Why Asbestos Still Continues to Be a Threat – Despite the Ban.
Back on 24 August 1999, John Prescott, then Labour deputy prime minister signed the Asbestos Prohibitions Amendment Act. It took Labour two years to implement this ban on all uses of asbestos, it was one of their major policies in the run up to the 1997 general election. So why the delay? Well, it was mainly from the asbestos industry led by the lionshare of the indsutry stakeholders, the Canadian asbestos Institute (CAI) – they were also fearful of the being embroiled in the World Trade Organisation case over the French ban on asbestos. However, in 1999, a month after the European Union had forced a ban on all asbestos use, trade and manufacturing, the UK followed suit. asbestos removal However, what could have been seen as a major victory on behalf of the hundred of thousands of people that had died from asbestos related illnesses, it was met with regret – TUC cheig, Hugh Robertson commented;
“Although the ban on the import and use of asbestos was a great step forward, we must not forget that the delay in introducing a ban cost thousands of lives that might have been spared if asbestos had been outlawed when the risks were first known. Had the industry not tried to distort facts and suppress evidence, there is little doubt that action would have been taken much quicker. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, we must remember that the asbestos ban has not made the problem go away; we still have millions of buildings that contain this killer fibre. It is vital that workers and the public are protected from hazardous exposures and that when asbestos is removed it is done safely.”
According to the latest available figures for 2006, the annual number of British deaths from asbestos cancer mesothelioma is 2056, this compares to 312 in 1976, 706 in 1986 and 1322 in 1996. This rise spells out a rather bleak future.
“Mortality amongst all males is expected to keep increasing, reaching a peak at around 2,040 deaths in the year 2016, with a rapid decline following the peak year. Around 91,000 deaths are predicted to occur by 2050 with around 61,000 of these occurring from 2007 onwards.” What isn’t taken into account with these numbers is the total number of women who died from mesothelioma and asbestosis and the cancers of the lungs, larynx, ovaries and stomach developed from asbestos – a massive price paid for the country to not act on evidence that was fairly blatant even back in the early 20th century. Thousands upon thousands of people died when doctors, campaigners, trade unionists and asbestos victims were all crying out for some action to be made. cost asbestos garage removal Even though there was a huge ban on asbestos, there still remains the fact that 95% of social housing and 1.5 million public buildings contain asbestos and asbestos products. hse asbestos removal Chairman of the Parliamentary Asbestos Sub Committee, Michael Clapham MP, recently commented: “Despite the irrefutable scientific evidence which convinced authorities in industrialized countries to ban asbestos, producers are still exporting 2 million tonnes every year to the developing world where it causes disability and death and adds to world poverty.is years since the UN, recognizing the serious health implications of asbestos use, called for restrictions on global trade.is appropriate to mark the 10th anniversary of the UK ban by reaffirming our commitment to the campaign for a worldwide ban.”
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