fourworkersare known to have suffered from asbestosjs. The unions concerned (CGTand CFDT) have had to stopwork to draw attention to the ha,'ard. They have dernanded from the Metro management:
release of fundsfor the complete removal of asbestos on the Metro.

('Cancer on the Metro', NouvelObservateur 25 Feb 1978; 'Asbestos on the Metro', L'Humanite 25 Feb 1978)

On therighthandside of Metrounderground
station. asbestosat Garibaldi

thephotograph is shown thedangerous stateofthe

effectivepersonal protectionfor workers medical examinations for all exposedworkers

183

Case two:

Killer dust on the London tube

WarwickAvenue Tube Stations. A letter from LondonTransportto the branch reveals that 'the Since 1970 John McMorrow, situation at Highgate in secretary of the London particularhas caused us No.5branch of the National concern for a long time.' Union of Railwaymen Methods, mainlyspeed (NUR), has been trying to reduction,were takento get the management, reduce the dust, but they factory and railway inspec- admitted: 'we would not toratesand his own union wish to seem to claim to do something aboutthe that it (the dust nuisance) killer asbestosdust in the had been eliminated.' air Londoners breathe on December 1973: many the underground tube. As the diary below shows they letters sent by John McMorrowto Factory have all dragged their feet. Inspectorate. The only Management, factory part of the underground inspectorate and unions covered by government ignore hazards regulations was the station A DIARY OF NEGLECT. managers'office! A list of complaints(dust, dirt, poor 1969-70: John McMorrow ventilation,vermin and himself had bouts of sore effluent) from 25 tube throatsand chest troubles. with regard to the A consultantat a hospital stations, said that he had to have his tonsilsremoved because they had been
poisoned by asbestos dust. 1971: hears personally of many underground workers with chest trouble andwho are called aback after routine X-rays and told they have lung scarring.

station managers'offices wassent to the Fl. No action was taken at most of

these stations.

Februa,y 1974: earlier confidentialreports released to NUR after branch pressure, pressattention and the TUC's medical advisor (Dr A. Murray);show
interest. Reports show improvement from high dust levels at Highgate, but absence of specific checks for asbestos in the words of Dr Murray,'rendered the reportsuperfluous'. A more accurate reportwas promised.

1974: the results of the

more accurate analysis specific for asbestos, done in January 1974were made available. They showed levels of asbestos we/I above those

Knows of at least a couple of cases of death from lung disease among such workers. March 1973: enquiries by the branch reveal the exist ence of a confidential' report done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine during 1967 and 1969 of the dust levelsat Highgate and 184

done by the asbestos industry itself by a method

expected in the street at Highgate Tube. More importantly, the tests were

known to give conveniently low results. The real concentrationof asbestos may

contractorsand LT staffat Bond Street cutting asbestos tileswith a powersaw and thus creating muchdust. Informed both Factory
Inspectorate and Railway Inspectorate, the former visited and cleaned up site; no reply from the Railway Inspectorate. 29Apr11 1977: London
Transporttests of asbestos dust causedby pulling in cables at Baker Street and Green Park show asbestos

be worse! Thisasbestos industryreportwasrubber stamped by the TUG Centenary Institute of

Occupation Health. Why? 1975: colleaguesof John McMorrow's had to retire

industry report of 1974will 'Enable us to dispose of any fears there may be about the asbestos content of the tube tunnel air.' He also claims that thereis 'strictobservance' of the 1969Asbestos
asbestos

of staff or contractorsstaff
'where appropriate.'

Regulations with supervision

27Nov 1977:

BSSRS and

early because of chest trouble. The union took up the case and tried to get the
Employment Medical AdvisoryService (EMAS) to investigate. EMAS refused and deferred to the opinion of the London Transport doctor.

John McMorrow release a leaflet, 'Killer dust on the Tube', designed to tell both levels at the present govern- public and LT workersof ment unsafe level. health risk on the Tube.

5May 1977: Fleet Line

workersstrike over health
hazardsof asbestos coated cablesto both themselves and the public. London Transport promises an enquiry.

7 Sept 1976: sample of dust

taken by Factory Inspectorate at Baker Street station shows it to contain 11 per cent of deadlysilica. 1 Dec 1976: Railway
bad conditions at Camden Town tube. Acknowledged, but no action. 10Jan 1977: John McMorrowrequests the TUGCentenary Institute of Occupational Health to analyse samplesof asbestos. Requestsconformed by NUR General Secretary, SidneyWeighell, on 15 Feb. No results by March 1979!

17 May 1977: Factory Inspectorate reporton asbestos samplestaken at Baker Street on 10 May
released.Some men exposed to twice proposed US standard and morethan 100 timesthelevel recorded as background in the March-April 1978: London station. Transport allow an 'independent' survey of asbestos 16June 1977: Factory duston the tube by a new Inspectorate comment on health and safety journal, analysis report on deadly InternationalEnvironment silica in tube dust, done in 1976: 'the presenceof and Safety. No problem Sept saysnew survey. Yet the crystalline silica indicates figures, although by an inthat the dust may be accurate method for environpotentiallyharmful.' But they suggest contactingthe mental surveys, revealsthe levels to be above the US RailwayInspectorate. recommended level! 25Aug 1977: Dr PA.B. Raffle, LT Chief Medical 28Apr11 1978: LT reveal an Officer, comments that the 'unknown' 400 yard 185

Inspectorate contacted requesting a visit to see the

llJan 1977:John McMorrow observes

masksatBaker Streettube station during 1977? What is thehazard? Deadl,v asbestos and silica dusts. Why isit not removed by vacuum equipment to protectboth workersand passengers?(MichaelKahn) right: The asbestoshut at Hampstead Tube in 1978 removed afterprotest. (GregCohn)

Why are these men wearing

LI stretch of deadly blue asbes- tns put there in 1960. spoKesman OrPrTieflts, 'We tos in the NorthernLine annot say it was sat is tunnels between fa tory for men to have Hampsteadand Golders worked on those trains.' Green. It was put there in tn LI 1933 According 25 May 1978: ParliarrientarY there is (of course) no replies to questions put to health haiard, but they are John Grant, Se retary of State for Employment, by going to remove it as a matter of urgency and at a Max Madden, MP, elicit cost of 350000 (Guardian reply, 'everything under 28 April 1978). control'. The only asbestos adroit led to is he known 17 May 1978: I/ford and stuff on the Nor[bern Lino. reveal Redbridge Pictorial health ha/ards from exposure 30 May 1978: BSSRSand in six tube trains from asbes- John M Morrow release rip
186

date leaflet on ha/aids to countermisleading information from LI. LI managers and doctorsface hostile meeting of London Transport union members. Fears of trade unionists not allayed by devious answers given by LT management. 7June 1978: I/fordand Redbridge Pictorial discovers SEO ret operation of asbestos rem oval over three to four nights at Gants Hill tube station lube workers lairii rnierr in spare Suits'

used

to changeanddragged
asbestos sacksup the escalators.

their accommodation

6July 1978: Capital Radio,

London,does 30-minute programme on the health hazardson the tube entitled 'underground blues'. Many LT workerson the programme critical of LT actions or lack of them.

July 1978: Considerable

correspondence often heated in Hampsteadand Highgate Express about the safety of the strippingprocessgoing on on Northern Line. LT even provide'safe' asbestos

hut for staff removed

after protest. Surrounding area leafleted on hazards. October 1978: TU safety reps, Tony Brewer and Bob
Young, complain about tube carriagesat LT's Acton Works that are 'clean' and are in factstill lousy with
asbestos.

After some

wheeler-dealing by management, Factory Inspectors and even the union carriagespronounced 'safe'. A leaflet prepared with the help of BSSRSand John McMorrowexplains the facts and the carriages remain blacked.

which shows that deadly silica on the tube is three

times the government's 'safe' level (Guardian 20 Nov 1978).

20 November 1978:A confidential memo of June 1977 is released to the press

It is clear from the irresponsible actionsof London Transport over many years that they are not concerned either about the health of their staff or the public. There have been small strikes over asbestos already: this is just the beginning.

Leonard Newmaninstalling asbestos ceilingtilesat StJames'Parktube station in 1976. He said, 'This willshake with the trainsgoing in and out. It willsoonstart to crack...' (SocialistWorker)

187

For moredetails of the levelsof asbestos in the air we breath see: Journalof theAir Pollution Control Associ ationvol 28 December 1978
1

p.1221. 2 ARC Monographs No.14 'Asbestos', WorldHealth Organisation 1977. 3 'Revised recommended asbestos standard', NIOSH, of USDepartment Health, Educationand Welfare December 1976.

Measurementof asbestos in the air Given the limitations it can be seen that it is not easy to get an accurate idea of the asbestos concentrations in the air of the UK, so we shall have to use information from America to give rough estimates of the amount of asbestos Eire, present. Recent measurementsinno using the US method, suggest therewill be great errors. We have mentionedbefore the present inadequate method of analysis which conveniently underestimates the amount of asbestos in the air. It is becoming more common to measure the amount of asbestos in environmental air using the accurate electron microscope method. The normal method used for industry is the optical microscope, which has a magnification (under phase-contrast conditions) of 400-5OOX, whereas the electron microscope will magnify by 25,000X. The usual way of expressing the results of electron microscopy is in nanograms of asbestos per cubic metre of air. A nanogram is one thousand millionth of a gram. The following table gives an idea of the concentration of asbestos in non-work areas.

Typical asbestos levels in citiesand country areas

Survey
Place

Concentration (ng/m3)
less than 6

Dr Nicholson

45 out of the 49 cities

samples

in the USA
1969-70

Cityof Daytona,Ohio, 5 country sites

24

home of numerous asbestos factories 17 urban sites (not near

asbestos)
1 1

US Stateof Connecticut Dept. Health June 1977

Proposed

-4
-9 0 - 25

Sites near asbestos factories Sites near motorways

30
1

30

Connecticut Standard, 1976

Dr RohI
May 1977

Cork City Cork County

0.6

Athy, Co. Kildare (home of an asbestos factory)

188

0.0 - 0.2 83 - 88

Clearly then, in general, levels at country sites are below 1 nanogram and those in towns below 10 nanograms. But measurements done around building sites where sprayed asbestos was being done showedlevels of 15 to 180 ng/m37 There is no accurate way of converting ments in fibres per ml to nanograms measureper cubic meter, but the following table gives an idea of the increased accuracy of the electron microscope method:
Sampling of asbestos near roadsurfaced with asbestos
Rockville, USA Sampling location Asbestos Concentration Containing rock in

electron microscope lOm from road

intersection; light traffic (ng/m3) 500 4,700 1,ooo

optical microscope (f/mi)

0.0 0.05

2 3 4

moderate traffic

School parking; lOOm from site of sample 2 Residential area;

0.0
0.01

70m from site of sample 2

2,000

Source: Science vol 196 1977 p.1319

It is possible from the above table to have a reading of zero fibres per ml using the standard method and yet to have a concentration of l,000ng/m3 100 times what to observe in the normal youwould expect city atmosphere. Because of high costs, long analysis times and limited availabilityof equipment, the US ment has not recommended the electrongovernmicroscope methods for routine industrial measurements. However, for environmental measurements it is absolutely necessary. For instance, at the recent hearings in Cork nobody from the asbestos industry spoke up against the fact that the measurementsmust be done with an electron microscope and by analysis from outside the asbestosindustry.
7 Science, vol 196, 1977. p.1319.

189

The electron microscope. The onlyaccurate way (using the correct technique) to measure all theasbestos dustin the air. (Turner and Newall Ltd)

A safe level of asbestos in environmental areas? there is no such Clearly from previous arguments down the level to bring thing. The aim must be the absolute minimum. of asbestos in the air to There has been a suggestion of 3Ong/m3 from

one health authority: the US Connecticut Department of Health.8 But there is really no agreement and no solid information to back up such a level. The asbestos be industry9 has proposed that 0.04 fibres/mI is an environmental level. This accepted as totally unacceptable, for the reasons outlined above. The only value of these measurementsis to make sure that you are not being exposed to for unnecessarily high levels of asbestos and so waste from demolition,asbestos example, on and for public health authorities to ensure that the present asbestos in the air is reduced over the coming years.

s
9

Journalofthe Air Pollution Control Association,vol 25,

1975, p.1207. Annals ofOccupational Hygiene,vol 12, 1969, p.141

190

Asbestos in waterand soil There is much less known about the amounts of asbestos in water and soil and the methods for analysis are even less accurate. It is not whether asbestos in water and soil yet clear presents a health hazard. Whilst it is known that asbestos workers suffer from excesses of stomach cancer this may come from inhaled asbestos that is being swallowed (through protective mechanism of cough and sputum) and so on. Earlierwork1 suggested it was too early to say whether asbestos in water caused cancer. More recent work1 1 suggests there is no health hazard even in mining areas where there are high concentrations of asbestos in the drinking water. But much more work is needed to be sure, and in the meantime it is better to be safe than been reported since 1968 sorry. Sampling has on the amount of asbestos in beverages and Levels are generally given indrinking water.12 millions of per litre of liquid tested: these are some fibres typical results:

Asbestos in beer, wine and water

Sample Beer Beer Vermouth Vermouth Gingerale

Source
Canada

Millions ofasbestos fibres per litre

USA France

4- 7
1-2
2 12
12

italy

Tonic water Orange drink Tap water Tap water Riverwater

AsEsro t4S BEEN IZOONb

IN 3EER.,
Source: Public Health Risks of Exposure to Asbestos EEC 1977
228,

Town of Thetford
(asbestos mines) Town of asbestos

3
172

6 10

(asbestosmines) Ottawa
10
11

1974, p.1019. 12

JournaloftheAmerican MedjcalAssocwtion vol

Archives ofEnvironmental Health, July/August 1977p.185 Nature, vol 232, 1971, p.332. 191

from Apart from pollution due to waste tailings there is evidence asbestos mines (and factories?) from asbestosthat water can pick up asbestos cement pipes.13 Because of the possible health hazard the use of asbestos filters for the filtering of beverages (beer, wine) has been banned in the The discovery'4 that 15 out of 29 French wines of a scare. tested contained asbestos caused a bitlevels: that Seven of the samples had 'very high'There is no is 2 to 40 million fibres per litre. the cause is need for these wines to be filtered wine and the the consumer demand for clear delays of manufacturer's 'need' to avoid the longsubstitute and there are many natural settling non-asbestosfilters'5 but, whilst almost certainly filters safer, the nature of these replacement more fully. needs to be investigated The attitude of the asbestos industry to water fact that it took the pollution is shown in the Arlene Lehto, to disnon-scientist chairwoman, cover that the US asbestos industry was dumpasbestos containing tons ing 67,000 Lake per day of was stopped by a This waste into Superior. court order because of the possible health hazards.'6 Nearer home the improved planning asbestos dump included permission for the Cork for the sampling of both air and provisions water.
US.

13 14 15

16 192

American Water Works AssociationJournal, September NewScientist, 14 October 1976, p.78. NewScientist, 13 October 1977. 1973, p.3 EnvironmentalActjott, Scptcmber

74.

Asbestos in the house

Asbestos is to be found around the house in many forms. Some of the more common sources were described in an article by Dr W. Smither of Cape Industries, in Woman's Own in 1976. He gave the figures below in a letter to Nancy Tait, the asbestos campaigner, in November 1976.
Asbestos from iron rests, hair dryers,cookers and toasters Domestic applicance

Numberofasbestos fibres/mi
0.01 new 0.04 0.01

Iron rest
Portable hair dryer:

afteruse
Electrictoaster:
Gas cooker seal:
new

after use
new

0.18 0.04
0.02 0.02 0.08

year old 4 years old

1

193

These levels, even though carried out by the asbestos industry, indicate a real health hazard, sometimes approaching the US government and TUC's recommended level for industry. Many even come close the asbestos industry's own inadequate standard of 0.04 fibres per ml. There is no need for the use of any asbestos around the home. Those with asbestos domestic goods should dispose of them at once in a safe manner, for example, RawiplasticDo-it-yourself wall fillers, Screwfix and so on, have been known for several years to contain deadly
asbestos.1

Studies'8 have shown that when working with such materials peak levels of over 40 fibres per ml (over three times the current so-called government 'safe' level) can be reached during dry mixing and sweeping the floor. They also found to high revels of quartz and talc, both known

cause lung disease. the It is undeniable that there is a real need forand of asbestos in all consumer goods banning
NewScientist, 14 August 1975, p.377. Science, vol 189, 1975, p.551.

17 18

194

Patchingupholesin a wall.Ifthe fillerconrains

asbestog there is a real healthhazard. (HilaryEvans)

rigorous health checks on the hazards of the other products they contain. The most sick use of asbestos in the home came to light recently.'9 Analysis by Warrington's Chief Environmental Health Officer, Bill Snow, showed that Crown Brand Puff Cigarettes contained asbestos. These emit a cloud of dust when thetoy cigarettes blown. cigarettes are Fairly prompt action by the Prices and Consumer ProtectionDepartment of seems to have prevented the sale of these potential killers. What will they think of next? As with drugs, the contents of all consumer should be labelled clearly. Those that goods known health have effects should be banned. Health data should be produced for all ingredients and for the final product as it is to be used. Imprisonment should await those that break such laws. There has been a lot of action by community groups and organised workers over the environmental hazards of asbestos in schools, hospitals and council estates, and by residents living near asbestos-using factories and asbestos dumps. Keep it up!
19

New Scientist, 4 November 1976.

195

Baths workerswin safer

conditionsfor asbestos work For many years the brown

asbestos (amosite asbestos)

were done during a quiet period when the asbestos wasnot being disturbed. They used a method unsuitable and inaccurate for the
levelswhere children are (environmental levels). The so-called safe level for asbestos is not safe there

managementand coniplained about the risks, demanding:

1

Management give an

assurance

that all asbestos

lagging around boilers in Kentish Town swimming baths North London has been in a dangerous state. Both workersand public,

will be removed from the

building. 2 That the building be closed for this operation for the safety of staff and public. 3 That a date be fixed for the work to be done. Management refused and the NUPE members came out on strike and picketed the baths on Friday, JanLiary 5. Leaflets were quickly prepared, sent to the press, local

includingchildren,are involved since the baths also has a public laundry decided to give management attached. In 1971 boiler been instructed a month to agree to remove workershad to work on the boilerswith the asbestos after being addressed by an expert from complete disregard for the the TU North London 1969 Asbestos Regulations.

is no safe level. On 5 December 1978 a meeting of nearly all the 30 NUPE members at the Baths

A Factory Inspectorate

Health and Safety Group. Management responded by putting up notices warning confirmedthis, 'The lagging itemswas workersnot to touch the on numerous plant asbestos. But their veryjobs badlydamaged and the meant they would have to laggingappeared to be at touch asbestos. Further, likely to contain asbestos the public, especially least as a mixture. If you kidswho ran around the have not had all the lagging boilers, were still exposed. analysed then the damaged On 8 December management laggingshould be repaired and precautions appropriate conceded that the asbestos would be temporarily to an asbestos risk taken repaired and stripped over whilst this is carried out.' the next year. But the wasdone by Nothing baths would remain open management for sixteen during stripping. The months. And nothingwas doneby the Factory Inspec- workers brought in to do this temporarywork were a torate to enforce this bunch of cowboys. The recommendation. 1969Asbestos Regulations In the early summer of were broken during this 1978 the NUPE shop sealing and partial stripping. steward at the baths wrote One worker was even told to the managementSafety to sweep up asbestos dust! Officer to complain of the After complaints were ha,ard. Nothingwas done. made, useless nuisance dust The steward took the maskswere made available. matter to his branch secreOn 3 January 1979 the tary and finallysome air union stewards rimet higher tests were done. The tests

report of September 1977

councillorsof Camden

Council and MRs. By Wednesday 1 0th the strikers had won their demands and the council agreed all the asbestos would be stripped, with the building closed, when the boilers had their annual 10-year inspection in early spring 1979. The strike illustrates several points. The Use by management, in this case a progressive council,of experts to baffle workers. The important role of TU sympathetic experts. The quick use of

information bulletinsto infor rn press, cou neillois and MRs,other workersand the public. And most important of all the need for trade union solidarity and action.

9 January

(Source: MorningStar8 and 1979. Hampstead and Highgate Express 5 and 12 January 1979. Hazards Bulletin No 15 Spring 1979)

196

Asbestos lagginginpublic laundry Kentish Town Baths (North London H& SGroup)

Signingthepetition,on the picketline, demanding the safe removal of asbestosatKentith Town Baths, London,January 1979. (MorningStar)

197

Chapter10 The hospitals scandal

Most people would think of a hospital as the safest place in the world as far as health is concerned after all, isn't that what they exist for? Well, for the workers in hospitals (consultants apart, that is) this is far from true. On top of bad wages and lousy conditions they also have to put up with a lot of ill-health: back ache, infections and so on.1 On top of this there is the asbestos hazard. Most hospitals are alive with asbestos. Sometimes on the wards, but more commonly in the basements, kitchens and laundries, where the insulation on the many steam pipes is often damaged and flaking. This is spread around the hospital through ventilator shafts and on clothing and food.

