Last updated at 11:58, Wednesday, 07 January 2009

By Bob Pointer, Secretary Barrow Trades Council and member of the steering group of Barrow Asbestos Realted Diseases Support

THERE cannot be many people in Barrow unaware of the dangers of asbestos exposure. Not only that, but many would also have had experience of all the problems that accompany exposure years later.
Even with the regulations banning the importation and use of asbestos products, the legacy of asbestos use will be with the future generations, as buildings where it was used, fall into disrepair, or undergo maintenance or demolition.
There are many lessons to be learnt in appraising the possible dangers to occupational health as technology advances and new products enter the consumer market.
A report from the University of Stirling states that work-related cancers cause 10 per cent to 12 per of all cancers; each year more carcinogens emerge and more people are exposed to them.
Urgent government action is required to prevent a “major public health disaster” caused by occupational cancers.
There is a need for Westminster and Edinburgh to act to ensure preventive measures are taken.
Locally the ill effects of solder flux has received publicity, although much of what previously was accomplished by these methods now have a variety of other tools like crimping.
Working in confined spaces with a lack of adequate ventilation has left many with occupational asthma. Modern materials, such as MDF, require dedicated work areas with dust extraction fitted to all tools.
Certain pesticides, well known products, have over the years been banned.
The European Parliament has approved legislation regarding the use of pesticides to reduce their use across the EU, especially where they cause serious harm to reproduction, hormonal, nervous or immune systems.
One widely used fungicide is now being linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Many people simply do not know the risks from substances such as wood dust, silica, diesel particles, and if they develop cancer later in life they do not associate it with work exposure.
Nanotechnology, which involves working with extremely tiny devices, requires that extensive safety checks are in place for dangers like particles, current testing arrangements are totally inadequate. History tells us of previous failures to understand the effects, not only on the workforce but also their families.
There is a requirement for extensive monitoring, research and safety systems.
The Health & Safety Executive needs funding and trained inspectors, but a problem lies in the speed of technical and scientific advances being faster than the capacity to respond to the risks.
Action has to be taken now in research and testing of nanomaterials. It is apparent that because of the time lag between general usage and the possible ill health, there has to be a comprehensive occupational health program to monitor employees’ health.
If I may use a quote made at an asbestos meeting several years ago: “A healthy workforce is a profitable workforce”.

First published at 13:43, Tuesday, 06 January 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk