Unions target asbestos

THE Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) claims 1.5 million Australians may be exposed to occupational carcinogens.
The ACTU says workers in the construction, transport and defence industries have a higher level of risk because they can come into contact with cancer-causing substances like asbestos. Statistics provided by the council showed 12% of all male workers are exposed to such material.
The trade unions used the International Workers' Memorial Day to call for a national Asbestos Inquiry. They say 2008 will be the year for raising awareness of the risk posed by cancers caused or contributed to by work.
According to the council, Australia has the highest rate of recorded mesothelioma in the world. Considering exposure to asbestos is the only cause of the disease, it holds deep concerns on the amount of asbestos floating around in workplaces.
The council says the inquiry should look at elimination of the material from workplaces and homes, as well as compensation, treatment and cure for those affected by exposure. It has also called for an improvement in asbestos regulation and tougher enforcement of asbestos-related laws.