HOrTLS - RIDDL-EJ wrrH SgES1Oc

See 'Warning ElM hospitalscan damageyour health BSSRS leaflet. 1977.
1

198

Case one:

Death of hospital fitter

There is plenty of evidence that, until recently,hospitals cared little for their workers. The case ofJohn Stalker is typical: John Stalker worked as a plumberand pipefitter at various hospitals in the Harrogate and Rippon Hospital
ManagementCommittee's
area during the 1950s and 1960s.

he died a very distressing death in 6 months March 1976. His son, Keith Stalker, described his last months: 'My dad had been a fellow who never complained or expressed his feelings... But at the end he was like a skeleton, crying and asking for morphine and talking about suicide. It was terrible

to watch.' (TheNorthern
Echo
1

June 1976)

He described conditions

during 1965 at one hospital, Scotton Banks, Knaresborough: We mixed the new,blue asbestos in the pipeduct and it was very dusty indeed. No maskswere provided and there was no extractionequipment. Our overalls, which were just normal boiler suits,were not cleaned afterwards and we just continuedwearing them

confirmthat this isno isolated incident The following brief reports come from the press duringthe last coupleof years thereare no doubt many more unheard-of struggles.
Case two:

There is plenty of evidence from hospital workersto

do with asbestos. It is just coincidence that the same

men are involved.'

inadequacies, recommended a better mask and urged a further review of the conditions at the hospital. After a few days on strike, and with the AUEW's intervention,the workers reluctantly returned to work. One month later five of the men, including Frank Beason, were dismissed, Management claimed:'It was nothingto

Cardiff Royal Infirmary

In May 1976 54-year-old

Frank Beasonwas suspended

until

it was time for

up the crumblingasbestos He left the hospital group in covering on some water 1969. By 1974 he had heaters. As Frank Beason become ill with fatigue, said: 'The managementhas coughing, back pain and been very apathetic...some night sweating. He had a of it [the asbestos] was lungoperationand by lying inches thick on the October 1975, it was diagground... Similar lagging is nosed that he had the deadly on the ventilation pipes too, asbestos cancer Mesotheli- so we are working in the stuff oma. It was thought that he all the time.' An industrial might live 3 to 6 years. But tribunal accepted the

normal laundry. We were never toldthat it was a dangerous practice to move asbestos lagging in this way, and it was a filthy job.

by Cardiff Royal Infirmary management for refusing to work in hazardous conditions. Eightother maintenance fitters walked out in sympathy.For some months the fitters had been asking managementto clear

reason. It may have been all the fuss we made over asbestos. Afterthat business I wasn'tgiven any work to do. (Guardian 31 May 1976) So all youget for asking for your basic rights rights that would also protect the patients is the sack. Case three:

As Frank Beason said: There is no doubt at all we are being victimised. I don't really know the

Dying of Northampton General Hospital

In late 1976asbestos dust was found near the maternitywards in NorthamptonGeneral Hospital. Oneof the
blue asbestos was open to the general corridors. To work in the passage Post Office engineerswore special clothing and
breathing equipment, At firstthe management
passageswith damaged

____________

199

denied therewas a hazard but under pressure closed a 'perfectly safe' corridor for inspection because they didnot know 'whether the corridor contains asbestos'. How could they say it was 'perfectlysafe' then? Doctorshave said they are ashamedof conditionsat the hospital, which has been starved of funds and is now being even morerun down because of the cuts Yet David Ennals, the Secretary for Social Services,visited the hospital in January 1977 and commented, 'a fine hospital...the standards of patientcare are first-class'. Apparently, inspecting anotherdingy corridor (not the one with asbestos>, throughwhich patients pass, he was reported as remarking that brushing with a heavy broomwould fix it. (Daily Mirror 22 January 1977. Guardian 22 January 1977)

Asbestosforsale outside theMiddlesexhospital. (AlanJ.P. Dalton) Laggingin a badstate of repair at theMiddlesex Hospital,London. (Alan J.P. Dalton) right: Some sealingdone whilst stripping asbestos at the MiddlesexHospital during 1977. Experiments have shown that onepolythene barrier is not enough to stop thespread ofdeadly asbestosdust. (IFL)

above:

200

Case four:

Asbestos in the air at London's Middlesex Hospital

industryfront the AsbesCase five: tos InformationCommittee Manor House Hospital,

to reassure the workers,

and 'after all, you swallow dust off brake linings from major London teaching outside'. The old 'two have been trying hospital wrongsmakea right' to get managementto do mentality. To counter this, something about the the unions brought in their damaged asbestos in the own expertsfrom outside corridorsthroughwhich and had a general meeting, they pass, the rooms in to which the management which they work and the doctorsand experts were kitchens. Management have invited. But the struggle to dragged their feet. By 1977 remove all the asbestos they were beginning to do a little, although still disputing (only recentlymanagement the danger of the hazard. For put asbestos ceiling tiles in the new kitchen) and check instance, the shop stewards that it is being donesafely got a sample of the lagging still goes on. As Tom and found it to analysed McFadden, an AUEW contain 'largenumbers' of blueasbestos fibres,whereas member at the hospital, put management'sanalysis found it in September 1977: The basement at this only a 'trace' of blue asbestos. (Guardian 25 March hospital has pipes running all around with 1977) disturbed asbestos... By August 1977 the district We tried to bring in the engineer, Mr PT. Vaughan, factory inspector several had informed the JointShop times he does come Stewards Committeethat, I have been told. He the opportunity is being does not see the shop taken to strip out the stewards, nor does he asbestos lagging to all the make any effortto plant rooms involved and contactus. So much for replace it with an accepthealth and safety at this able safe material. ..The hospital. factory inspector has visited the site and laid down certain requirements for the safe removal of the lagging to complywith current legislation. Management broughtin a doctor who used the asbestos

For manyyears shop-floor trade union workersat the Middlesex Hospital a

with quotes like, 'You may get knocked down by a bus'

London Some time in 1974, TGWU membersat Manor House Hospital (a private hospital for trade unionists!)suggested to management that a safety committee be formed and the lagging in the hospital be checked for leakages of asbestos. In May 1975 the union approached the managementagain. On

27 Maythe Factory Inspector was called in. In part the I nspector's report read: The small areas of loose
blue-coloured asbestos on an overhead pipein the laundryshould be sealed or otherwise treated withoutdelay... Immediate evacuation of the laundrywas not ordered as it was thought that the levelsof airborneasbestos fibres in excess of the limits in the attached Technical Data Note

number52 were not

exceeded.

already ill patients been exposed to asbestos in their bed sheets? After some delaythe 'repairs' were consisted of wrapping some plasticsheets around the damaged laggingand were totally inadequate since the vibrationfromthe washers and air movement from a 201

How long had theworkers in the laundryalready been exposed to possiblyblue asbestos? How long had

done in the laundry. These

E5SI

nearby fan could easily set the asbestos free.The union insisted that air sampling be carried out in the laundry. Harwell were called in and the analysis of asbestos in the air afterrepairs was 0.016 fibres per ml. The Factory lnspectorate, management and Harwel all argued that this level was safe. They all used the so-called safe level of 2 fibres per ml. Noweven

To do this was quite improper. It can't be

tolerated
in this
hospital and is quite out of order. (Hampstead

and Highgate Express 16 July 1976) Although Jose Caba was reelected as branchsecretary by a 2 to 1 majority just before the dispute,management managed to split the union and form a 'moderate'
group. Despite a stoppage by Jose's supporters he was not reinstated. One of the more disgusting aspectsof this affair was seeing senior trade unionists respirators, left windows open,allowed hospital staff on the management board into the roomwhile working, of the hospital outdoing the hospital management in and did not use vacuum their condemnation of equipment to clean up. Jose's action. Jose Caba Thiswasreported by the made a claim for wrongful union to the Factory dismissal: he was offered an Inspectorate. After being out-of-court settlement of assured by management 250 for 'loss of earnings' over the telephone that was in order, the and this was accepted. everything Inspector refused to take any action.

the asbestos industry applies the level of 0.04 fibres per ml to the environmental situation ('Safety of
Buildings Incorporating Asbestos', Asbestos Information Committee 1974) which is almost half the
asbestos

1969 Asbestos Regulations. In fact the contractors brought in to do the work in the laundrywore no

industry's safe'

level, is dangerous. Even moreso when you consider the safer standards argued for by more independent authorities.

The union wanted the laundryclosed and the

asbestos removed. Some months previously manage-

ment had closed the laundryfor new machinery

To gain support for their case the union members told the patients of the
possible health ha/ard. For this reason,Jose Caba, the TGWU branch secretary, was sacked. Mr George Rignall, hospital secretary, comurironted Mr Caba approached patients and created anxiety in their cirids concerning the alleged danger from asbestos. This could be detrimental tr) the patiori ts' health and their recovery.

to be installed, and had

then contracted Out the washing. The laundry workerswere found other work while this was being done, so the demand was in no way unattainable. Management had copies of Factory Inspectorate Technical Data Notes 38 and 52 and the Factory lnspectorate had indicated that repairs/

substitution shouldbe done

in accordance with

the

The Stateofsome ofthe lagging at ManorHouse Hospital, London in 1975.

(Jose Caha)

202

Case six:

Leicester General Hospital Bob Moloney, NUPE member, has described the fightagainst asbestos at Leicester General Hospital (HospitalWorkerdate unknown)

The dangers of asbestos were first broughtto the attention of a shop

steward by a chemist at the hospital, who pointed out the dangers of asbestos in the hospital subways housing steam pipes and so on. Management'sfirst response was that they were scaremongering You'veworked

with it for years, why

worry flow? The union was not satisfied and called a

meeting with management and the area engineer. To their surprise he said asbestos was deadly. Protective clothingwas broughtin, not in weeks, but the next day. So much for scaremongering.

and had even been going into wards with their overalls smothered in dust. Contractors were called in to strip the asbestos: they quoted 30 a foot. The removal job cost the hospital 600. The hospital maintenance men said they would do it for double time on normal days, double and a half on

But why had nothingbeen done before? For the past six months workershad been clearing the stuff by hand, with no protectiveclothing,

Saturdays and treble time on Sundays. These rates were compared with the contractors' and were cheaper,but, whilst accepted by local management,the DHSS turned it down flat and offered lOp an hour on top of the normal rate. A lousy ten pence an hour for working clad in protective clothing, breathing equipment and so on, crawling on your stomach througha duct sometimes less than 2 ft square, next to steam pipes and sometimes kneedeep in water.

Case seven:

City Hospital, Nottingham

During the constructionof a new maternity unit in 1974 a study was made (Annals of Occupational Hygiene vol 18 1975p.151) of the asbestos spray that was used to coat the steel structure. They found the men doing the jobwereprotected but they

leftenough asbestos waste around that otherunprotected workerscould be exposed to clouds of asbestos above 20 fibres per ml when sweeping up. The method used to estimate the general environmental levels over the rest of the hospital was not accurate enough to
detectany asbestos.

Why bring in contractors?

Hospitals: conclusion There is clearly a very serious problem with asbestos in most hospitals. From the above accounts it is clear that most managements are being obstructive to rank and file union action on behalfofboth theirmembersand the patients. Clearly the hospital unions (NUPE, COHSE, NALGO, AUEW, TGWU & EEPTU)will have to develop a clear policy on asbestos that includes rates for the direct labour force to do the job where they so desire.
203

Chapter 11 Asbestos in schools and housing estates

Blue

dust
closes school
OC
Jo

Asbestos in schools According to one report1 asbestos could be present in about 8,700ofthe 13,000newschools built between 1945 and 1975. One Doncaster heating engineer, Dennis Shaw, said: in a cold I have woken up in the night sweat thinking of the hundreds of schools where I have installed blue asbestos... When blue asbestos is installed it is mixed with water and then smeared on heating pipes. This dries out with the heat and leaves a fine blue asbestos dust on the pipes. This gets into the heating ducts. I know schools where the dust is two to three inches deep in the ducts. A mouse running along stirs it up. Then the convection currents take it into the classrooms. When we were working with it, or carrying out repairs, we came out of the ducts looking like snowmen. The dust seldom settles, with the children stampeding down corridors. Several schools have been closed for asbestos as Durham, stripping and some councils, suchtheir council have had their architects searching buildings to find out where the asbestos is and check it. There seems to be no systematic checkingon the presence and state of the asbestos in Britain's schools. There has been a ban on the use of asbestos in schools2 by the Department of Education and Science, but this still leaves a lot to
I 2

204

Daily Mail, 30 April 1976. DailyMirror, 6 July 1976.

There may be some 7 million US childrenin 13,500 schools exposed to dangerous levelsof asbestos dust according to one recent US report. Levels in one school were 100 times that outside. In another simply moving books about disturbed the asbestos insulation so much that levels were reachedover six times our current 'safe' level. Safe and careful strippingduring school holidays is the answer ('US experts go to school on new asbestos hazard', NewScientist, 11 January 1979,p.80)

materials from schools that are being replaced by non-asbestossubstitutes. The National Union of Teachers (NUT), in its evidence to the Advisory Committee on Asbestos, has asked for: 1 Sealing off all asbestos; 2 Air-sampling of asbestos levels in schools; 3 Checks on maintenance workers who may have to work with asbestos and that they should receive proper instructions; 4 Asbestos should be replaced wherever possible; 5 Financial provisions should be made for the treatment and removal of asbestos in
schools.

be done. There are not even any instructions being given for the safe disposal of asbestos

There is plenty of evidence that repair work in schools, as in hospitals, is being skimped because of the cuts in public expenditure. There is no doubt that NUT members will have to ensure that these minimum demands are met, for both the safety of themselvesand the children.

Case one:

Asbestos in an East London school

East London,had told his dad, a docker,that he was pulling handfuls of flaky stuff off the school ceiling supports. His dad had been active in the campaign to ban asbestos in the London docks (see p.148): he wasn't goinq tohave his son poisoned by the stuff. He got it analysed throughTU contacts. Sure enough it was asbestos.

A pupil at Trinityschool,

in September 1977 the NUT branch at the school passed the following resolutionunanimously: In view of the potential

not react very quickly and

issue up.

The councildid

completelyand safely
seal the asbestos is

completed by Monday 10 October,and the adequacy of these

measures

is certified

by two independent

health and safety to the staffand children,posed by the ineffectual

in the NewBlock, we, the

sealed asbestos

experts, one private and one public.We do not consider painting provides an adequate
seal.

members of the

After this something was

done.

He contacted the NUT branch and they took the

will refuse to teach in

work to remove or
the affected areas unless

National Union of Teachersat Trinity

205

Case two

Women cleanersfight asbestos dust

The Holbrookannex of North East London Polytechnic is sited in Plaistow, East London.The annex has

fourdepartments including
a child study department that children attend. In the summer of 1976the annex was being fire-proofed to meet new fire regulations. The five resident cleaners Ann Nicholson, Mary Pelling, Flo Batt, Queenie Webb and Lorraine Webb spent the summer cleaningup after the workmen.They were told that the sheets were only harmless plasterboard (but see

p.108). As Ann said,'We used to pick up the offcuts and put them in with the other rubbish. The bottom floor, which is blue polished inn, was pure white with like a lot

WOMENNoTAT,, tAIF% fl IF
wry %
and the union (including by the CMWU but not the strike. This means that they the attempted sacking of didnot get any strikemoney. one cleaner Lorraine The strikers demandswere Webb) the cleaners finally won most of their demands. quite simple: The Poly never accepted 1 To have me asbestos there was a health hazard in the air measured. even though they finally 2 To have the building paid 1000 to a specialist decontaminated by firm to clean it up1 With unionised specialist weekly wagesof 30 each labour. it would have cost 150 to 3 To have a register employ the five cleaners for kept of all those who an equivalent time. had corrie into contact with the building. 4 No victimisation.

of snow with footmarks

across

it. 'On September 24 the students came back and one of them pointed out that the asbestolux
sheets contained asbestos.

During that week therewas someto and frowing between the Polytechnic management,

the cleaners union official, Bill McCall of the GMWU, the Factory Inspectorate and the cleanersand students doing a bit of picketing and then calling it off when the 'poly managementsaid it was safe. But on 30 Septeri her the pike1 by 1h' worruui
(:leaners was made offk al

During the courageous strike some lessons were

learnt

The five cleaners stayed on strike for tour nonths with an additional month unpaid leave. After much wheeler dealing by both
Polyte hriic rtanaqerreflt

In any dispute it is vitally irriportantto keep

a

otherworkersinforrred

with regular rmeetings and

hroddsheets. The rmianage-

206

ment put out 'expert'

and other branchesof the sameand different unionswithin the Poly were confused and did not
act.
have access to identification facilities etc. before a dispute situation arises. Once it occurs you do not have a lot of time to act. c Many union officials, because they are divorced from theworking conditions of their members,do not feel the importance of health and safety issues. Attempts have to be made in such cases to contact the members of the unions

advice to say it was safe

b Workers must ensure they

concerned.

Ann Nicholson summed it up, 'You are fightingeveryone, you are fighting the employer not that you know who they are you are fighting the union, you are fighting the factory inspectorate You are protectingeveryone the staff, the kids, the people in the street. If you had everyone behind you, all the council workers, all the building workerswho are fighting asbestos in Newharn, you could win. You would be making it safer for everyone. But what can five of you do on your own2' (Hazards Bullet/p Nos 5 and 7. Guardian December 13 1976and Spare Rib
January 1977)

above: Fipe women cleaners on the picketline at the NorthEast London Polytechnic Holbrook Annex, demandingthe safe removal ofasbestos during 1976. (Morning Star)

No danger say Poly-

technic management.But this was the equipment thatspecial contractors usedto clear-up theasbestos waste previously swept-upby unprotected cleaners.(SocialistWorker) 207

Asbestos in housingestates

Terry Bellamy (right) with contaminated foothail shirts. (SocialistWorker) 208

Case one:

Asbestos in East London

garages

to Newham Council about

In 1972 Terry Bellamy, a Londondocker,complained

the loose blueasbestos in the garages of 14 council housesin Biggerstaff Road, London.The garages are integral to the house, the ceiling of the garage being the floor of the upstairs room. Terry runs a youth club in the area and stores the sports-gearin his garage,'Sets of football gear, cricketgear, shorts everything you can think of.' Other mothers and fathersof Biggerstaff
Road commented: 'That's where the kids play when it rains...The baby's pram is in there.' TerryBellamyoutside the contaminated garages asbestos foamwas blown on (Socialist Worker) to cover the strawceilings of the garages. Over the do any more and anothertwo years it has deteriorated. monthsto strip the asbestos. As Terry says: 'The least The council then said they touch and it flakes. I have were safe. Terry hit my ladder or fishingrods found 12 of 14 checked and garages were on it and it flakes down like still contaminated with snow. First thing you see asbestos. The council closed when you open the garage is the garages down again and dust.' After many years of fittedthem with new

A two-inch layer of blue

reason was given to those whose possessions were burnt. The dust had also spread up throughthe floorboards and contaminated

sample of the dust analysed early in 1976: it was con-

letter-writing,Terry got a

acted, sealing off the garages and marked them: Danger Keep Out. It took the council three monthsto

firmed to be blue asbestos. He wrote straightto the council.At last they re-

ceilings. Terry got a sample of this new 'safe' ceiling analysed by a scientist, Dr Martin Brewer, and it was found to contain white asbestos. When the council reacted to the
asbestos

the furniture above. The tenants estimate that about140,000will be needed in compensation.
The council has already

burned the contents of the garages. No warningor

problemthey

offered to pay for the football gear they destroyed, but the tenants are having to go to the highcourt for fullercompensation. Asone of them said: 'It's only the tip of a very big asbestosberg.' 209

Janet,aged14,and Ron Smith. (Syndication International Ltd)

Case two:

A scar on the left lung of his

14-year-old daLighter,Janet, has shown up on a routine school X-ray. Ron Smith said: 'The specialist wasn't sure what it was. But he didn't know then about the

with wood-framed

polythene

Asbestos in council flats

sheets, using disposableover-

In April 1976 it was found

that more than 200 people on the Samuel Pepys modern councilestate in Deptford, South London, blue asbestos. As 44-year-old Ron Smith
said: I have lived in the block nearly ten yearsand the corridor ceilings have been damaged all that time. Vandals gouge the soft panels out and tear them to pieces. The fluffy dust is always coming down.

alls, approved respirators and special changing rooms.

'It's only white asbestosc

had been exposed to deadly

said a GLC spokespersonin April 1976 when talking asbestos in our flats...' about the hazards to 400 tenants living in adjoining The Samuel Pepy's tenants' blocks. Therefore there is association had been asking 'no danger'. In Marlow and the council to repair the for about 18 months. Millard houseson the estate ceilings the corridorshave ceilings Seventy workerswere with a disintegrating, soft finally sent to seal off the coating, 1 -1 Y inches thick ceilings in Pelican house the worst affected block. of halfand half riiineral The work was done over the fibre plus white asbestos, Easter weekend of 1976, sprayed on concrete. The GLC proposed to seal the apparently using safety precautions: sealing off the area flaking asbestos by fixing a

210

perforated metal lathing below the asbestos and applying a plaster-based material to it. Workwasto start in August 1976. They were to shoot bolts through the asbestos causingsome 'small disturbance'. The workerswould wear masks and the entrance d'oors would be sealed with tape whilst the workwas carried

5 Contractors' operatives
used communal staircases

while wearing protective

clothing;

The plasticsealing curtainswere not kept properlysealed while work wasin progress. Followingcomplaints, the district housing manager got one of his staff to mop up the corridor,without
any special precautions. Loose asbestos was still

out

In view of the above, the residents were unhappy

aboutthe information
given to them by the housing manager,and refused to close their doors and vacate the corridors.

found on the ledges after mopping up and the mop was thrown in the general rubbish bin. After mopping,

two residents frompreventthework and work started on 16 September.

The tenants'fearswere confirmed:
1 The Factory lnspectorate had not been asked

The GLC obtained a High Court injunction restraining

ing the council undertaking

a thin film of asbestosdust was left all over the floor. After morecomplaints, the

housing manager,in a letter

to NancyTait, the asbestos

campaigner and author of Asbestos Kills,accepted

that, 'The measures takento protect operatives and tenantsare not being applied as diligently as they should be.' He promised
closer supervision iii the

to advise;

2 Each day loose asbestos wasleft around on ledges and floors;

future, but this only after all the above action and
complaints.

The bolts did not take, so channelswere cut in the dryasbestos creating much dust;

4 All working and sweeping

(notvacuuming) was done
dry, creating unnecessary dust whenan asbestosapproved vacuum should have been used;

211

Chapter 12 Living near an asbestos factory or dump

There are no regulations concerningthe amount of asbestos a factory or dump site can emit into the air or water of the surrounding environment. The asbestos companies can put as much asbestos into the air as they like. This is slowly being or challenged not by the asbestos industry but by a group of determined government, residents in Cork, Eire. Their courageousactions will have helped people in similar situations all over the world.

Raybestos Manhattan 'S asbestos factoryin Cork, Ireland. (Alan J.F. Dalton)

212

Ovens

Cork

Womenfrom Oven's Action Grouppicket the USEmbassy in Dublin during1977. (Lensmen)

Case one: An asbestos

Eire

factory in Cork,

in Cork Raybestos-

Irish Development Authority (IDA), have built a 4 millon factory to manufacture 10 million discbrake pads a year. These are mainly intended for export to the EEC countries. The discbrake pads will contain 25 to 50 per centwhite (Chrysotile)
asbestos.

with much helpfrom the

Manhatten of the USA,

stink about the factory. of Through a combination a specialist report (produced by a committeeelected at a meeting of 500) on the hazardsto the community and by direct action tactics (the women'saction group

permission was granted three days beforeChristmas 1975) the residents got themselves organised and created a

After some delay (planning

picketed the American Embassyin Dublin) the residents have aroused public 213

interest and feeling against

asbestos

per cubic metre of

the factory. The big argument for Raybestos is one hundred jobs in a town that needs them although not as much as many other Irish towns. Yet even so, whenthe local radio interviewed people at the Cork labour exchange, the comments1 were aboutequally for and against the factory: It should start up... being out ofwork isn't goodfor your health either...l'veworked in worse places than that; Of course the residents are right, they should fight for their rights like...It'ssupposed to be verydangerous stuff like, en it?...Would you
live beside it? Would you live beside it? Would yer?

air.

Airsamplestaken by the
Research and Standards

Irish Institute for Industrial and analysed by Dr A.N. Rohl at Professor Selikoff's laboratory in the USA in May 1977, have shown that the background level of asbestos in the air on the Beverly Estate near the factory is 0.8 ng per cubic metre of air. Therefore thebackground levelof

p.157) to reconsider the hazard of asbestos. As the story of the dumping at Cork (see p.222) indicates the fightagainst Raybestos may not be over yet.
1 'Putting the brake on asbestos',Science for People, BSSRS magazine, No.36, 1977. Journalof theAir 2

Pollution Control Association, vol

25, 1975, p.1207. 'Pollution versus jobs', 3 asbestoswill rise 75 times no Magill (Ireland current (from 0.8 to 60). With of asbestos known, affairs monthly magazine), safe level August 1978, the residents clearly have grave cause for concern. It is worth remembering that this factory is claimed to be 'the most modern and safest asbestos factory iii the world'. thisis thesafest, what are the rest like? In fact the most recent
planning permission granted will allow up to 10,000 times the background level of asbestos in the air around the factory in Cork. The factory

If

Accordingto the planning

permission requirements the stated emission of asbestos fromthe plant will be 371 million asbestos fibres per minute per 24hourday from a chimney roughlythe height of a twostoreyhouse. When diluted with the intended 13,000

cubic feet of air this will

lead

to an asbestos emission around the concentration of 1 fibre per asbestos levels of air. Using information2 factory.3 ml the from the US Department of Whilst itseems that this residents have lost in it is Connecticut
Health,
possible to calculate approxithat their actionshave mately that this emission forced manyauthorities level will lead to a ground in throughoutthe world concentrationof asbestos not least Raybestos (see the air of 60 nanogramsof

finally got into production in late 1978, but the company have refused to give the local residents the results of the tests on

round,thereis no doubt

214

Typicalasbestos waste dumpingsite. (HSE)

Dumping asbestos All the millions of tons of asbestos that have been ripped out of the earth and spread around everywhere, in the name of profit, have got to go back there some day. The sooner the better, but this is easier said than done. As the Greater London Council stated1 as early as February 1975: In London, in 1973, 14,000 tons (ofasbestos) required disposal... It should be stressed that the number of landfill sites where asbestos waste can be deposited, accessible to London, is rapidly dwindling and that the proper disposal of asbestos in the London area therefore presents a very real problem. One of the major demolition contractors, Mr N.C. Cropper, gave evidence to the government's Advisory Committee on Asbestos. He spoke of the fact that the demolition and stripping of asbestos is 'still largely a primitive procedure' and that there is a tendency to use 'irresponsible operators' for of the tremendous amountcheapness. He spoke of asbestos waste being receiveddaily, ofwhich there is no record, and gave as an example the amount of asbestos that would be handled in dismantling a power station: 100,000 bags of asbestoswaste. Finally he commented2: We are experiencing difficulty in local disposal of bagged asbestos as toxic waste. Briefly, some council tips will have no
development bulletin. No.82, February 1975. 2 'Selected written evidenceto the Advisory Committee on Asbestos 1976-77', UMSO, 1977, p.70. 215
1

GLCmaterials

In May 1979 the Department of the Environment

published a Code of Practice for the disposal of asbestos waste (Waste Management Paper No.18, DoE, HMSO, 1979; 75p). No trade unionists sat on the committee that produced this Code. The asbestos industry was well represented. Even if enforced there isno evidencethat it 'vilI adequately protect disposal operatives, people or crops living near asbestos dumps. If conditionsare reallybad it may be of some help and it is an improvement over the Asbestos Research Council'sCode which it
replaces.

dealings with this material, which often results in expensivelengthy transportation This involving specialised waste containers. outside recognisedindustrial applies mostly areas, and I see no reason why far more local council tips are not licensed to accept Failure to bagged asbestos waste.an incentiveachieve to the this will obviously be avoid the high charges small operators to of specialised waste transporters, especially for small quantities, and lead to illegal tipping. He clearly has an important point. This fly-bydoubt night tipping is certainly going on and no isdone. Asbestos it will increase unlesssomething is notifiable toxic waste under the Deposition of Poisonous Waste Act 1972. This Act penalises 'the depositing on land of poisonous, noxious or so as to polluting waste'offenders give an environmental liable for any resultant hazard', makes and imposes penalties for contradamage', vention: a on summary conviction, of a fine of 400or six months in prison; b on conviction on indictment, of imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine, or both. notifiable Anyone removing or depositing ainform the waste such as asbestos must local council of their intentions, giving three clear working days' notice. For breaking these notification regulations you can be fined not more than 400. How is asbestosdumped? It depends on who is dumpingit. Waste dumping in general is done very crudely and usually as and cheaply as possible. This means that health near for operators and those living safety, both up to 80 per cent by, is disregarded. Since arise from the of the total disposal cost may transport operations, it is not surprisingto find that many private tips are run by Road Transport Operators. Surveys3 have shown that conditions for the operators at these tips are criminal.
3

Annals ofOccupationalHygiene,vol 18, 1975, p.213.

216

Asbestos in sealed bags as required by the Code of Practice. (HSE)

Typicaldust cloud from ripping asbestos waste. Plastic bags will clearly burst. (HSE)

in the foreground is

seen a dust sampler ona tippingsite. (HSE) 217

Case two:

Asbestos in the back garden of Henry Steggles In 1906 Cape Asbestos (now Cape Industries) built an asbestos factory at Bow, East London. In 1913 this factory moved to Barking. East London. It closed down in 1968. The factory employed manythousands of people and hundreds of them have died from asbestos-relateddiseases.1 The company doctor, Dr Wi. Smither,reviewing the slaughter in 19652noted that deaths were the same in 1960-64 as they were in 1930-34; although symptoms were not so bad before death and the workforce was larger. What was his suggestion to control the deadly disease2 'Perhaps this is an industrywhich should be engaged in only by older men'. The idea being that by the time you

got the cancer you would

be dead. (Hopefully?)

A woman whoworked for

less than

a year, in 1927,at

Cape'sasbestos factory in Barking, died in 1978 frorT asbestosis. She had suffered

from disablinglung disease for some time. A witness at

the inqui-'st,
Professor Keith

Simpson,commented,'lhave known peoplewho only worked in the factory for

HenrySteggles with shovelful ofasbestosfrom his hackgarden in 1977. (The Guardian)

an afternoonto suffer the

disease.3 ('Asbestos dust took 51 years to kill', Guardian 12 May 1978)

2i

By July 1978 six months later it seemed ironically the mounds.' Most of her as if Cape'swould get the family had worked at the contract to remove the factory. Her husband and uncle died of asbestosis. Her killer dust. On 'very reasonmotherdied at the early age able'termsof course: of 48 of cancer. Her sister 1,500 tons of deadly contaminated asbestos had and sister-in-law both have to be removed
asbestos is.

Ann Wendrop worked there in the 1930s. At the age of 17 she and her first husband went courtingon the asbestos dump. 'My husband was a waste boy, he used to takethewaste Out to the dump, and we used to sit on

and the tenants had to go on a rent strikewith signs in their houses: NO ASBESTOS REMOVED
NO RENT PAID.

lity from Mesothelial tumours in asbestos

'Predictions ofmorta-

factoryworkers', British JournalofIndustrial Medicine, vol 33, 1976,

p.147. 2 'Secular changes in asbestosis in an asbestos factory',Annals ofthe New YorkAcademy of Sciences, vol 132, 1965, p.166. 3 'Asbestosdust took 51 years to ki11,Guardian 12 May 1978.

In 1938twenty terrace council houses were built on the asbestos dump and in the late 1960s a large estate of council flats was built on the former factory site. By September 1977 a pensioner, Henry Steggles, who lived in the council
houses, was digging up lumps of asbestos with his spade. His wife Ivy informed the local council Environmental Health Department. Nothing much was done

and most 'approved'sites would not handle this amountof toxicwaste. The waste was to be carried loose covered by tarpaulin,not bagged as required by the Code of Practice. This resulted in a threatened strike by workersat one

a Angela Singer, 'Blue asbestos found in garden near former asbestos factory site', Guardian,20 January,
1978;

b AngelaSinger, 'Council caught in asbestos dilemma', Guardian, 6 July 1978.

dump site who, rightly, would only handle bagged asbestos waste.4 As they say, from the cradle to the
grave.

P1:77-

THP'T MPJ Of\i THE REDL,'HDANCY

L13r 8EFOrE
HE
OF 3UING

1)5

219

.,

/-

posed asbestos tip.

Gates to entry ofpro(Alan J.P. Dalton)

Case three: Kent residents stop asbestos dump Bychance,on 19 May 1977,the residents of the Fleet Estate, Dartford, Kent, found out that an applicationhad been filed with the local council to dump asbestos near Fleet downschool on the estate.
The Fleetdown Residents Association and other groups formed an AntiAsbestos Dumping Group. Their main objections were: 1 Close proximity of proposed asbestos dump to the school; 2 The life of the dump, at present used to tip non-toxic waste, is alroOst oxha is nd

3 The original application for the dumpwas

granted before the school was built, 4 The Asbestos Industry Code of Practice on the dumping

of asbestos is

not strict enough;

5 Accidents happen. would not have our

danger.

children'slives put in

After two monthsof active

campaigning they were successfuland the corn pany, D & H (Reclamation) Ltd. withdrew their applica

tion 'for the continuation of our good relations with

the local residents'. Noteworthy is the fact that the local and county council were prepared to go ahead

with the dump.

Ftulh

2Z()

obstructiveto the residents giving them short notice

councils were generally

EndofMay: A petition of 900 signatures objectingto

of meetings, awkward times,

splitting meetings and so on. 13 June: Dartford Borough The Community Health Council approve application Council played no part in and pass it onto Kent helping the residents. Only County Council. Subthe factthat they were committeeof latter, because fairlywell organised before of strong local opposition, the action helped them agree to see protesters at the keep people informedon pit on 16 July. what was going on and when. Mrs GildaCurtiss, 11 July: All objectors leader of the Anti-Asbestos receive just48hoursnotice abouta public meeting at Dumping Group,claimed 3 pm that is threemiles the decision was 'a victory from the pit. Protests are for common sense'. But made to the council and common sense was only found when the people of they agreeto hold the the estate got together and meeting in a hall opposite the school. Much effortat acted, and she added, 'We would have fought this such short notice put into applicationto the bitter advertising the meeting.
end, and

the site sent to Kent County Council.

advice as a resultof Daily Mirror article.

July/August: Letters written

to local councillors, council and company to inform them of protest.

Council inform residents' groups of meeting on 16 August,to be split into two; one formal' in the afternoonand one in the evening. The residents were againstthis split, wantinga public meeting.

4August: Kent County

Also, they did not want it in August when many

people, including the school staff, were on holiday. Councils ignores these requests.

if necessary,

stood across the tip gates to stop the vehicles going

in'.

Diary ofEvents 19 May 1977: Application by D & H (Reclamation) Ltd to dump asbestos in an existing pit they had for non-toxicwaste near Fleetdown PrimarySchool. Small notice appears in the
local paper 21 days to

13July: About 300 mother attend meeting to protest not only aboutthe site but also aboutthe timing of the meeting people who were working could not get to the meeting. Meeting was closed as hall got overcrowded. An evening meeting in a larger hail was promised.

ilAugust: D & H (Reclamation) Ltd withdraw their applicationto dump asbestos, 'for the continuationof good relations with the local
residents'.

object. Only headmistress

of Fleetdown objects.
Council Planning and

24 May: Dartford Borough

TransportCommitteemeet and recommend the application be accepted to the full council.Note: this was only 5 daysafterthe notice

14July: Daily Mirrorcontacted and runs a story on protest under heading: 'Mum's Fury at Death Dust Plan'. Middle ofJuly: AntiAsbestos DumpingGroup formed to unite protests of
local residents groups, clubs, nurseries. BSSRSWork Hazards Group contacts residents and offers help and Typicalhole infence, nearschool, used by children to get into the

first appeared.

tip toplay. (Alan J.P. Dalton)

221

Case four:

the planning application

Dumping asbestos in Cork We have already described how the residents in Cork are fightingthe continued operation of the 'cleanest discbrakepad factory in the

for an asbestos waste

dump at Barnahealey,
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, we outline hereunder an EightPoint Programme to ensure that this is not imposed on the community 1 Anyapproval by Cork County Council will be appealed to the new Appeals Authority set up by the Minister for Local Government; 2 Should approval be granted contraryto the majority decision of

attempt to commence dumping we will recomment that the parents withdraw their childrenfromthe

world' (p.213). But two

groups of residents are also concerned aboutthe dumpingof asbestos waste from

National Schools of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy, in viewof the proximity of these schools to the site;

8 wewilltakeany
further steps necessary to ensure that the wishes of the communitywill be complied with. We trust that commonsense will prevail and that the Authoritieswill heed the massive numberof bona fide objectors tO the application.

the factory. The factory will produce about 100 kilos of waste, containing about25 per cent asbestos,
every day.

The firstplanwas to tip the waste in a site within two miles of the factory, but the company abandoned this site, they claimed,in the interests of harmonywith the local community. But as one mother said, 'Itwas not until we kicked up a stink that they moved the
site'.

Cork County Council,

The next applicationfor an asbestos dumpsite was made at Ringaskiddy 23 miles from the factory through the city Cork (where the asbestos waste would have to travel). Having learned from the Beverly residents' fight the Ringaskiddy
ResidentsAssociation

quickly produced an eightpoint programme in

February 1977: Ringaskiddy Residents Association (incorporating Shanbally, Raffee, Coolrnore, Raheens, Barnahealy and Loughberg) Having considered all the developments relating to 222

section 4 of the Planning Act will be invoked; 3 Ratepayers in the above areas will withhold payment of rates and we will recommend similaraction to the manyother communities who have publicly supported us; 4 Pickets will be placed on Connolly Hall by trade union members resident in our areas whose wishes were not representedby the current action of the ITGWU; 5 Pickets will also be placed on the IDA offices,the County Hall and premisesof other bodies supportingthe action; 6 Contractors involved in the transportof the waste and the site excavation will also be picket
ed,

dump was granted by Cork County Council after four and a half hours of heated debate: 27 for and 17 against. The residents went throughthe costly process of appeal. It wascostly in the sense that they had to bring over their own experts and employ a barristerto counter the massive amount of boughtexpertise available to the company and the Irishgovernment. This was
financed by local collections, which in goodweeks could reach 100some indicationof the feelings of the local community against the dump. In September 1977 the resultof the appealwasannounced:

Planning permission for the

for the dump.Therehad

7 IntheeventofaflY

been some improvements in the (:OflditiOflS for planning appeal (see box p.224) but

The police ('Gardai') trying toforce a way through thepicketline for contractors, hired by Raybestos, todump asbestos inMay 1978. (DonalSheehan)

in viewof the hazardsstiH present (and the fact that planning conditionswere easily broken for exdr'lpIe the near by Penn Chemical factory was releasing ueadly Methyl Mercaptan rejectedthis planning
permission atmosphere) the residents

monthsof 1978 and came to a head in May 1978. Raybestos supported by twenty five police (gardai) tried to dump some asbestos on the site. Theywere faced by 200 protesters and 80
school-children There were 'scuffles and nine people were treated in hospital with one ten-year-old staying overnight. Mr Ted Forde, chairman of the Ringaskiddy Residents' Association, commented, 'It's clear now we live in a policestate'.

industry,if not actuallyemployed by them, a fact which has not always been admitted in the statements by the same experts. Althoughon the surface a failure, there is no doubt that the courageousactions of the Cork people in fighting the Irish government, a multinationalcompany, and the blackmail of jobs versus
asbestos

in accordance with the planning permission threatened to withdraw 186

They thereforestarted Picketing the site to prevent any workbeingdoneon it

tradeunion takea very backward-looking,if understandable, position)has led to a the hazards of asbestos. This has extended beyondIreland to the EEC and America and in fact the whole world. And, of course, the story may not be finished yet. In the fightagainst the killer asbestos the People of Cork have donetheir bit. Whatabout the rest of us?
223

health (which has made the

childrenfrom the nearby schools and supported the residents of Ovens in their fight against the factory. The fightagainst the dump continued throughthe early

da campaign during 1978 the residentswere finally worn downand the factory is now in production. 'Independent
experts' have figured stronglyin this fight. Nearly all theseexperts are closely related to the

After a sustained propagan-

major reconsideration of

Outlinesof improved planning conditionsfor asbestos dumps PlanI

(near factory 1976) September 1976 waste from Raybestos Manhattan only
1

in Cork

Plan II (Aingaskiddy) March 1977

Plan III Ringaskiddy on appeal, September 1977 as for II

only for the dumping

of asbestos waste

2 use to discontinue
after:

a 7 years;

b whenwaste within 2.3 metre of ground level, or as a result of monitoring,any pollutant (liquid or solid) emanates

use to be discontinued when planning authorily is 'satisfied that pollutant is emanating from disposal area

II with the following additions: if the results of monitoring show increases of 'three orders of magnitude (103) 'or 1000 X then if not corrected within six months site to be closed
as for

3 a 2.4 metre (7-8 ft)

as for

I with addition

as for II

highsecurity fence is to be erected. Entrance gate to be securely locked

of warningsigns
pelletised waste to be enclosed in sealed metal containers. Pellets to be non-friableand capable of withstanding a force of kg per 1/2" x 1/2 pellet as for II

4 processwaste to be
containers

wetted and transported in sealed watertight

5 all otherwaste to be

transported in sealed bags in metal containers

minimumgaugeof polythene bags to be 500 backfill with clay to a

minimum

as for II

6 immediatelyafter

as for II

dumping the whole waste shall be covered with earth to a minimum

of 150mm

depth of 300 mm and hour

completed withinone

7 a schedule of dumping
arrangementsshall be given to the council, Details of operatives' protectiveequipment and clothing shall be given to the council 224

as for I; plus council officers to have access at any time and to have a key to the gate

as for Il; with no dumping

outside thesetimes

P/an I (cont)

P/an II (cont) regular air monitoring to be doneby a 'competentand independent person', Results to be given at three-monthlyintervals

P/an III (cont)

8 Raybestos Manhattan
shall arrange regular air and water monitoring and give results to council

monthly testing of asbestos in air and by electron

for the first six monthsand then at intervals to be

agreedwith council. Weather conditionsto be noted

microscopy (transmission)

access to site shall be safe and adequate

cost of access to be borne by developer seriesof trenches not exceeding: 2.5 metres deep; 1.5 metres wide; minimum centre to centre of 2.5 metre. Depth ofwaste shall not be nearer the top of trench than 600mm, Nearest trench may come to boundary is 10 ft. as for II; with addition that trenches must run in a

10 detailsof dumping
procedure: none

directionand maybe no nearer the top than 500mm, No dumping if water in trenches is more than 300mm deep. At not more than monthly intervals, trenches to be made up to original ground level

11

on completionof use of site it shall be seeded

withinsix monthsof startup a schemeshall be submitted to the council for the 'regrading of the site'

with suitable grassseed. Stream to be piped total

length and the boundaries to be planted with evergreen trees

12 abondshallbe
deposited with the council to ensure compliance with conditions

asforl

asforl

225

Case five:

Dumpingasbestos

Waste Act 1972 from time to time.

'officially'
The only site licensed to dump blue asbestos in Kent is the Lenestatip in Rainham. Conditionsat the

The managingdirector of
Lenesta, Terence Barwick,

tip were courageously revealed by bulldozerdriver

John Mitchell in the Evening Standard in 1976. I want the factsabout this to come out. This
asbestos comes here in lorriesand often the load

admitted; 'The numberof broken bags on the lorries does bother me... it is oossible that asbestos dust can get into the environment.' The management
have now issuedJohn Mitchell with a dust mask and respirator

sible. Raybestos have gone someway to doing this in Cork by pelletising some of the waste. Why not all? It is interesting that Dr Stephen Holmes of the British asbestos industryhas said2 that the pelletising method had been looked into in Britain but not been introduced because of cost.

There is 'Recommended Code ofPractice for the Handling and Disposal of cover it immediately. Asbestos Waste Materials' isn't enough There just earth on the site to do it. produced by the Asbestos industry frontorganisation, Look at all the fruit the Asbestos Research around here. You don't Council.This is the standard it know how dangerous work too. The most councils is to do that, do you? sameold story of the asbesThere is a housing tos industry setting its own estate nearby and when standard. But as one of the the wind blows in a studies said: 'Compliance particularway off the with the Code was very sea, it is particularly variable'. The regulations exposed to the dust. need to be rightened up Childrencould slip urgently. The conditions through a hole in the it to won (see p.224) by the gate or crawl under residents in Cork provide get onto the site. the bare minimum for A Kent CountyCouncil immediate safer tipping. In spokesmansaid they were the long term the really 'perfectly happy a good safe disposal of asbestos standard of waste disposal waste, like nuclear waste had been achieved on this (thoughin this case we tip'. He admitted therehad shouldn't be producing it been caseswherethe polyat all), needs a lot more thenebags split open and thought and action. It would that blue asbestos had been be better to alter the asbesdumpedon the site without tos fibres, by high temperaa county inspector in attend- tureor chemical means,1 to ance. He did say that they a safer substanceto transmade inspections under the portand dumpwhereposDeposit of Poisonous

is spilt. I can't always

Costbeforehealth again. If the asbestos cannot be made saferthen the best thing to do with it would be to dump it into the bottom

of disused mines: back where

it came from into the bowels

of the earth. This is done in

Germany. At the moment most dumping is done near the surface. They have been dumping it in South Africa for yearsand studies report,3 'The (asbestos) fibre has a tendency to creep towards the surface, and the covering must be continually repeated.' Also there is every chance that asbestos buried in only a few feet of earth maybe disturbed at some future date by the unsuspecting.
Paul Ase, 'Asbestos manufacturing waste disposal and utilisation', US ITT Research Institute, 1976. 2 'IDA bring in expert on asbestos', Irish Times, 7 Jurie,1978. 'Annual report of 3 the South African Goverm
1

of ment',Department

Mines, 1973.

226

Case six:

Dumpingasbestos waste near flats and a nursery Thereis a lot of pressure to dump asbestos waste on any Union Grove, Lambeth, South London.On 2 August 1977 firemen from B21 Fire Station,Clapham, were called to a wood fire on the site. They found bags marked 'Blue asbestos do not inhale dust'.
Some of the bags were split open. The firemendamped down the dustand informed Lambeth council.

oldbit of waste ground. That iswhathappened in

The councilactedquickly and got a specialist firm EnvirocorLtd of Lichfield to remove the
waste asbestos.

___________ A typicalpress photo of protectedEnvirocor men clearing-upasbestos waste.

waste. (Guard/an 5 August 1977. Evening Standard 4 August 1977. Safety and RescueSeptember 1977) The local councillor's press and otherauthorities thought the cleanup safe. There is no doubt that Envirocorare one of the better equipped asbestos removal firms. Even so, the following points were noted: The split-open bagsand asbestos waste at Union Grove.(MorningStar)

Most of the press reports concentrated on how safelythis clean up was doneand then went on to ask who had dumped the

Part ofa white-wash?

(AM/Keystone)

227

off' with tape, and work-

The site wasonly 'fenced-

men, who were unprotected, were still on the site during cleanup;

2 A children's nursery only a few yards from the site wasallowed to remain
open while men in full breathing apparatus cleaned the site;

3 Afterthesitewas

pronounced clean it was still possible to pick up

brown asbestos (confirmed by analysis) on the

site;

The waste asbestos was just dumped in skips with

inadequate covering. These skips, six in all, went all the way to an approved site in Surrey. How many more people were needlessly exposed in this way? Clearly the precautions takenwere inadequate, and it is hard not to have the feeling that one day of 'good precautions' was

laid on for the press.

above:

Men protectedagainst asbestosdust damping down waste.Note the closenessofpassers-by and tape to stop(!) adults and childrengettingonto the site. Council/or Prentice some weekslater claimed the site had been fullyfenced offwith corrugated sheet before theasbestos was dumped! What bullshit. (FleetFotos) Men workingon adjacent buildingsite during cleanup ofasbestos waste with noproleCtion. (MorningStar) 228

Localchildren standing against tape that 'stops' them going into

contaminated area. (MorningStar)

Coveringoverasbestos waste in skips insufficient (Eve Barker) Asbestos waste poorly covered onits way through thestreets of London toadumping site. (EveBarker)

Who dumped it? We shall never know. At first,

with the name Red land

because bags were found

Purle on them,this firm was thought to be the culprit, but after some considerable searchingthis wasshown not to be so. What the investigation did showup was the confusion over the checking of the dumping of asbestos waste. Both Kent County Council and Redland Purleare at fault; although it is most likely that a similarsituation exists all over Britain. These movements of deadlyasbestos are supposed to be notified by law, but evidently councils are not taking their job seriously. Thisshows the needfor trade unionists to be concerned about where the waste asbestos fromtheir factory goes and to check that it is disposedofsafely. Because of these and other concerns a meeting of local residents (opposite 229

meeting. The chairwoman of the local Community Springfields GLC estate) Health Council stood up was called jointly by and told the tenantsthey Trades Council Lambeth had nothingto fear as here and Lambeth branch of she was perfectly healthy the Socialist Workers Party 1977. and she'd worked for (SWP) on 15 August Cape Asbestos for twenty the surprise of the To years She was jeered at, secretary of the Springquite rightly. The tenants fieldsTenantsAssociation asked the councillors, their the meeting she (before experts and apologists to had said, 'they'll only turn leave the meeting early, out for bingo')about fifty and decided on some action: concerned and angry to draw up a petition and turned up at the residents distribute it on the estate. meeting. They asked their councillors This petition was written the why no tenants were told of and distributedby SocialistWorkers Party CouncillOr the dangers. (SWP), but never collected. Derek Prentice replied that inforthe council's earlier The council took further mation blackout had been air samplesand wrote to to avoid 'unnecessary Lambeth Trades Council panic'. (Moning Star 17 saying that therewas no August 1977) traceof asbestos in the area. The Trades Council asked Anotherquestion concerned for a copy of the report why corrugated iron had and the method used to been put up around the site but

the site is the 800-home

the Lambeth Trades Council and the local Socialist Workers Partybranch made some attempt to help the tenants to organise, but did not follow the

actionsthroughwith
enough effort to get the council to finally make good. Such actionswould have established precedents for further confrontations between the tenants and the council officials which are sure to come. But the end result, a meeting of around fifty people,
aggressive, faceless

confident and

angry, who confront their

councillorsand officials can't be bad. On top of that quite a few people at the meeting with the councillors expressed interestin joining the
previously dormant tenants' association.

two days afterthe asbestos had been wasdumped: before therewould present have been no dumping in the first place. Councillor

fit

take the samples, got no reply.

they

Had the tenants been better organised beforethe dumping they could have forced Prentice replied that the the council to fence off the fence was there before the waste ground a danger to dumping:a blatant lie as childrenin any case and the tenants well knewand so have prevented the the photos show. Other event even occurring. questions concerned the Clearly the council, cleanup operation.Brian although theywent some Hodges (ASLEF),President way to cleaning up the of Lambeth Trades Council, asbestos fully, did not do held up a piece of asbestos enough, and theywould (laterconfirmedto be so not admit their mistakes by analysis) that he had when faced with them by picked up off the 'clean' the tenants. Likewise both site when coming to the

right:

The way the asbestos was supposed to have been dumped in sealed containers on the day the press came. (Envirocor) Brian Hodges,President of Lambeth Trades Council, showingphotosof Union Grove site unfenced to local meeting ofresidents (Officersofthe council in the front row). (Andrew Wiard, Report)

230

231

Chapter 13 Compensation

There is of course no compensation for the suffering caused by industrial diseases. That is why most of this book is about prevention. But clearly there are many people who will suffer and are suffering from asbestos-related diseases. You might think for suchunfortunates there would be no problem in gaining some

you compensation for their ruined health, butform would be wrong. The path to gaining some of compensationis coveredin obstacles. If you are in a trade union use them. That's part of what you pay your union dues for. If not contact a local law centre if you have onenearadvice of a you by. Failing thatof thewill need the listed in the solicitor. Some organisations section on help (Appendix 1, p.260) may be able to recommend friendly solicitors with experience of asbestoscases. One or two books arelisted in the further reading list (Appendix 2, p. 264) that may help you in this confusingarea. guide The following comments are in no way a added They are to the gaining of compensation. some mainly as case studies to indicate that area this depressing things can be done even in There are two ways of asbestos-relateddiseases. if form of you can obtain somefrom an compensation asbestos-related are suffering you
disease:

232

Everyone who pays a National Insurance stamp is entitled to some form of payment if they are injured at work or suffer from one of fifty recognisedindustrialdiseases (asbestosis and Mesotheliomaare such diseases). b You may sue the company that caused your suffering through the process of common law.
a

A recent study of 50 people Doing one thing does not the stop you with the deadly asbestos other. The money you get will (ordoing should!) cancer Mesotheijoma come quicker from the government than by around the shipyards at suing, but the common law method may give Barrow-in-Furnessshowed you more in a lump sum. All quite simple you that the DHSS were paying may think, but it is not. Between 1969 and 1976 compensation to only 21 the Department of Health and Social Security patientsor their widows. (DHSS) have diagnosed at their medical boards Lessthan half! The average almost 1,200cases of asbestosis. Quite a lot you time of death from first might think, but there is plenty of evidence that diagnosiswas six months. this is only a fraction of the real number of (Thoraxvol 33 1978 p.26) deservingcases. The DHSS istightwith its money and there is plenty of evidence to support this. Typical of the situation is a man from Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire. Cape Industries' examiningconsultant said abouthim: This man is now severelydisabled and will certainly never be able to work again. This disability must be attributed to pulmonary asbestosis consequent upon his employment with the Cape Asbestos Company in 1949. Cape therefore paid out a meagre 5,000, but the DHSS refused to pay any benefit! One asbestosis victim who John Pickering, a Manchester solicitor specialishas been awarded 14,000 in in industrial injuries compensation, has by Cape Asbestos has been said1 that he alone has about thirty cases of refused compensation by people who have been refused DHSS benefits the DHSS five times! even though they have the support of consultant ('Dustyanswerson the physicians who say they are suffering from roadto a pension', Angela asbestosis. Singer, Guardian, 2.4.1979) On 31 January 1977 the DHSS allowed the right of a limited appeal to a Medical Appeal Tribunal by those who were turned down by the DHSS Pneumoconiosis Board (the panel of DHSS doctors who decide if you're crippled or not).
1

ManchesterFreePress No.33, April-May 1975. 233

Of the 3 - 5,000 applications for industrial lung disease compensation each year an incredible 3 out of 4 (75 %) are rejected. The appeal is limited to 400 sufferers each year. As one lawyer who has dealt with many asbestosis cases remarked2

They turn down half the people I know who have asbestosis.. .cases are turned down who have received10- 20,000 com-

pensation from asbestos companies.. .the whole emphasis of the DHSS is to avoid paying out money. [my emphasis I
New Scientist, 28 October 1976, p.223.

MrsS. Fisherwith photos ofher deadhusband Sammy Fisher. (Bryan Wharton, Topix)

Case one: Peanuts for your husband's death After fifteen years of
breathlessness and pain Moll F isher'shusband, Sammy, died of lung cancer and asbestosis in

working at the giant Turner

and Newalls' Hindley Green factory near Wigan. TLirner and Newalls in their generosity gave her 600 arid carried on paying her hLisband'sfl a week pension, hut that stopped in June 1977, so that in 1977 sh was iving on the DHSS state pension of 15.85a week. (Sunday Times 30 January 1977)

December 1973. 'No one realised how he suffered', said Moll. He was 66 when he died and got his asbestosis and lung (;anr;er from

234

Case two:

No compensation for wife

crippledwith asbestosis Mary Vaughan's husband, Henry, died aged 55 of the

deadly asbestos-cancer Mesothelioma. He worked for Dick's Asbestos Company in Canning Town, London,for six monthsin 1936. Aftera grim sixmonth illness, during which time he perspired so much that his pyjamas had to be changedsix timesa day. He died in 1971.Worsewas to

on or after the 5 July1948'. any of that'. (NewSociety She did claim for her 27 January 1977) husband's death from the

come: Mary found that she had the symptoms of asbestosis herself. Probably caught from Henry when she brushed off the asbestos dust from his clothes everyday after he finished his asbestos pipe-sawing. But she cannotclaim compensation because the DHSS scheme only applies to thosewho get asbestosis 'arising out of employment

state pneumoconiosis scheme and wasawarded the maximum 300. Beyond this the DHSS has given her 55p a week above

the ordinarywidow's
pension as an industrial death benefit. She also gets allowances for the special diet she has to have and a heating allowance. She is troubled by what she saw her husband go through: 'I saw it all and I don't want

Information Committee state: Sadly, existing sufferers can only be helped by good medical care and fair compensation to them and their dependants. This the asbestos industry has willingly undertaken and many millions of pounds have been paid, both in direct compensation and in maintaining the earnings of employees transferred to lighter, less exposed work. Turner and Newall, the asbestos industry giants, after much pressure have increased from 1 to 6 a week its 'Ex GratiaAllowancespaid during the pleasure of the board of directors'. According to those who have a fair knowledgeof this compensation (see Nancy Tait's Asbestos Kills), the sums awarded are pretty miserable.A typical case is that of Cathy Hughes: I get the paltry pension of 15.85 a week from the state for the death of my man aged 54. I got nothing, not even a card of sympathy, from Turner andNewalls. I had everything I could want in my life at one time. Then you took my man. You forced me out to work. And he got just 500 compensation for his stolen years. He
235

In their 1976 glossy handout: 'Asbestos miracle fibre or killer dust?' the asbestos industry public relations organisation, the Asbestos

Cathy Hughes. (Phil

McCowen)

JamesMoore worked for

12

different companies as an insulationengineer during his 42-year working life. He died of asbestosis and lung cancer. Accordingto his wife, Margaret Moore, 'He was never well. He couldn't eat or drink withoutfeeling ill, but it was not until 1974 that he was x-rayed and the doctorsdiscovered he had lungcancer caused by asbestosis.' In April 1979 she was awarded 17,000
compensation against the 12 companies. (Daily Telegraph, 3.4.1979; Guardian, 3.4.1979> 236

was threatened that if the case went to court he'd likely get nothing. To see a man Newall dying from the disease Turner and sat him is too terrible for words. I day gave and night with him dying in the bed. (Socialist Worker 30 April 1977) There is no doubt that it is cheaper for the asbestos industry to pay these paltry sums of 'compensation' for the murder they commit rather than make safer products. Small wonder an article on compensation for asbestosdiseases can conclude: All in all, the family of an asbestos victim finds formidable difficulties before it. Usually, the wife is exhausted from nursing the dying husband. Usually, the family lacks the knowledge or finance to get through the thicket of DHSS regulations or to hire solicitors with enough industrial knowledge to tackle the employers. The odds are weighed heavily towards the asbestos companies they hold the man's medical records and his X-ray results, and they have good lawyers. (New Society 27 January 1977)

for a fit and healthy man of 54, with a wife and two children, who dies painfully and 15 to 20 years or more before his time is around 15,000.

We have seen (p.157) that the 1978 'going rate'

US compensation In the US the trade unions havegone for higher awards even at some cost to themselves. In February 1978 there was an out-of-court settlement for 10.3 million (20 million dollars) awarded to 445 former asbestos workers at one plant. The sum can be broken down3 as follows: over 8,000,000: Pittsburgh Corning Glass Co (PPG) and company physician Dr Kee Grant over S1,000,000: UNARC who sold the plant to PPGin 1962 S5,200,00: Firms which supplied PPG with asbestos including Cape Industries of London S5, 750,000. various US government protection agencies for failing to inform workers of the hazards they found as early as 1964 S100,000: Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW) who brought the action. This was for failing to advise their members of the hazardous conditions in the plant. There are clear differences between the US and the British common law compensation systems. It is interesting to note in the above 10 million settlement that suppliers (one being Cape in Britain) of the killer dust, company doctor, Factory Inspectorate and union in addition to the factory had to cough The union amount was small compared with up. others, but even so the it seems to have prompted them into action over asbestos. During 1977-78 they produced a comprehensive slide show, booklet and wall poster on asbestoshazards.4
3

h 1Om paid to US asbestos workers', construction News, 23 February 1978. 4 a 'Asbestosfighting a killer',Oil, Chemical and Atomic
Workers International Union (OCAW); h Molly Coye, 'Asbestos its hazardsand how to fight them',OCAW, 1978; c 'Asbestos', wall poster, OCAW, 1978.

a US OccupationalSafety andHealth Reporter, 1978;

237

According to one report5 the number of US being crippled by compensation claims for risen from a handful asbestos-relateddisease has five years ago to over 1,000 in 1978. Total claims are said to be above 2 billion dollars. These claims have already revealed widespread knowledge and suppression of facts on asbestos disease by the asbestos industry. One US expert, Barry Castleman, has called the internal papers they have found, 'The Pentagon Papers [that led to Watergate] of the asbestosindustry'.
5 Bill Richards, 'Newdata on asbestos indicate cover-upof effects on workers' ,Washington Post, November 1978. Case three: Case four:

Glasgowwomen fightfor decent compensation A group of Glasgowwomen whose husbandsand other members of their families have been murdered by the asbestos industry are trying to kick the union the TGWU intosome action. The women complain that

Reality enters T& Ns AGM The usually dull annual general meeting of Turner and Newalls got a shock in
1977. Protesters rela-

Othershareholderswere presentedwith tags that had the names of the dead men from the Glasgow
TGWU branch (see p.34). Protesters such as these brave women needmuch moresupport from the effective. There seem to be lessons to be learntfrom the US system of compensation by British trade unions. ('The death dust

tions of some of the workersTurner and Newall labourmovementto have murdered over the faced the directors make themmore
years

with the facts. the union 'don't even THEY MURDER THE answeryour bloody letters'. MEN. THEN THEY 'We've finishedtalking to ROB THE WIDOWS. them', said Anne Cook, THEY NEED AN whose father recentlydied EXTRA DIRECTOR of asbestosis. 'Whatwe A FUNERAL need is action.We ought to
picket the sites'. The women have formeda local action committee. As one
said: We are concerned about compensation. But we are even moreconcerned about our men who are

demo', Daily Mail 22 April

1977. Socialist Worker

30 April 1977)
right:
Wives, daughters and sisters ofGlasgow insula-

DIRECTOR

FOR EVERY SHARE

CERTIFICATE THERE'S A DEATH
CERTIFICATE
said the placards and demonstrators. 'Blue

tion engineers deador

dying ofasbestos diseases outside the TGWU offices in August 1976. (Socialist
Worker)

still working in these conditions.They are the ones with the power

to prevent asbestosis.

(Socialist Worker21 Aug 1977)

asbestos'was poured over the chairman, Mr D.C. Burling,as he came out of the meeting. He panicked. But in fact it was only blueDaz washingpowder!

Demonstration at T& N's Annual GeneralMeeting in 1977. BlueAsbestos' beingpoured overchairmanMrD.C. Burling. (In fact it was blueDaz!) (DailyExpress)

238

239

Chapter 14 Asbestos is political

The emphasis throughout this booklet has been on providing practical advice to people faced with asbestos and its substitutes whether at work or at home. Some examples have been the given where people have fought back against to asbestos. They have often had hazards of but the fight not only the asbestos industry, the form local or national government (often in of factory inspectors) and even their own unions in many cases. Many more people must have given up the fight. the increasing Despite these valiant efforts andof asbestos, its awareness of the health hazards worldwide production has been increasing doubled between fantastically. It has more than mined each year. 1960 and 1976, and more is (5,000 million kilograms) than in the years before 1930; when the real killer nature of asbestos was first extensively revealed in the British government's survey. On a rough calculation we are about half way through extractin all the asbestos that's in the earth. On healt grounds alone, all the remainingasbestos should be left in the earth and marked for future generations of mineral miners. DANGER ASBESTOS DURING THE

TWENTY-FIRST AND TWENTIETH CENTURY MINING COMPANIES RUN FOR PRIVATE GAIN KILLED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PAINFULLY BY RELEASING AND DISTRIBUTINGTHIS DEADLY MATERIAL ALL OVER THE WORLD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

240

asbestos is indispensable this pamphlethas shown that it can be replaced in nearly all applications at present, and very shortly in all there is a lot of applications but because moneyto be made, for a fewpeople, by peddling this killer dust. Asbestosindustry profits To look just at the UK asbestos industry Turner and Newall, Cape and British Belting Asbestos (BBA).We find profitsthroughout the after the Second World War were very years high often doublethoseof the UK manufacturing industry in general.i The profits suffered a bit of a slump in the 1960s, in relation to the average for general industry, but recently they are up again:
Company Turner and Newall
Cape Industries

But we know this will not happen, not because

Trading Profits (millionsof ) 1974 1975 1976 1977

8,539 15,486 20,697 18,850

BBA

Source: Informationfrom Annual Accounts, collected by the LabourResearch Department

It is obvious that the asbestos industryis doing very well even in a depressed industrial climate.

1 'Asbestos and certain asbestosproducts', Monopolies Commission,HMSO, 1973.

241

Turner and Newalls show a decreased profit for 1975 accounted for by a seven-monthstrike at their Canadian Bell asbestos mine subsidiary. Of course, within these figures there are the
usual inequalities:
Company

A verage annual
payofemp/oyeeS
1976 (E) 1977

Pay ofhighest

director 1976 (f) 1977(f)

50,000 23,552 30,000 50,504 26,178

()

Turnerand NewalI
Cape Industries BBA

3176
3,448 3,281

3480
4,008 4,416

27,000

In addition to these fat salaries the directors, of course, get all the usual company perks (cars,

free travel, holidays, meals, golden handshakes). One thing they don 't get arethe asbestos-related diseases. But we supply, jobs, the asbestos As Mr industry replies you shouldbe grateful. director of the BelgianVan der Best, managing based Eternit one of the world's largest asbestos cement manufacturers said at the Advisory Committee on Asbestos hearings in June 1977: I would like to tell you that the Company the to which I belong, being sure that is to countries best way to help developing erect factories in their countries, with their erected help and their co-operation, has all over asbestos cement factories nearly the world in SouthAmerica, in Asia, and in Africa becausein fact asbestos cement is the normal follower of a cement factory; to help them solve their housingproblem in those developingcountries. We have seen that the conditions in South African asbestos mines leave something to be
desired.

Jobs versushealth: your money or your life This is the choice that most workers are offered when they complain of any health hazard like asbestos. This blackmail is used by employers
TU very successfully. They have used the

members in the British asbestos industry to get

242

pro-asbestos resolutions passed at union conferences and to argue within the TUC for the 20,000 British asbestos workers against the millions of trade unionists exposed to asbestos. And to some extent this has worked. The TUC oral evidencelobbying government to the Advisory Committee on Asbestos was weaker than the good written submission of six months earlier. The trade unionists who testified for the asbestos industry and defended the safe level that will allow up to onein ten workers exposed to it to die were very vocal. They also spent most of their time in the bar and refused to see their fellowtradeunionistsinsulation workers who were suffering from the effects of the 'safe' products they made. Divide and rule. And the bosses will laugh all the to the bank while workers cry to the grave. way We have seen in Sweden (p.47) how trade unionists taking this stand of 'asbestos is good' have been rewarded with unemployment when it suited the companies. They could have pushed for work on safer alternatives,but didn't until it was too late. Another frequent threat, and a realistic one too as the US experience has shown (p.245), is for the company to move away to a with less well organised workers and countrymore hence hazardousworking conditions. This can only be countered by workers of all countries seeingthat they have more in common with each other despite differencesof culture, habits, language, colour, etc than with their bosses and political representativesthat support such systems. Clearly people all over the world must control their own lives and the institutions that they work in for the benefit of all and not the few. Since very early on, the asbestos industry used the blackmail of unemployment to has fight against regulations on the use and manufacture of their deadly material. We'll close the factory and you'll be out of work,they threatened. And this they did. But asbestos manufacture wasn't closed down the industry just chose new victims
elsewhere.

243

Case one:

community,who were

hazard to France When the first British

1930export of asbestos

legislation controlling asbestos productionwas passed in 1931, Turner and Newall set up plants in north west France. They bought up small textile factories which were well-established in the region. Turner and Newall did not have to

opposed to the savage dumping of asbestos in the neighbourhood of the factories. At least 10,000 tonnes were lying exposed and going intothe water supply.The company denied any health hazard either inside or outside the plant. They claimed that

workersin the firm and possible causes. The town

worry about any asbestos

safety legislation, since the first French regulations on asbestos dust levels did not appear until 1976. The Ferodoasbestos factories in France still belong to Turner and Newall,as well as to.several banks. It is the main source of employmentin the region. If the firm closed its factories, 18,000 people

any case of asbestosis came from old conditions and that it was possiblethat even those workershad
some 'predisposition' to asbestosis. Ferodo also claimed that 'to its knowledge, the numberof cancers among its workforcewas the same as among people not exposed

council sided with the company, ignoring the strong arguments of the unions and community groups for greater precautions and control of asbestos. Strangely enough, the councillor responsible for environmental problems was also the safety officer of the Ferodo company.

The pressure from the workersand the community eventually succeeded in improving disposal procedures, but conditions inside the factory are only slowly gettingbetter. The struggle at Ferodo still
continues.

to asbestos'. But it refused to give evidence for these

statements. It blocked any

would be thrown out of work.When the unions at

Ferodo demanded safe

attempt at an inquiry into the numbers of deaths of

Filthy and dangerous conditions in the French asbestos industry.

working conditions,the company did its bestto block the demands, using the threat of unemployment.

By 1976the fight had continued for 15 years. Dust levels had fallenby about two thirds since the early
1960s, but unsafe procedures and inadequate protectionwere still being used. In addition,all work had been speeded up, making safe handling impossible. The workerswere joined in their struggle by the local 244

An advert in Construction News in 1976pushing poorlyorganised,low healthstandards and so

Singapore.Cheaplabour,

US asbestosindustryexports hazards Since the early l970s it has been clear to the asbestos industry that regulations would US be tightened up. Although theysuccessfullydelayed the lowering of the hygiene level from 5 to 2 fibres per ml for almost four years, the writing was on the wall, so they started getting out into South America where the regulations were nonexistent and the workforce desperate and docile: the hazard was exported. Barry Castleman, a US Occupational Health Consultant, has documented2 this export: Mexico has twenty-three asbestos plants, one built in 1932, one in 1962 and the rest after 1965. Exports to the US of asbestos textiles have increased from 180 pounds in 1969 to 1,200,000 pounds in 1973. There are no asbestos minesin Mexico. Brazil: US imports of asbestos textiles from Brazil have soared from 11,000 pounds in 1970 to 545,000 pounds in 1973. Venezuela: US imports from this countrywere practically zero in 1968-70, but by 1973 they had risen to 173,000 pounds. Taiwan: the exports of asbestos textiles have risen from 200,000 pounds in 1970 to 1,100,000 in 1973. Korea: there is some evidencethat thiscountry is beginning to supply the US with asbestos products, but no figuresare available.

a 'The export of hazardous factories to developing nations',Barry Castleman,Environmental Consultant, 1738 RiggsPlace, NorthWest,Washington, DC 20009,USA,7 March 1978; b 'Dying forWork Occupational Health and Asbestos', NACLA,vol 12, March-April 1978.
2

245

Case two: Asbestos dusthits a Mexican town t3arry Castleman Dr William Johnson, an industrialhealth specialist fromthe Universityof Washington, and Gail Yoakum, a reporteron the Arizona Daily Star, looked at an asbestos factory in the Mexican bordertown of Agua Prieta. Agua Prieta is a twin city to Douglas, which is an Arizonacopper smelting community.The asbestos plant in Agua Prieta was built in 1969 by American Asbestos

At the suggestions of

why the conditionswere so dirty. He replied:'It should

jobs if the complaints

continue. Mexico now earns more from foreign factories than from tourism (in 1975 425 as against 480 million dollars), and these plants don't have to pay taxes. Labour is plentiful unemployment in Agua Prieta is 22 per cent and cheap. The bottom daily wage is about 2 and social security money is taken out in exchange for free medical care. Because the jobless have floodedto the cities the townsare in a terrible state:water and housing shortages;rising crime; lack of health care facilities and not enough money to put in needed sewer lines or paved streets. But, as the mayor of Agua Prieta, Luis PericlesDrabos, said; 'This town has a lot of future. You can't stop progress'. (ArizonaDaily Star 30 May 1977)

Textile (AMATEK)of

be clean. We put our most modern equipment down there.' An article describing

the filthy conditionsmade Norristown, front page news in the Pennsylvania.They Arizona DailyStar on 27 looked at the plant in March 1977. This story was March 1977. In the words of Dr Johnson: reprinted in Spanish in a local Agua Prieta newsAs Ms Yoakum and I walked throughpartsof paper and caused quite a stir. When the factory the plant with the workerslearned of the manager,we observed workerswho were not dangers they called for an and investigation There have wearing respirators been some 'cosmetic' noted asbestos dust on their clothing and in changes: the factory exteralso ior is now cleaned once a their hair. We week; workersmust wear observedasbestos waste uniformsto cover their clingingto the fence at one side of the plant streetclothes and leave them at the plant, and the and strewn across the workersare to get X-rays. road. A sample from the But asbestos can still be roadside,wherechildren from school, found around the plant, walk to and contained at least 20 per yet the pressure had died down. The union known centChrysotile(white)
asbestos.

for its alliancewith

The company president, John Rainey, was asked 246

workersthey will lose their

management has told

Kidsplay around the Mexican asbestosfactory. they sufferseverelung disease ofcancerin 20 or soyearstime willanyone remember this exposure? (ArizonaDaily Star)

If

left: The asbestosfactoryin Agua Prieta, Mexico. Asbestos dust isallaround covering thefencelike snow. (Arizona Daily Star)

A worker at theMexican asbestosfactory.No protection. Thefenceand everything iscovered with killerasbestosdust.As are, no doubt, the inside ofhislungs. (Arizona DailyStar)
247

There is no reason to supposethis account is not typical of most asbestos factories in all developing countries. Clearly workers in safer asbestos factories in the so-called developed world cannot

compete. Recently3 there have been several calls for international standards. The agency stansuggested to oversee these 'international dards' is the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO was set up fifty-eight years ago with the aim of protecting workers against the League of perils of industry. It is the only fascist withNations body to have survived the drawal of forty years ago. It has produced some useful information on working conditions (hours, pay, safety and so on). Its committees are formed from the three sides of industry: management, government and unions. One drawback is the fact that the US has recently4 withdrawn its support, and this means the loss of 20 millions out of a 50-million dollar annual budget. The US claims that the ILO is dominated by Communists and Third-world countrieswho are hostile to it. However, let us assume that an international or United agency such as the ILO asbestos or Nations recommended a ban on tighter international standards: what good would it do? Who would enforce this? We have seen throughout this booklet the toothless nature of the British industrial policemen (factory inspectors) and they are no better, often worse, elsewhere. We have also seen that the most effectiveaction has been where organised workers whether at work or home have acted. These actions have not been limited to Britain.Workers all over the world are beginning to take action over the health hazards of asbestos. Workers of the World Unite! You have your health to win!
a 'The needto establish world standardsfor the proces3 sing of asbestos',The Times, 20 January 1975. b 'InternationalConfederation of Free Trade Unions', Working Environment (Swedish), July -August 1977. 4 Guardian, 2 and 3 November 1977.

248

Some examples of world-wide action over asbestos hazards America Since the sixties there has been plenty of publicity in the US over the health hazards of asbestos. This has happened despite the well documented5 attempts of the US asbestos industry to cover up the asbestos killings. There can be no doubt that much of this awareness is due to Professor Selikoff's excellent researchesshowing the real extent of asbestos-relateddiseases in the US, and also his readiness to work with the US trade unions. Added to this there have been many press reports, of which Paul Brodeur's6 are outstanding, on the hazards of asbestos. These have enabled working Americansto realise the hazards. Other reports7 of the horror stories and the lawsuits have added fuel to thisjustified fear. As a result of this the American trade unions have shown some concern over the hazards of asbestos. We have seen (p.23 7) how the Oil, Chemicaland Atomic Workers International Union are acting. The insulation workers union has for many years funded work with Professor Selikoff's laboratory in New York. We have also seen (p.14.6) how the Mare Island shipyard workers have negotiated medical rights and improved procedure. In June 1976 workers from some of
SteveWodka, industrial healthspecialist,ofthe US Chemicaland Atomic
Workers International Union (OCAW)hasdone a lotonasbestos and other industrialdiseases. (OCA W)

November-December1974; b Bill Richards, 'Newdata on asbestos indicates cover-up of effects on workers', WashingtonPost,November 1978. 6 Expendable Amei.icans Paul Brodeur, Viking Press, 1974. 7 a 'An asbestoshorror story', Labor Pulse, March and April 1976; b 'An industrial watergate',LaborPulse,September1976.

winning battlebut losing the war',HealthPACBulletin, No.61,

DavidKoteichuck, 'Asbestos research

the

249

1O/ANY

F[L1OJ
DEAD'

1w

Demonstration outside the US' largestasbestos company JohnsManville in 1976. Forbetterconditionsand compensation the workerswalked offthe job and used a coffin to illustrate theirpoint about deadmates. (New York
Times)

Johns-Manville plants walked

demonstrate over the health hazards of asbestos (Johns-Manville is the giant of the asbestos industry in the US). Theystood around a coffin in memory of twelve workers who had died at one plant in the previous fourteen months. They wanted a medical clause to protect workers from getting cancer. Many other trade unionists supported them.

off the job to

25(1

Australia (includingconditions won) Although there were no government regulations in Australia concerning the safe use of asbestos until 1971, and then only in one state, Queensland, by the 1970s many groups of Australian workers were taking direct action over asbestos hazards. A series8 of radio programmesin July 1977 and January 1978 summarised the position so far and in fact led to more actions by Australian workers. At the moment9 actions over asbestosare taking place at: Victorian Railways: as with British carriages (see p.157) there is a lot of asbestos to be stripped. Conditions and lack of action by management seem very similar. Asbestos is banned. Despite wheeler-dealingby experts the workers are demandingbetter working methods. Garden Island naval dockyards: there have been struggles over asbestos for many years. Being well organised with a good shop committee they have won good conditions. Asbestos is banned for all new work; full face mask with power respirator must be used and all fibrous insulation (mainly glass fibre, ceramic fibre and Calcium Silicate) treated as asbestos. Power stations: the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemens Association (FED & FA) are leading the fight against the NS\V Electricity Commission. They are arguing for: 1 Asbestos to be banned for all new work and safer substitutes to be used. 2 The same protection for asbestos substitutes as for asbestos work. 3 Special non-cotton overalls to be supplied and laundered at company expense. 4 All insulation and other work involving the removal of asbestos or substitutes (and application of) to be done after normal hours so as to preventotherworkers being exposed.
Man Peacock,'Asbestos-work asa health hazard', ABC 145-153 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. NSW. 1978. 9 Letterto BSSRS fromBen Bartlett,Workers' Health Centre, Lidcomhe, NSW,23 February 1978. 251

5 Special changing facilities, separate from ordinary arrangements, to be provided along with showers, etc. 6 Special air-fed respirators to be provided with their own fresh air supiy, rather than tapping into the general air station supply which may be contaminated with oil mist, carbon monoxide, etc. Chullora railway workshop: there is a survey of past and present usage of asbestos by the union combined shop committee. Work with glass fibre banned at one stage because of cancer

hazard.

Barylgil asbestos mine: situated in northwest NSW this mine, which opened in 1943, has employed almost solely black labour from the most of surrounding Aboriginalcommunity. For its life this mine was owned by the biggest Australian asbestos outfit, James Flardie. The mine tailings are all around used to fill in the sides of roads, surface school playground and so on. As recently as 1972 a government survey showed asbestos levels 140 times the present British government unsafe level of 2 fibres per ml of air. The miners come home from work smothered in dust. Neil Walker, an Aborigine who has worked at the mine 20 years, remarked: We were told by the manager it [asbestos dust] wouldn't affect us. I said, 'Why, if it affects people overseas, why can't it affect us?' He said, 'I don't think so'. I said, only Aboriginal 'Why not, because we're men at the mine The only white people?' were the manager and the fitter. There is a very high incidence of lung disease and heart trouble in the community. There are very few old men in Barylulgil. PaulineGordon, wife of Ken, a worker at the mine, commented: Making themselvesrich while our husbands are all chopping their life spans short now and they're all rich with money in their thempocket through our husbands killingof the selves digging that asbestos out ground. It should be closed up, in my opinion. They're too greedy for money... \Ve live here... It mightn't mean anything
252

Miners at a meeting in Barraba demandgreater safety in handling asbestos. (Tribune Australia)

This is our home here. The workers belong to the Australian Workers Union (AWU) but it has done nothing for them. WoodsreefAsbestos mine at Barraba, NSW: this mine has only been in operation for the last 5-6 years. Although owned by a profitable Quebec asbestos mining interest in Canada the mine is threatened with closure versus The workers are drawn (jobs a localhealth?). from farming community which has suffered from rural recession. Many of the workers think asbestos dust is no different from wheat dust. This changed when ABC broadcast a radio programme7 on the hazards. The miners held a stop-work meeting about the health hazards in August 1977. It was a very lively meeting and out ofit came the followingdemandslo: That the company employ a full-time safety officer responsibleto the workers; That the union (Amalgamated Metal Workers and Shipwrights Union, AMWSU) prepare an educational film on asbestos hazards; That we continue to campaignfor a 'dust free' canteen.

to anybody else but we're a part of this...

10

Amalgainoted News, September 1977.

253

That knowledge on asbestos hazards be spread widely, including substitutes, and joint meetings with otherunions be explored; That the state government do air sampling around the mine and ingestion tests on cattle grazingin the area; That the unions concerned lobby the Minister for mines to enforce safety procedures; That the types of mask being issued at Woodreef be checked as to theirefficiency; The meeting re-affirmed there was no intention to force closure of mine and mill, but to press for the highest possible health standards.
Canada

\. IiI

Outside of Russia the world's largest producer of asbestos is Canada. Eighty per cent of Canada's asbestos mines are located in the province of Quebec. Trade union organisationscame late to this province and it took a famous asbestos strike of the 1940s to win basic collective barthe union took an interest gaining rights. Slowly and the Thetford miners in health and safety went on strike in 1975 for higher pay and the right to stop work if the asbestos levels went above the so-called safe level. The strike went on for seven months and the union had to agree to drop the health and safety demand and agree to an enquiry (the Beaudry Commission). than any Unemployment is higher in Quebec the asbesother part of Canada, particularly in tos company towns (one isevencalled Asbestos), such as the Thetford mines, where alternative employment is virtually non-existent. The interim report of the Beaudry Commission has confirmed the miners' fears,1 1 Working conditions in the asbestosindustry, as much in the mines and mills as in the processing plants, are not equipped with adequate means of keeping dust within levels safe to health. It is obviousafter our study that technical means to ensure healthy working environment do exist and are readily available.
11

Ashtsios', Report No51 ScienceCouncil ofc'anada.

1977.

254

Canadian Asbestos Plant Closed Down for Health Reasons: The United Asbestos Company's 33 million dollar plant in Ontario was closed in April 1976 because of consistently high asbestos levels in the air. The plant was fairly new, although apparently it included a considerableamountof old equipment. In September 1975 Canadian factory inspectors found the plant was in a bad state. The went to management but not to workers. report The union, the United Steelworkers,pushed for improvements.Nothing was done, and on 8April 1976 the workers staged a 'health walk out'. Due to the publicity the Canadian government intervened and on 12 April closed the plant down. A list of eight-pages of improvementsand technological changes was to be met before restarting the plant. Therehas been a governmentthreat to close another plant in Ontario unless conditions improved. This can be done becauseasbestosfigures little in the economy of Ontario, unlike Quebec, where there are even considerations of nationalising the asbestos mines. But either way the workers suffer: your life or your jobs. 20th century highwayrobbery! Alberta insulation workers fight asbestos: Nine of the 25O-strong union of Southern Alberta insulation workers are already from asbestosis. One of them is only suffering The thirty-six. rest wait. But while they wait to see if its their turn they are puttingS40 a monthinto a health and safety project fund. The union branch, local 126 of the Insulation and Asbestos Workers Union, has appointed Ray Sentes as research director, himself an asbestosis victim. Ray Sentes is very critical of the actions of comand government and wants asbestos panies banned, safer substitutes used and threatened strike action to get employers health and safety clauses into to write in contracts.i2

12 DavidAston, 'Asbestos a killer that could be controlled', Calgary Herald, 6 August 1977. 255

We have already covered the fights in France asbestos factories (p.244) against the hazards ofParis Metro and asbestos on the (p.183). The of other French general struggles and actions been collected in have workers against asbestos an extensive book13 that covers these struggles. Greek workersfight asbestos hazards Greece is a country where European industries forced to clean-up their plants are movingtoo in a big way. But there are signs that the Greek workers are not taking it lying down. For instance in September 1978 workers at Patras, a blues asbestos plant in Greece, held a 48-hour strike. In the words of the Athens News it was 'A warning strike to protest against the unthe healthy working conditions'. But inout last of September the workers came again days and stayed out until mid-January 1979 120 days. They were forced back by lack of support by their union and economic pressure. The cent increase in 22 employers offered abut per for those working only wages ('Dirt Money') directly on production. All workers are exposed did not to a greater or lesser degree. They to work win but back their demands and have gone are not fooled by the attraction it appears they of 'dirt money'. Holland InJanuary1977 some buildingworkersin Utrecht the local sympathetic students at approached for information on the hazards university of asbestos. Together they produced some leaflets on the health hazards and held a meeting after distributing them around the building sites. A bulletin was produced and the main demand raised, 'Ban asbestos on building sites'. for the A Joint union-management committeedemand. withthis buildingtradeswasapproached Raad') had not This committee ('Ondernemings disdone anything up to that date. After somethat it was agreed cussions with management
13 Danger! amiante. collectif intersyndical scurir universites jussieuCFDT, CGT. FEN, Francois Maspero, 1977.
des

France

256

management would inform every worker by means of a leaflet of the hazardsof asbestos and that they did not have to work with asbestoscontaining materials. Another demand concerned the fact that building specifications should be drawn up jointly with workers' representatives, architects and management as leaving it until later is no use: if the building workers only see it when it is on site it is often too late to
change.14 Russia and China Russia, as the major producer of asbestos in

fare share of asbestos-related diseases. China seems to have plenty of enthusiasm for asbestos as judged by a recent snippet in the Review which quoted an 'economical' Peking use of asbestoswaste: stuffing pillows with it! Whilst they both have their problems, the carea country takes over the health of its people is one measure of its socialism. Banned Swedish asbestos machinery goes to
China

the world, and China as a significant producer, might be expected to show some example as to the protection ofworkers. In fact little is known about what goes on in these countries over health hazards as over most other issues. \Ve do know!5 that Russian asbestos miners have their

Sixty workers insidethe Swedish firm of 'Euroc' in Koping,which makes asbestos boards, are still working near machines that are contaminated with asbestos and have been banned from use since 1975. The TU shop steward in the Torbjorn Wassell, says the firm is using factory, the new asbestos regulations as an excuse for down production and 200 workersattherunning factory are threatened with redundancy. Of 197 workers medically examined, 47 had some form of lung damage and 3 had asbestosis. Wassell says there have been at least 10 deaths from cancer among ex-workers.
14 Letterto BSSRS from Leo Puyker,Chemiewinkel,14 December 1978. a 'BiologicalEffects ofAsbestos', 15 b Russian JournalofHygiene and IARC, 1972, p.155; Sanitation, vol 37, 1972, p.29. 257

The union has pushed the case through the Swedish Labour Court and the firm is to cleanmedical screening and up the plant, pay forof the levels of asbestos. continuous monitoring They are also to move the banned asbestosplant. However, the union is very worried about tne firm's plans for the machines. Similar machines from a firm in a neighbouring town 'Hedemora' are apparently going to the Peoples' Republic of China. Their own firm, 'Euroc', have sold similar Bulgaria. The TU machinery to Poland and in these countriesreps are heard that workers have of asoestos and unaware of the health hazards their actions. After these machines were banned in 1975 the company tried to sell them to a Danish firm. The Swedish TU reps contacted the workers in the Danish firm and the order fell through. Through their union, the Metalworkers Source: LO Tidningen, 1978, Union, and the Swedish TUC the TU reps are pushing for an international programme against the Swedish TUC asbestos. This example shows it is clearly needed newspaper not least in those countries that claim to be
socialist.
'EUROC' banned machine with TUrep, Torbjorn Wassell, showingdeadly asbestos still present. (ConnySillen)

Asbestos is the symptom, the diseaseis... There will no doubt be an increasingamount of of international action over the health hazardsexThere needs to be international asbestos. between working people change and cooperationthis issue. Multinational of all countries over companies have been doing just this for many Rank and file years. Trade unions lag behind.need to contact workers and community groups each other: there is little of this at the moment.
258

But asbestos is only one of manyhazards workers all over the world: cancer and facing other dangers from new chemicals, many dusts, radiation, noise, vibration, shift work and the sheer stress and boredom of many jobs themselves. The list is endless. And all over the world are being played off people one another against 'complain too much and we'll move our company elsewhere' say the bosses. And as long as it remains their company they will continue to say so. Asbestos is the symptom ofa sick society, not the disease. The real disease is a society that does not put the health of its people before all else. The World Health Organisationhas defined health as 'A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of diseaseand infirmity.' Clearly only people themselves can decide when thisdefinition is fulfilled. That means society must be controlled from the bottom up. People throughout the world have more in common with each other than they have with the companies, unions and governments that claim to represent them. We will not fully begin to eradicate the health hazards of asbestos until we have a true world-widesocialist a society society that puts health before profit. To modify some words written a few years ago: WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTHTO WIN!

Appendix 1: Help to fight asbestoshazards

There arevarious organisationSand individuals that can be of help in fighting thehealth hazards of asbestos. The Work BSSRSWork Hazards Groups: Hazards Groups consistof scientists and other trade unionists who believe that healthy working and living conditions can only be obtainedby peoplebecoming a national organised. Together the groups produce Hazards Bulletin and various booklets (on the hazards of Noise, Oil and Vibrationso far) and leaflets (Asbestos, Asbestos on the Tube, Glass Fibre, ShiftWork, Hospital Hazards and SafetyReps. so far). Each local group can offer advice, help (possibly asbestos identification) and havehad experience in speakers, etc. Most of the groups local leaflets on hazards (e.g. asbestos). Below producing is a listof current (December 1978) groups, more may be added and they can be contactedthrough the London address. Brighton Ian Wright, 68 ComptonRoad,Brighton, Sussex. Birmingham SaltleyActionCentre, 2 Alum Rock Road,Birmingham (021-328 4184). Merseyside Mary Crimmons, 70 GranvilleRoad, Liverpool 15 (05 1-733 6925). London Alan Dalton, LondonWork Hazards Group, BSSRS, 9 PolandStreet, LondonW1V 3DG (01-437 2728). Manchester Bud Hudspith, 4 iontrose Avenue, West Didsbury, Manchester M208LN (061-445 1096). NE Hazards Group 13 Railway Street, Langley Park,Durham (0385-731889). 260

Sheffield Dave Hayes, 14 Goodwin Road, Sheffield 8 (0724-57337/583856). Hospital Hazards Group GeneFeder, BSSRS, 9 PolandStreet, LondonW1V 3DG (01-43 7 2728). Women and Work Hazards Group Marianne Craig,BSSRS, 9 PolandStreet, London W1V 3DG (01-437 2728).

Local Trade Union Health and Safety Groups These groups were set up to meet the needof working people for organised self-helpgroupsover health and safety issues. They work closely with the BSSRSWork Hazards Groups. Many of them publish their ownlocal l-lazards Bulletins', hold advice centres, workshops on specific hazards, have listsof sympathetic experts, reference books, etc. Although for trade unionists and work issuesmanyspecifically aresympatheticand active in local community hazards too. Below is a list of current(December 1978) local groups: for new additions/change of address consultthe latest issue of the BSSRSHazards Bulletin. Bedford Association for Safetyand Health, David Lewis, 146 SpringRoad, Kempston, Bedford (0234-66755). Birmingham BRUSH Birmingham Regional Union Safetyand Health Campaign, Eric Shakespeare/J.B. Lolly, 160 Corisande Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham 29. Bristol BASH Bristol Actionon Safetyand Health, John Halliday, 6 Keynes Road,Clevedon, Bristol. Cannock CHASE CannockHealth and SafetyExperiment, Betty Dugmore, 56 Grange Crescent, Penkridge, Staffs. Coventry Health and SafetyMovement, Tony Hitchins, 229 Bredon Avenue, Binley, Coventry (0203-45663 5). Doncaster HASSARD John Dickenson, 29 High Street, Arksy, Doncaster DN5 OSF. Dunfermline DASH Dunfermline Area Safety and Health Group, Mike Morris, Clackmannon House, Clackmannon.
261 Coventry CHASM Bedford BASH

Leeds LASH

LeedsAction on Safety and Health, P.H. Thorpe, 29 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds 2 (0532-39633). London North North London Healthand Safety Group, do Camden Community Law Centre, 146 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 (01-485 6672). LondonSouthSLASH South London Actionon Safetyand Health, do 506 Brixton Road, LondonSW9 (01-723 4245). LondonSouth-EaSt_HASSEL Health and Safety in South EastLondon,Doug McEwan, 6 Sedgebrook Road, LondonSE3.
London WestMASH Middlesex Action on Safetyand Health,c/c Hihingdon Community Law Centre, 63 StationRoad,Hayes, Middlesex (01-5 73 4021).
Manchester MASC

Manchester Area Safety Committee, Bud Hudspith, 4 Montrose Avenue, West Didsbury, ManchesterM20 BLN (061-445 1096). MerseysideHazards GroupMHG MerseysideHazards Group, Mary Crimmons, 70 GranvilleRoad, Liverpool 15(051-7336925). Rotherham WEA WEA Health and Safety InformationService, Chantry Buildings,Corporation Street, Rotherham (0709-72121). Sheffield TUSC Sheffield Trade Union Safety Committee, Seb Schmoller. 312 Albert Road, Sheffield 8 (0742-584559) SouthamptonWHAC Work Hazards Advisory Committee, Graham Peterson, 27 PointoutRoad, Bassett, Southampton. Telford Health and Safety Group, Mike Watts, 67 High Street, Dawley, Telford (0952-501 484).
Telford THSG

262

Nancy Tait Nancy Tait is the secretary of a new organisation, SPAID the Societyfor the Prevention ofAsbestosis And Industrial Diseases.It is a registered charity and aims, among other areas, to fightthe hazardsof asbestos. A meeting heldon 10 March 1979attracted 30 or so people of whom many were trade unionists. She has also published a bookletAsbestos Kills and has given advice and helpto many groups over asbestos problems. She can be contactedat: 38 Drapers Road,Enfield, Middlesex (01-366 1640).

Asbestos Action

This is a 'completely independentand voluntary' group of individuals whocametogetheras a result of the Hebden Bridge massacre. They havebeenmost activein thearea of compensation. Apart from giving evidence to theGovernment's Advisory Committee on Asbestos in 1977 and one or two press meetings they appear to have done little. This has led some critics to re-name them 'Asbestos Inaction'.They can be contactedvia: Max Madden MP, House of Commons, LondonSW1.

Newspapers The Guardian, Morning Star, Socialist Worker and New Scientisthaveall given extensive coverage of the health hazards ofasbestos over the past few years. They may be worth contactingifpress coverageis needed for yourstruggle. In additiontheSocialist WorkersParty has producedseveralpamphletson the hazards of asbestos and has helpedorganised workers and communitygroups fightthe asbestos hazard, It has also helpedwith the fight for compensation. They can be contactedat: P0 Box 82, London E2 9DS.

263

Appendix 2: Furtherreadingonasbestoshazards

The frightening growth of asbestos-relateddisease in working peopleis only matched by the growth ofmedical literaturereporting on these deaths. Most of these papersare of no use to peoplewishing to fight the hazards of asbestos or its substitutes. Below is a selected list of useful publications. Rankand file trade unionists or community groupscan obtain a copy of most publications mentioned in this bookletat 5p per page plust post from: 'Asbestos', Work Hazards Group,
BSSRS, 9 Poland STreet, London W1V 3DG. This service is not available to companies, libraries, students writing theses etc. as they can get them with a bit of effort.

These are the two basic and most useful documents. They are fullyreferenced to earlier work.

Asbestos health hazards InternationalAgencyfor Research on Cancer, Asbestos, World Health Organisation, vol 14 1977. Availablefrom Her Majesty's StationeryOffice. Revised Recommended Asbestos Standard, National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, US Department ofHealth Education and Welfare, 1976. Available for sale from: Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC20402,
USA.

The European Economic Communities (EEC) appear to have produced two statements ordocuments

on asbestos. Theydiffer and there is evidencethat the asbestos industryhas

influenced' one.

PublicHealth Risks ofExposure to Asbestos, Pergamon Press, 1977. This is a very confusing document that does not offer any practical solutions and backsoff from a ban on asbestos. On healthhazardsofasbestos, John Evans, European Parliament, Working Document 344/77, 9 November 1977. A much better statementof the hazardsand requirements for a ban on asbestos.

264

During 1979 the GMWU are producing a pamphleton thehazards of asbestos for their safety reps. Available from: Dave Gee, Health and SafetyOfficer, GMWU, ThorneHouse, Ruxley Ridge, Claygate, Esher, Surrey KT1O OTL (78-62081).
The US trade union, the Oil. Chemical and Atomic Workers
International Union (OCAW) have produced an excellent slide show plus tape and wall poster.

Asbestos its hazards and how tofight them costs about 1, 70 and 8 each. Availablefrom: Anthony Mazzocchj, VicePresident, OCAW, P0 Box 2812, 1636 Champa Street, Denver, Colorado, 80201, USA. In additionto theabovetheevidence to theAdvisory Committee on Asbestos 1976-77 is worth a read. Several textbookson the healthhazardsof asbestos are due out in 1979and may be useful. EngineeringAspectsofDustControl, G.S. Rayhans and G.M. Bragg, John Wiley, 1978. This is an academic pot-boiler oflittleuse to either TU safetyreps or experts faced with asbestos problems. Asbestos vol 1, Properties, applications and hazards, ed. L. Michacis and S.S. Chissick,Wiley, 1979. A middle of the road book that claims to represent neitherthe asbestos industryor its critics. Despite this, by asserting 'Asbestos..,without which our current western way of life could not continueas such',it does indirectly supportthe 'safe' use of asbestos. However it is readable and, especiallythe chapters on prevention, provide someuseful sources and references. In addition safe working procedures forstripping(chapter 8) asbestos are given. Also included are some useful chapterson the available substitutesfor asbestos.

is in this area where there is a real lack of good useful guidance. We hope thjsbookletwill gopart of the way to fulfilling that need. In addition the followingpublications may be useful.

It

Asbestos fighting the risk BSSRS has produced a series oflow-priced leaflets (about 5p each) on Asbestos, Asbestos on the Tube and Glass Fibre. They are available from: Work Hazards Group, BSSRS, 9 PolandStreet, LondonW1V 3DG.

'Aestos health precautionsin industry',HMSO

25p.

1976,

265

The Factory Inspectorate

(Health and Safety Executive) have produced a lot of guidance notes and leaflets on the hazardsof asbestos. As discussed in this booklet (p.64) they are, as you'd expect, middle of the road and provide only minimumstandards. Many well organisedworkplaces have got much better standards,but you should be aware of the official position.

Technical Data Notes (TDN) these are gradually being replaced by Guidance Notes (below) at 3Op each,but for the momentthey are available free from your local Inspectorof Factories. TDN 13 'Standardsfor Asbestos DustConcentration for Use with the Asbestos Regulations 1969' TDN 24 'Asbestos Regulations 1969: Respiratory Protective Equipment' TDN 35 'Control of Asbestos Dust' TDN 42 'ProbableAsbestos DustConcentrations at Construction Processes' TDN 52 'Health Hazards from Sprayed Asbestos Coatings in Buildings' Guidance Notes (GN) these are replacing TDNs and are available from HMSO at 30p each. There are two, so far on asbestos: GN EH 10 'Asbestos: Hygiene Standards and Measurement of Airborne DustConcentrations', December 1976 GN MS 13 'Asbestos', March 1978 Publications of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos and a 'Asbestos health hazards precautions', HMSO 1977, lOp b 'Selected Written Evidence Submitted to the 5 Advisory Committee on Asbestos', HMSO 1977, Insula Work on Thermal and Acoustic c 'Asbestos tion and Sprayed Coatings', HMSO 1978, 5Op d 'Asbestos Measurementand Monitoring of Asbestos in the Air', HMSO 1978, 1 Other reports are expectedin 1979. Codes ofPractice 'For Handling Consignments of Asbestos Fibre in British Ports' 'For Handling and Disposal of Asbestos WasteMaterials' Technical Notes No.1 'The Measurement of Airborne Dust by the Membrane FilterMethod' Controland Safety Guides 1 'Protective Equipment in the Asbestos Industry (Respiratory and Protective Equipment and Protective Clothing)' 2 'TheApplication ofSprayed Asbestos Coatings' 3 'Strippingand Fitting of Asbestos-containing Thermal Insulation' 4 'Asbestos Textile Products, CAF/Asbestos beater Jointings and Asbestos Miliboard' 5 'Asbestos-based Materials for the Shipbuilding and Buildingand I'Iectrical and InginccringInsulation'

The Asbestos Research Council and AsbestosInformationCommittee have produced a lot of blatantpropagandato push asbestos, but they have also produced some useful work guides that could be applied both to asbestos and to its
substitutes. Bearing these comments in mind, the following publications can be obtained from The Asbestos Research Council, P0 Box 40, Rochdale, Lancs (0706-474221.

266

6 'Handling, Storage, Transportation and Discharging of Asbestos FibreintoManufacturing Processes' 7 'Control of Dustby ExhaustVentilation' 8 'Asbestos-based FrictionMaterials and Asbestos 9 'The Cleaning of Premisesand Plant in Accordance with the Asbestos Regulations'
Reinforced Resinous Moulded Materials'

Asbestos Substitutes Asbestos-Characteristics,Applications and Alternatives, Fulmer Research Institute,StokePoges, Slough SL2 4QD (395 2181), 1976, 5 Asbestos Substitutes, British Steel Corporation, IndustrialHygiene Department, 1977 A Recommended Standardfor Occupational Exposure to Fibrous Glass, National Institutefor Occupational Safety and Health, US Department ofHealthEducation and Welfare, April 1977. Availablefrom: Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington,DC 20402, USA. Compensation The following fourbooksmay be useful. Do not forget to consultyour TUlegal department, Community Law Centreor solicitor. The Hazards of Work Pat Kinnersly Pluto Press 1973 How to Get IndustrialInjuryBenefits J. Bell, Sweet and Maxwell 1966 Rights at WorkJeremyMcMullenPlutoPress 1978 Industrial Injuries Benefits, Peter Smith, Oyez Publishing Ltd, 1978.

267

(see table on p.110)

Appendix 3: Asbestossubstitutes Names and addresses ofmakers ofasbestos substitutes

NewVentures Group,ICI Ltd. Mond Division. The Heath,

Runcorn. Cheshire

10 WilliamKenyonand Sons Ltd. Chapel FieldWorks, Dukinfield, CheshireSK164PT Tel. 061-330 5651
11 Moler Products Ltd. Hythe Works, Colchester, Essex

2 Morganite Ceramic Fibres Ltd.

Norton,Wirral,Merseyside
Tel. 051-336 5171

C02 8JU

Chemical and Insulating Co Ltd. West Auckland Road, Darlington Tel. 0325-53881 Newalls Insulation Co Ltd. Washington Tyne& Wear. NE38 8LJ. Tel. 0632-461111

Tel. 0206-73191

12 Electro-Refractaire (UK> Ltd. 8th Floor EvershamHouse,

Clarendon Road. Watford, Herts, Tel. 923-42345

5 The Carborundum Co Ltd.

MerseysideWA1 1 8LP, Tel. 074-488 2941

13 Potters Insulation

(Sales)

Ltd.

Mill Lane. Rairtford. Helens, St

TamesideMills, Park Road, Dukinfield,CheshireSK16 5LS, Tel, 061-3301411

6
7

McKechnie Ceramic Fibres Ltd. P.O. Box 3, Widnes,Cheshire W48 OPG, Tel. 051-424 2611 Fibreplass Ltd. Insulation Division, St Helens,Merseyside WA1O3TR.Tel. 0744-24022

14 Lafarge AluminousCement Co Ltd. 730 London Road, Grays,

Essex, Tel. 040-26 3333

15

R.B, Hilton, Norman Road, Greenwich, London SE 10, Tel. 01-8584851 Mandoval Ltd. Index House, St Georges Lane,Ascot, Berks SL5 7EU, Tel. 0900-25011

8 H.J. Knights and Co Ltd. UnitedHouse, North Road. London N7 9PB.

Tel. 01-607 5861

16

BritishGypsum Ltd. Ferguson House, 15Marylebone Road, LondonNW1 5JE, Tel: 01-486 1282

17 G.R. Stein Refractories Ltd.

Genefax House, Taptoru Park Road, Sheffield SlO 3FJ, Tel: 0742-306577

268

18 Morgiass Ltd, Sherborne, Dorset, Tel. 09351-3722

27
28

Multifabs Ltd. Osmaston Works, DerbyDE38LF

19 Scandura Ltd. P.O. Box 18.

Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 3UJ, Tel. 0274-875711

& Mintex Ltd. P.O. Box 18,

Clackheaton Yorkshire

B.B.A. AutomotiveLtd,

20 T.B.A. Industrial Products Ltd.

Textiles Division. P.O. Box 40. Rochdale 0L127E0, Tel, 0706-47422 21 Interseals Ltd, Sufrere House, 85 Manor Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 ODH, Tel. 01-647 1903

29 Don International

Ltd. Hendam Vale, ManchesterM9 1SX

30 Trist Draper Ltd. 804A Bath

Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5LH

31 Tilling Construction Services

22

Forthergill and Harvey Ltd. Summit, Lit-tleborough, Lancs OL1 5 90P, Tel. 0706-7883 1 Simpkin Machir, and Co Ltd. Manor House, Eckington, Sheffield S30 9BH, Tel. 024-6832324

Ltd, WapseysWood, Oxford

SL9 5TF

Road, Gerrards Cross,Bucks

23

24 Liquid Plastics Ltd.

P.O. Bock No.7, London Road, Preston PR1 4AJ, Tel. 0772-59781

25

Pilkington Brothers Ltd. Prescot Road, St Helens, Merseyside.Lancs T.A.C. Construction Materials

26

Ltd. P.O. Box 22, Trafford

Park, ManchesterMl 7 1RV

269

Appendix 4: The identification and analysis of asbestos

Takinga sample ofsuspect asbestoslaggingforanalysis. Note theuse offace mask even such asmall for sample. (ShirleyInstitute)

One of the bigproblemsstill faced by people taking

actionover asbestos (or its fibroussubstitutes) is: how do you know what the stuff is? Or ifyou are told that there's a 'safe' amount in the air, how do you get this
checked?

Of course you shouldbe able to get any suspect substancechecked under section six of the 1974Health and Safety at Work Act. Under this section manufacturers and suppliers of substances for use at work have a legal duty to tell of the hazards and precautionsto be taken. But this is a very general requirement and the type and quality of information varies a lot from company to

company. In somecases the factory inspector or environmental healthofficer (the old 'publichealth inspector') may analyse the suspect substance, but this may mean a delayof many weeks. Often you will want to get your management to sample and in such a case they can use one of the organisations listedbelow. A word of warning. All these organisations do most of their consulting for management. This can affect the results. Where possible it is advisableto get a sympathetic scientist to be present when sampling is done (contact groups listed in Appendix 1, p.260). Also some unions mayhavedeveloped their own reliable contactsand all unions have the servicesof the TUC Centenary Institute of Occupational Health, Keppel Street, Gower Street, London WCI (01-636 8636) available to them.

270

There are basically three typesofasbestos aaaiysis service that might be

needed:

A Straightidentification of whetherthe substance is asbestos, what type, whetherit is another suspect fibre (glassfibre, ceramicfibre, calcium sulphate, calcium silicate and so on) or what.This type of analysis on a single sample costsaround20. Reduced ratesusually apply for more than one sample.

Air sampling ofsome of the asbestos in the air according to the currentlyacceptedFactory Inspectorate method.As explained elsewhere(p.127) this method only measures afraction of the asbestos in the air because the light microscope cannot detect thesmaller, but equally harmful, asbestos fibres. This type of analysis is around 100 per day plus expenses.
B

form ofair analysis.

Air sampling ofall the asbestos in the air. This method usesa combination ofX-ray diffractionand the electronmicroscope. Estimates in 1977gave the method as costing about 435 per sample. This method does give the total amountofasbestos in the air and is indispensable for environmental sampling where method B will pick up nothingbecause it is too crude. Greater use of this method will bring the costsdown (mostuniversities have many of these types ofinstrumentthat could be put to somegooduse) and what pricea life? The residents in Cork won the right to this ofanalysis around an asbestos dump and factory. typeis the best This
C

271

Organ/setions undertaking asbestos analysisfor industry on a repayment basis

key to type of analysis

A
B
C

standard (inaccurate) analysis of asbestos in the air complete analysis of asbestos in air (essential for environmental levels)

identification of fibre only

Organ/sat/on

Contact

A, B

Air Sample Counts Analysis

2 Hereford Way
Stalybridge, Cheshire

Mr Clark
061-338 5645 Mr Clark 0784-61302 Mr Greenfield 021-5523333

A,

Air Sample Counts Analysis

7A London Road
Staines, Middlesex

Albright and Wilson Analytical Services P0 Box 80 Oldbury

Warley, West Midlands

A, B

4 A.H. Allen and Partners

Public Analysts Laboratory 67 Surrey Street Sheffield Si 2LH

Mr Dunn
0742-21687

5 Analytical Laboratory 7 Offham Road Lewes, Sussex BN7 2QR

Mr Mars
079-164534

Source: Asbestos measurement and monitoring of asbestos in air, 2nd Report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos, June 1978.

271

Organisations undertaking asbestos analysis on a repayment basis Porton Down Salisbury, WiltshireSP4 OJO

for industry
A, B &C

18 Chemical Defence Establishment

Mr Creasey 0980-610211

A
Brasshouse Passage

key to type of analysis A identification of fibre only B standard (inaccurate) analysis of asbestos in the air C complete analysis of asbestos in air (essential for environmental levels)
Contact
Broad Street Birmingham Bi 2HR

19 City of Birmingham Council Dr Baker Engineer's Department 021-643 6987 I ndustrial Research Laboratories

Organ/sat/on

20 City of Birmingham Council

nvironmental Department 120 Edmund Street Birmingham 83 2EZ

A, B
01-953 1306

Mr Kimber

Mr Archer 021-353 9944

A, B

21

City Laboratories 126 Mount Pleasant

Liverpool L3 5SR

6 Analytical and Consulting Chemists Metallurgists and Engineers The Laboratories Fortune Lane Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3H0

Mr Kidman 051-709 3932 Dr GiUam

01-283 1030 Materials Whitechapel High Street London El

A,B

7 Atek (Pollution Control) Ltd

Mr Taylor

Barclays Bank Chambers Hick Lane Batley West Yorkshire WF17 550

24-471272

22 City of London Polytechnic Department of Metallurgy &

A, B

23 Commercial and Forensic Laboratories 220 Elgar Road Reading RG2 ODG

Mr Moss 0734-82428

A, B

24

County of Avon Scientific

Services

Mr Taylor
0272-312371

A, B & C 8 Atomic Research Establishment Mr E.T. Smith 0235-24141 Environment and Medical Services Division Harwell, Oxfordsh ire Mr Dollimore 9 Balne's Environmental A, B
070-682 2156

Consultants Ltd 140 Bolton Street Ramsbottom Lancashire BLO 9.JA

County Laboratory
Canynge Hall Whatley Road Bristol BS8 2PR

A Mr Markland
0629-3411 0225-6941 25 County Offices Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG
31

10 Bath University South West Industrial

Mr Forsey

A
A, B
Mr Jenkins
0267-7536

Research

Unit

Claverton Down Bath, Somerset

A
01-580 6622

11

Dr Barnes

H.J. Evans and Partners Public Analyst's Laboratory Dank Lane Carmarthen, South Wales

Birkbeck College Department of Crystallography Malet Street, London WC1

A
32 Exeter University Physics Department Queens Drive Exeter

A, B 021 -359 5951

12 Bostock Hill and Rigby 35-39 Blrchfield Road Birmingham B19 isu

Mr Coggan

Mr Sheldon 0392-77911

A, B 0274-875711

13 British Belting & Asbestos Group Ltd Industrial Health Unit P0 Box 18 Cleckheaton, Yorkshire

Mr Hunt

A, B

Mr Pye
01-395 2181

33 Fulmer Research Institute Ltd Stoke Poges Slough BuCkiflghamshireSL24QD

A, B A, B

Mr Keen
021-233 2385

Mr Bloor
0782-45431

A, B &C

26 County Analytical Laboratory 152 Great Charles Street Birmingham B3 3HT

14 British Ceramic Research Organisation Queens Road Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Mr Diamond
0325-76547

A, B 0332-49203

&c Mr G, Smith
89-37111

Mr Henley
A, B

27 Diamond Scientific Ltd Low Road Gainford County Durham 28 Dunlop Semtex Ltd Brynmawr Gwent NP3 4XN

Mr Nye
0495-310000

A, B

A
A, B

Mr Seal
29 Elm Laboratories Shap penrith, Cumbria 093-16254

15 British Rail Research Department Engineering Division Derby 16 Cape Asbestos Ltd Fibre Research Laboratory Iver Lane Cowley Uxbrldge, Middlesex UB8 2JQ

A
0602-830591

17

Central Electricity Generating Board Scientific Services Department Ratcliffe-on-Soar Nottingham NG11 OEE

Mr Clare

Dr Jones
051 -334 2643

30 Environmental Analysis Ltd Commercial Road Brotulborohlgh Wirral, Cheshire

A
46
I nveresk Research

Mr Byrne
031-665 6881

Organisations undertaking asbestos analysis for industry on a repayment basis

International Edinburgh EH21 7UB

key A
47 Kingston Polytechnic School

to type of analysis A identification of fibre only

of Chemistry
Kingston on Thames, Surrey Dr Masely 01-549 1366

standard (inaccurate) analysis of asbestos in the air complete analysis of asbestos in air (essential for encironmental levels) A
Contact A,
B

48 Laboratory of the City Analyst Mr Holliday 2 Cranston Street 031 -556 2302
49

Or'anisarion

A, B

&C
041-339 8855

34 Glasgow University Chemistry Department GlasgowG12 800

Dr Fryer

A
Mr Gruin 0783-842724

35 J. Haggle Patterson and

Edinburgh EH8 8BE John Laing Research & Development Ltd Manor Way Boreham Wood Herts WD6 1 LN Levington Research Station Department of Chemistry Levington lpswich, Suffolk IP1O OLU

Mr Theobold 01-953 6144

Associates

A
50

Dr Bennett
0473-76911

Philadelphia Lane Houghton-le-Spring Sunderland Tyne and Wear DH4 4ES A, B

51

Mr Knight
01 -636 8636

A, B 021-778 1271

36 J. Haggle Patterson and

Mr Pateman

Associates

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street London WC1E 7HT 52

A
Dr Grant
01-488 3538

Mr Coles
0509-30426

Central Laboratory loWilersley Road Moseley Birmingham 813 OAT

A, B

37

A, B

Mr Lyne
0734-82428 A, B
54

Hehner and Cox Ltd The Laboratories 107 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 5JB Mr Rice 03552-25488

Loughborough Consultants Ltd University of Technology Loughborough, Leicestershire 53 F.A. Lyne, Public Analyst 220-222 Elgar Road Reading, Berks RG2 ODG McCrone Research
Associates

A, B

Ltd 2 McCrone Mews

Belsize Lane

Mr Edwards 01 -435 2282

London NW3

38 W.H. Herdsman Ltd 38 Wilson Place Nerston East Kilbride Glasgow074 4QD

A
A, B 0222-28033

39

Mr Fulwell 3068100
55 Mid Glamorgan County Public Health Laboratory Institute of Preventative Medicine The Parade Cardiff CF2 3UJ

Mr Rixon

A, B
A, B 0482-27847

Mr Hunter
56 Minton, Treharne and Davies Ltd Merton House Bute Crescent Cardiff CF1 6N8

Mr Mullins
0222-24158

Hertis Bureau of Research and Consultancy The Hatfield Polytechnic P0 Box 110 College Lane Hatfield, Nets AL1O9AD 40 Humberside County Council County Laboratories 184 High Street Kingston upon Hull HU1 1NE

A A

41

Mr Evans 021 -356 4848

5] Mutor and Hackman

Public Analysts 325 Kennington Road London SEll 4QE

Mr Forbes
01 -735 1406

Imperial Metal Industries Ltd Research Service Department P0 Box 216 Kynoch Works Witton Birmingham B6 7BA A, B

Mr King
061-2249191

A, B
01-9804811

42 Industrial Petrology Research Unit

Dr Poole

Queen Mary College

58 The National Occupational Hygiene Service Ltd 12 Brook Road Fallowfield ManchesterM14 6UH

Department of Geology Mile End Road London El 4NS A, B

&c
Mr Gough 01-789 0841

A, B

43 Industrial Pollution Abatement Ltd 21 Inner Park Road London SW19 6ED Dr Beckett 031-667 5131

59 North East London Mr Ballah Polytechnic, Faculty of Science 01-534 5915 Department of Chemistry Romford Road London E154LZ A, B 60 North of England Industrial Mr Forster Health Service 0632-28511 20 Claremont Place Newcastle-upon-TyneNE2 4AA A, B
61

A, B &C

44 Institute of Occupational

Medicine Roxburgh Place Edinburgh

Mr Shenton
0385-64411

A, B
0632-650451

45 International Research and Development Company Ltd

Dr Gale

Rossway

Newcastle-upOfl-TyneNE6 2YD

The North East Regional Analytical Service The Regional Laboratory County Hall Durham DH1 5UA

A Mr Perry
089422-3210 76 Scientific and Technical The Lawn Ryton. Tyne and Wear NE4O30N
77

Organisations undertaking asbestos analysis for indust,y on a repayment basis

A, B
& C

key to type of analysis A identification of fibre only

Shirley Institute
Didsbury
Manchester M20 8RX

Mr Cowhig
061-445 8141

B A
78 Somerset County Council County Laboratory County Hall Taunton, 79 South Eastern Laboratory Ltd 1 New Dover Road Canterbury CT1 3AD

standard (inaccurate) analysis of asbestos in the air complete analysis of asbestos in air (essential for encironmental levels)

Mr Cassidy
0823-3451

Organisat ion

Contt
A, B
A

A, B
Mr Lee
01 -478 3040

62

Pendar Technical Associates

Mr McDonald
0227-65459

Ltd Mr Tapp 20-22 St Mary Street 0278-57283 Bridgewater, Somerset TA7 3LY

A, B

63

80 Southampton University
Department of Mechanical Engineering Southampton S09 5NH

Mr Heath
0703-559122

&

Plessey Company Ltd Chemical Metallurgical

Laboratory Vicarage Lane

llford, Essex
81

A Mr Symonds
0703 555826 A, B Mr Perry 0705-29501 82

Mr Malcolm
Tatlock and Thompson 1 56-160 Bath Street Glasgow G2 4SX TBA Industrial Products Ltd P0 Box 40 Rochdale, Lancashire 041-3320491

A, B

64

Public Analyst & Scientific Adviser's Department 29 Cobden Road Southampton S02 4FU

Mr Sykes 0706-47422
83 Technical and Analytical Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland TS18 2ND Mr Whitehead 0642-561144

A, 8

65 Public Analyst & Scientific

Adviser's Department Hyde Park Road Southsea,Hants P05 4LL

A, B
A, B & D

A
0632-24806

Mr Hutchinson

84

TrentPolytechnic A

66 Public Analyst's Laboratory 10 DeanStreet Newcastle-upon-TyneNE1 1PG

A, B
Mr Hill
03447-4131

67

Qualitest Engineering

Services

Ltd

Winkfield Windsor, Berkshire

Dr Braithwajte Nottingham NG1 4BU 0602-48248 85 Turner and Newall Ltd Mr Monkman AsbestosFibre Laboratory 061-872 2181 do TAC Construction Materials Ltd P0 Box 22 Trafford Park Manchester M17 1 RU

A, B
070-683 6369 A, B 86 University of Bristol 21 Woodland Road Bristol BS8 1 TE

&C
Mr Brailsford
0622-77711

Mr Pearce
0272-24 16 1 ProfessorAlex W.K. Stewart 04 1-522 440

A, B

A, B
87

Mr Nicholson 041 -221 6323

University of Strathclyde Department of Enviwnmental Engineering James Weir Building 75 Montrose Street GlasgowGl 1XJ

ext 2534

A, 8

88 University College of Sw-nsea

A,

Mr Meldrum
01-283 4611

A, B

Mr Frazer
0224-574511

68 Quality Consultants 1 2a Lord Street BacuP, Lancashire0L138HE 69 Reed Engineering and Development Services Ltd E and D Centre Aylesford Maidstone, Kent ME2O 7PP 70 Regional Chemist and Public Analyst's Department 8 Elliot Place Clydeway GlasgowG3 8ET 71 Risk Management Consultants Ltd 26 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 3DR 72 Robert Gordons Institute of Technology School of Chemistry St Andrews Street Aberdeen AB1 1HG

A Mr Rooney
0276-31160 Camberley, Surrey

73 Rooney and Ward Ltd Blackwater Station Estate Mr Conchie

0244-21505

74 Ruddock and Sherratt

public Analyst's Laboratory Unit 5. Northgate Works Newrv Park Chester CH2 2AR

A, B

75 Salford University

"4 -4

Department of Chemistry Salford M5 4WT

Mr Dollimore 061-736 5843

Dr Barnes Department of Geology 0792-25678 Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP A, B 89 Waterfall and O'Brien Mr Howes The Laboratory 0272-37731 2 Ookfie!d Road Bristol 8 A, B 90 West Midlands Industrial Dr McVicker Health Service Ltd 021-553 7116 83 Birmingham Road West Bromwich West Midlands B70 6PX A, B 91 Wolfson Bioanalytical Centre Dr Harrison University of Surrey 0483-71281 Stag Hill Guildford,Surrey GU2 5XH A, B 92 Wolfson Institute of Mr Guthrie Occupational Health 0382-644625 University of Dundee Environmental Health Service Medical School Ninewells Dundee A, B 93 The Wolfson Institute of Dr Nehru &C Interfacial Technology 0602-56101 University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD

Appendix 5: -Asbestos survey from TU group

(HASSEL)

Thefollowing questionnaire is one that the TU group Health and Safety in South East London (HASSEL) used to conducta survey of asbestos use in theirarea. It was based on the 1969Asbestos Regulations. Otherones could easily be drawnup basedon newer regulations,
asbestos use, negotiated agreements, and so on.

HASSEL Health and Safety in S.E. London

Asbestos in your workplace

a survey

All forms of asbestos (blueand white)cause lung scarring for these diseases, and (asbestosis) and cancer. There is no cure

no they lead to long-drawn-out and painful deaths. There is having a chance of getting knownsafe level that will prevent you these diseases if you work withor near asbestos. Mesothelioma acancer of the liningofthe lungs or stomach is almost always caused by asbestos exposureand has occurred in relatives of asbestos workers, and people living near asbestos factories. The present government 'safe' level for white asbestos is 2 fibres 1 in 10 percc. Recent research has shown that this may allow workers to contract asbestos-related diseases. HASSEL (Healthand Safety inSouth East London) is a Trade Union basedorganisation and we wantto carryout a survey of asbestos in the workplace. The purpose of the survey is to find are Out what measures being taken against the asbestos hazard. When the survey hasbeen completed a report will be published withthe aim of giving asmuch informationas possible on how to protectworkers from the hazardsofasbestosdust. Tuesday HASSEL now has an Advice Centre whichis open every The address is Woolwich Adult Education evening, 7.00-9.00. Institute, la Burrage Road, Woolwich.

If you want: a To knowif a material contains asbestos;

b

Advice on other dust problems at work; at work problem; c Advice Ofl any other health and safety or cometo the AdviceCentre. Contact HASSEL

278

Ifyou have any suggestions forfuture surveys,please include themin the FurtherRemarkssection at the end.
Please fill in thissurvey as fully as you can. possible getyour workmates to help you. Furthercopies of the survey are available.

If

doesn't apply. If you can't givea straightanswerto a question, you can explain in detail in the Further Remarkssection at the end. If you have ever had discussionsor a dispute with your employer, or you have called in the Factory Inspector about asbestos problems, please give full details of what happened in the Further Remarkssection, includingFactory Inspector's reports, standard procedures, bargainedfor, and so on. Afterthe first fewquestions (1-6) the survey is in two parts. The first part is about asbestos in your workplace. e.g. in the structure of the building, but notbeing workedon. The secondpart is aboutasbestos directly involved in your work.

If the answer to a question is yes or no, cross out the one that

survey

Name:

Trade Union officer held:

Workplace/Factory:

(Asbestosproducts are used for laggingworkplace/facto,.y? around pipes and boilers, insulation, fireproofing, roofing, protective clothing. brake and clutch linings, and manyother applications, Under Section 2(2) (ci of the Health and Safety atWorkAct 1974 employers have to provideinformation '... toensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the necessary health and safetyat work of hisemployees'. Therefore employehave a dutyto give workers details about the presenceof asbestos.) YES/NO

Is asbestos present inany form at your

Does your employer have an up-to-date

asbestos

YES/NO

or asbestos products in your workplace?

register of all

asbestos

Give details of the process(es) ispresent.

orapplication(s) where the

Is the asbestos marked withan asbestos labelor sticker?

YES/NO

279

Has a measurementof the asbestos dust concentration in the airever beencarried out? It so, whatmethod was used and what was the result? YES/NO

asbestos and Does your employer intend to remove the so. give details. substitute another material? YES/NO

If

it asbestos is only presentin the structure ofthe buildingyou 7 workin, e.g. asan insulating material. just answerquestions is directly involved in your work, answer and 8. If asbestos worked on in more than questions 9 to 20. If asbestos is being
one way, please complete more than one survey sheet. asbestos

in the building

Is the asbestos frayed or likely to bedisturbed?

YES/NO

8 Whatprecautions would your employertake if itwas decided

to remove orstripout asbestos?

asbestos

in your work

9 How is your workplace cleaned?

10 Is the cleaning doneso that asbestos dust doesn't escape or isn't dischargedinto the air of your workplace?
YES/NO

11

Is loose asbestos. i.e. not in a closedcontainer, left lying around your workplace?
YES/NO

12 Does your employer keep an up-to-date register of workers

exposedto asbestos? YES/NO

13 Do asbestos workers have regular medical examinations? It so. how often?

YES/NO

280

14 a Aremedical records kept?

haveaccess to them? YES/No

b Do Safety

Reps

15 Does your employer providethe following things? If so. please tick and then answer questions in each section.
Exhaust Ventilation Breathing Equipment Protective Clothing Exhaust Ventilation

16 Howoftenis the equipment inspected?

17 What kind of respirator is it?

Breathing Equipment

18

Howoftenarethe respirators inspected?

Protective Clothing
19

Howoften is the clothingcleaned?

20 a Is the clothingcleanedoutside the factory? YES/No b If so, is it packed in sealed containers and marked
'Asbestos contaminated clothing'? YES/No

further remarks

281

Index

Aborigines,252 AdvisoryCommitteeonAsbestos Origin andfunction,73 Age expectancy oflungcancer victims,27 Agua Prieta, 246 Airpollution, 181 Urban, 151 Amberex H.T. (asbestosfree), 111 AmericanAsbestos Textile (AMATEK), 246 Amey, Tom, 37 Asbestos Amount produced, 17 Analysis,addresslist of organisations,271 Associatedrocks and minerals, Censorshipof play against, 12 Composition and properties,
19 15

Effecton health, 20 Fireprotection, 52 49

Health hazards, 264 HouseofCommonsbuilding,

Identification and analysis, . 270 Ignoranceby authorities of danger, 13 Sealingand stripping, 160 Types, 19 Uses, 19 Waterpollution, 191 Working with, 141 Worldoutput,240 Asbestosaction, 263 Asbestosban BuildingSites,256 Dockers, 91 Firemen, 54 ILO and UN recommenda tion,248 JuniperStreet, Stepney, GLC buildingsite. 101

Schools, 204 Surrey docks, 148 UCATTresolution, 82 Victorian Railways,251 Asbestoscancer See Mesotheijoma Asbestos cement Safer than otherasbestos products? 45 Sheets and pipes use dust levels, 127 Substitutes, 110 Asbestos companiesin UK, 8,57 Asbestosdeath avoidability,8 Asbestosdiseases Barrow-in-Fumes5 shipyards, 144 Compensationsee Compensation Delay in appearance of symptoms, 20 Diagnosis, 42 Dockyards, 142 Incidenceamong motor mechanics, 150 Incidence in child labour in SouthAfrican mines, 63 Incidenceofdeath,21 Lagging, 98 Motor mechanics, 150 Preventionsee Preventive
measures

X-ray of chest, 42 See also Asbestosexposure Asbestos dumping, 215 France, 244 Asbestosdumps Corkappeal against, 88 Planningconditions, 224 Asbestosdust Air, 180 Domestic appliances, 193 Extraction equipment, fixed localised, 132

Symptoms,20 TurnerBrothers, 94

Asbestosexposure Boilermakers,39 British rail engineering,37 Electricians,37 Fitters, 39 Friends and relations of asbestos workers, 29 Gas mask factories, 32 Gastrointestinalcancers, 34 Husbandasbestos worker, 28 Overalls,28, 33 Period necessaryfor Mesothelioma,28 Racial discriminationin standards, 63 Thermal insulators, 33 Vehicle 37 See also builders, dust Asbestos Asbestos fires, 54 Asbestoshazards Exportation, 244 Survey questionnajre, 278 Asbestos imports Quantity of different ports, 149 Asbestos in the house, 193 Asbestos industry Advertiseasbestosassafe, 11, 44,48, 60 Averagepay and directors pay, 243 Number employed.
57

Seealso Dust...

Levelsin workplace,127 Measuring,123 and Measuring,accuracy methods, 124 Recording oflevels, 58 Removal,119 TUC maximum allowable concentration, 126 Warningsigns, 60

Profits, 241 US exporthazards to the Third World, 245 Value, 57

283

Asbestos insulation board dust levels, 127 Asbestosinsulation workers Smokingincidence of lung cancer, 26 Asbestos mines Conditions in, SouthAfrica, 62 Asbestos penetration of protective clothing, 178 Asbestos processing Preventiveequipment and clothing, 66 Requirement for exhaust ventilation, 66 Asbestos products Labelling proposed by TUC, 81 Registrationproposed by TUC, 81 Asbestos regulations Fines cheaper than cost of complaints, 71 Inadequate according to TUC, 81 Prison sentences for offences, 73 Prosecutionsand fines, 68 Summary, 66 Asbestos roofs,44 Asbestos spraying, 127 Asbestos stripping wetting agent,165 Asbestossubstitutes, 102 Companies producing, 107 Fire prevention and protection,
55

Period ofexposure, 219 Symptoms, 22 X-ray of chest, 11 ASLEF, 159

AUEW

Buildingworkers Barbican,96 Holland, 256

C.A. Parsons, 141 Cardiff Royal Infirmary fittersstrike, 199 Isle of Grain strike, 114 Australia, 251

Baker Streetunderground, 185 Ban on asbestos See Asbestosban Barbicanbuilding workers' strike, 96 Barking,219 Barrow-in-Furness shipyards, 144 Barylgilasbestos mine, 252 Bath workers, 196
BBA

Cables'high temperative insulation, 112 Calciumsilicate Block cutting, 128 Hazards, 107 Use and supplier, 110 Calcium sulphate, 108 Canada, 254
Cancer

Averagepay and directors' pay, 243 Profits, 241 MajorUK asbestos firm, 58 Belvedere Power Station, 178 Bibliography,264 Blankets, 111 Blood tests, 43 Blue asbestos Production and importation,
49

Absence of known asbestos threshold, 14 Asbestos exposure, 7, 121 Glassfibre, 104 Cancer ofthe Pancreas Wronglyattributed to death by Mesothelioma,30 Cape Industries Average pay and directors' pay,243 Bow asbestosdumps, 218 Hebden Bridge, 8 Major UK asbestosfirm, 57 Profits, 241 Safety standards in South African mines, 63 Cape, Darlingtonand Newall, Carbon fibre, 105 Car brakelinings, see Brakes Cardiff Royal Infirmary, 199 Central Asbestos,59 Central Electricity Generating Board, 113 Ceramic fibreblanket, Ill Ceramic fibrepaper, 112 Ceramic fibres Hazards and makers, 107 Use and suppliers. 110 Ceramic foam, 108 Chest pains, 103 China, 257 Chullora railway workshop. 252 CIBA-GEIGY (UK), 118 Cleaners, 206
113

Hazards, 107 Insufficient research, 109 Non-fibroussafer, 109 Non-respirablesized fibres, 110 Preventivemeasures, 114 Publications on, 266 Research into hazards of, TUC proposal, 80 Suppliers addresslist, 268 TUC proposal, 80 Types, uses, makers, 110 Workingwith. 141 Asbestos waste disposal, 215 Asbestesis, 21 Asbestos exposure at Hebden Compensation, 233 Degree ofexposure. 22 Delay in appearance of symptoms, 219 Fireeaters, 24 In dogs. 25 Incidence, 23 Incidence, UCATT survey. 82 Incorrect diagnosis,24 Lung cancer combined, 25
Bridge, 10 Boiler covering, 24

List, 107

Regulation,66 Brake and clutchlinings Causing Mesothelioma,28 Servicing,150 Brakes,lSI,193, 213 Brazil,245 British Belting Asbestos

See BBA

British Leyland Blue asbestospenetrates protective clothing, 178 Prosecution, 69 British OccupationalHygiene Society, 121 British Rail ('loths, 11 2 Glass fibre, 117 Incidence ofasbestos diseases, Clutch and Brake linings See Brake and clutchlinings 157 Coating paint, 112 British Rail Engineering ('ommittee on the EnvironAsbestos victims,37 ment, Public Health and Prosecution, 69 Consumer Protection of EEC. British Steel ('orporation, 72 76 Bronchitis ('ompanies producing asbestos Glass fibre, 103 substitutes, 107 Non-fibrousasbestos sub('ompensation stitutes.109 Asbestosdiseases,232 Brown asbestos blankets, 128 DHSS,relatives can't claim, BSSRSWork HazardsGroups 235 Address list, 260 Lx gratisallowances,235 Dartford asbestosdump,221

284

Heating allowance,235 Industrial death benefit, 235 Publications on, 266 Special diet allowance,235 Specialistsolicitor, 233 US, 237 Composition Asbestos substitutes, 111 Cork Pollution controls, strugglefor, 212 Appeal against asbestosdump, 88, 222 Corrugatedroof sheeting, 110 Council flats, Deptford, 210 Council housegarages,209 Crocidolite see Blue asbestos Cure rate Mesothelioma,27 Lung cancer, 27 Lung cancer and asbestosis combined, 27 Darlington Insulation Co Ltd BelvederePower Station 2nd hand washingmachine, 178 Prosecution,69 Dartford asbestos dump, 220 Decadex fire check, 112 Demolition dust levels, 127 Demolition firms, 71 Deposition ofPoisonousWaste Act 1972, 216 Dermatitis, 103 Devonport Dockyard, 143 DHSS,233 Asbestosdiseases,42 Asbestosis,x-ray, 11 Failure to identify 8 Dirt money. 256 asbestosis, Disc brake pads, 213 Discrimination Susceptibility,41 Racial, 63 Dockers, 91 Dockyards, 142 Doll, ProfessorSir Richard,93 Domestic appliances, 193
Drills, 133 Diagnosis

Ennals,David, 200 EnvirocorLtd, 227 Extraction equipment, fixed localised, 132 Extraction units, 137 Extractors for brakelinings, 156

Glassfibredust Standard for concentration in air, 106 Glass fibre workers Precautions, 106 Glasswool, 110
GMWU

FactoryInspectorate Delay in recognition of asbestos as carcinogenic,25

Factory Inspectors Attitudes,77 Victims ofMesothelioma,32 Ferodo,244 Fibreglasspneumoconiosis,103 Fibrereinforced boards, slabsand blocks, 110 sheets, Fibrefax Bulk fibre, 110 Fibroid phthisissee Asbestosis Fibrosis, 108 Fire doors, 116 Fire eaters, 24 Fire prevention and protection Alternativesto asbestos, 55 Fire protection Asbestos,52 Firemen, 54 Fleetdown Estate, 220 Floor sweeping,195 Floorlayers, 32 Fosterite, 157 France, 256 Furnace linings, 110 Galbestos,53 Garageroof and wall panels, 193 Garden Island naval dockyard, 251 Gas cooker seals, 193 Gas mask factory, 32 Gastrointestinal cancers, 34 Gernj Pony brakewashers, 156 Glasscloths,112 Glassfibre Asthma, 103 Bronchitis, 103 Cancer. 104 Dermatitis, 103 Hazards, 103 Glassfibres Isle ofGrain strike, 113 Mesothelioma,104 Portsmouth yacht building, 139 Preventivemeasures, 106, 117 Glass fibre-reinforcedcalcium silicate insulating board, 129
Powerlessness, 11

Actions over asbestos, 82 DarlingtonInsulation strike, 178 Intra-union disputes, 85 NorthEast London Goldmining, 128 Poly, 206 Government, 64 Greece, 256 Guttering Asbestos substitutes, 110 Gyproc, 110

Harrogateand Rippon hospitals, 199 Harwell, 202 HASSEL,278 Hazards Asbestos,264 Asbestos substitutes, 107 Dustyou can't see, 102 Glassfibre, 103 Turner and Newallexport hazards to France, 244 Health checks Persons exposed to asbestos, 41 Heartfailure Asbestos exposure at Hebden Bridge,10 Hebden Bridge massacre Dr RobertMurray,90 Turning point in health protection, 8 Holland, 256 Hoses' high temperature insulation, 112 Hospital fitters, 199 Hospitals, 198 House ofCommons building,49

Dust, invisible,photographing, 138 Dust level measuring,123 Dustsafety standard, 116 Dustyou can't see, 102 EEC, 76 EEPTU, 145 Electric toasters, 193 Engineering.British Rail See British Rail Engineering

IC' Saffil fibres, 108 Strike for protective equipment for asbestos stripping,84 Identification and analysisof asbestos, 270 Imperialism,243, 245 ILO, 248 Industrial diseasesTradeUnion census, 80 Insulation, sprayable, Ill Insulation and AsbestosWorkers Union. 255

285

Paints, dust suppressingand Mandoval Insulation application, indirect fire resistant, 112 Vermiculite, 107 exposure in engine-room,128 Paints, fireproof and ceiling,193 ManorHouse Hospital, 201 Insulation engineers,113 Parsons, CA., 141 MareIsland Naval Shipyard, Insulation workers. 43 Patrasstrike, 256 111 California,146 Insulation board (Vermiculite), Perlite fibre, 112 Marglas glass International coordination, 258 Hazards and makers, 108 Mariniteasbestos reinforced International solidarity, 243 Uses and suppliers, 112 88 board, 129 Irish Development Authority, Pipes Measuringasbestosdust level Iron rests, 193 Asbestos substitutes, 110 See Asbestosdust, measunng Ironing pad, 193 Lagging, 193 Mesothelioma,27 Isle ofGrain Power station Plaster, 108, 111 233 Compensation, strike. 113 Pneumonia Cure rate, 27 Asbestos exposure at Hebden Delay between exposure and Bridge, 10 first symptoms, 28 Glassfibre, 103 Effectof smoking,27 Johns-Man yule, 250 Pollution ofair Floor layers, 32 See Air pollution Juniper Street, Stepney, GLC Glass fibre, 104 Pollution of soil building site, 101 Hospital fitters, 199 See Soil pollution Incidence, 27 Pollutionof water, 191 Incidence in UK,30 hair dryers, 193 Overallswith asbestos dust, 33 Portable Power stations, 113 Kentish Town swimmingbaths, Proximity to asbestosfactory, Preventive measure 196 28 Asbestosdiseases,147 Kleen air brake dust collector, Proximity to shipyard, 28 British Navy Code of Practice, 156 Railway carriagebuilders, 31 144 Klinger. Richard, 182 Shipyards, 31 Glassfibre, 117, 139 Thermal insulators, 33 Government, 64 Tiles, 32 Monitoring,58 TritonKaowool, 107 Lagging, 98 Publications on, 265 Under reporting, 29 Laing, John, 96 Questionnaire/Checklist, 81 Whiteasbestos, 46 Lake superior, 192 Stripping methods. 164 Zeolite, 105 Lambeth asbestosdump,227 Prisonsentences for offending Mexico,295 Latex spray painting of asbestos, MiddlesexHospital,200 firms, 73 160 Profits of asbestos industry, 241 Motor mechanics, 150 LeicesterGeneral Hospital, 203 Prosecutionsand fines, 68 Murray,Dr Robert, 90 Lenesta tip, 226 Protective clothing, 176 Myth ofsafety of white Licensingof thermal insulation Asbestos substitutes and their asbestos. 48 contractors, 81 suppliers, 112 Limpet spray, 111 Isle ofGrain strike, 113 Lung cancer. 25 Methods ofcleaning. 178 Lung cancer NALGO,117 Age expectancy average Newhouse,Dr Muriel,91 compared withasbestos Nibblertine, 140 worker,27 at Hebden Nomex cloth, 112 55 Asbestosexposure Quartz, 195 Nomex fire blankets, Bridge,10 NorthEast London Polytechnic, Asbestosjscombined, 25 Holbrook annex,206 Asbestosiscombined, cure North London Health and Racal Amplivox airstream rate, 27 Safety Group, 196 Cure rate. 27 General Hospital. helmet, 176 Northampton Racialdiscrimination Incidenceamong asbestos 199 Asbestoshealthstandards, 63 workers, 25 203 Australian asbestosmines. 252 Incidence among non-smoking NottinghamCity Hospital. 196 NUPE, asbestos workers, 26 Railwaycarriagebuilders, 31 NUR, 159 Incidence among smoking Rainham, 226 205 asbestos insulation workers, 26 NUT, school. 205 Raybestos Manhattan Trinity Asbestos dump in Cork, 88 Symptoms, 27 108 Nylon dust, Asbestos factory in Cork. 212 Lung function tests, 42 Asbestos substitute for brakes. Lungscarring,see Fibrosis 157 Professor Doll's help. 95 door seal, 193 Oven Research Ovengloves, 193 Objectivity, 25, 48, 87. 106, ProfessorCorbett.88 Ovens,213 McDonald. 120, 183 fitters.199 Overalls,33 Maintenance

286

British Rall Engineering, register of membersdeaths and diseases,37 Manor HouseHospital, 201 Venezuela, 245 Thermal Insulation, Glasgow, Vermiculite Investigationdeaths and Asbestos contamination, ioi Safety Representativevictimised, diseasesofmembers, 34, 98 77 Hazards and makers, 107 Turnerand Newajls,238 Victimisationof safety represenSafety standards Theatre group sacked for play Turner and Newall's South tative, 77 on asbestos, 12 Victorian Railways,251 African asbestos mines, 63 Thermal insulation contractors, Saffil fibres 81 Hazardsand Thermal insulation engineers,85 St James Park makers, 108 tube, 187 Thermal insulation workers, 34 Scaffolders, 114 Warningsigns,60 Thermal insulators, 33 Schools, 204 Waterpollution, 191 Thetford asbestos mine, 254 ScottonBanks hospital, 199 Welding stress relief asbestos Tiles, 32 Screeningpersons susceptible substitutes, Todd, John, 34 to asbestosis,41 Wettingagent for asbestos Toy cigarettes, 195 and stripping asbestos, Sealing TradeUnion Health and Safety stripping, 165 160 Whiteasbestos Groups, local Seals, 111 Mesothelioma,46 Address list, 261 Selikoff, ProfessorIrvin, 92, 249 Myth of safety, 48 Trade Unions Sheets and boards, 110 WoodsreefAsbestosmine, 253 No censusincidence of Shipyards Workplaceasbestos dust levels, industrial diseases,80 Incidence of Mesothelioma,31 127 Trinity School, East London, 205 Worker-student Proximity causing Mesotheljcooperation,256 Triton Kaowool oma,28 Woven fabrics asbestos Hazardsand makers, 107 Sidcup, Kent, 182 substitutes, 112 TUC maximum allowable Simmeringpads, 193 concentration ofasbestos dust, SkandinaviskaEternit A.B., 47 126 Smoking TUCon asbestos,80 Asbestosinsulation workers, Turner and Newall incidence oflung cancer, 26 X-ray of chest Asbestos workersincidence of Averagepay and directors' Asbestosis,11 pay, 243 lung cancer, 26 Diagnosisofasbestos diseases, Effect on Mesothelioma 27 Compensation,234 42 Compensationprotestat Society for the Preventionof AGM, 238 Asbestosisand Industrial Ex gratia allowances,235 Diseases,263 Soil pollution, 191 Incidence ofasbestosis Yale University, 164 research kept secret, 122 Solicitor specialising in Yacht building UK asbestoscompany, industrial injuries Major Glass fibre, 139 8,57 compensation 233 Profits, 241 Sore throats, 103 Safety standards in South SouthAfrica, 63 African mines, 63 Southampton docks, 149 Transfer hazards to France, Zeollte SPAID, 263 244 Sputum cytology, 42 Mesothelioma,105 Turner Brothers asbestos Standards for respirators, 174 diseaseincidence,94 Strengtheningmaterials, Ill Turners AsbestosCement Co Suing for compensation. 233 Cartoon ofconditions, 65 Summerlanddisaster, 52 Supalux, 117 Surrey docks, 148 Swan Hunter's shipyard, 145 UCATf Symptoms Barbicananti-asbestos Asbestos diseases,20 buildingworkers strike, 96 Asbestosis,22 Portsmouth shop flooraction Lung cancer, 27 over glassfibre extraction, 139 Synthetic woodpulp, 108 Questionnaire on asbestos, 81

Resin bonded glassfibre, 111 Respirators, 172 Ringaskiddyasbestos dump,222 Rip saws,133 Rocksil, 114 Rockwool, 117 Royal Navy Dockyard, 107 Russia, 257

Tait, Nancy, 263

Talwan, 245 Talc, 195 Textiles, 112
TGWU

Underground, London, 184 Underground, Paris, 183 Unemployment threat,242 USSR,257

lii

287

'Al

:S1r%t

O 9502541 3 4