Asbestos’ use in film and television is relatively well known – often used as fake snow in iconic movies like The Wizard of Oz. However, the effect of asbestos use
Indoor Air Quality in the spotlight
Experts have, for many years, been pushing for improved indoor air quality in Australian homes. While the pandemic was a significant motivating factor for many homes and businesses to improve
Cross-border safety blitz as silica dust risks in the spotlight
A combined safety blitz by WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW covered 59 construction sites in a cross-border operation between the two regulators, aiming to improve workplace safety. The focus of
Libby, Montana, site of 80,000 asbestos exposures, receives free asbestos disease screening
Libby, Montana, might be a small town, but it is known as a town with some of the highest concentrations of asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases. The town was home
Preventing mould in Aussie homes as the weather cools
Australian homes are largely designed for our warmer seasons – even in parts of the country where cooler temperatures are common in the winter months, many are constructed from timber
New asbestos safety campaign aimed at those who entered workforce after ban
The United Kingdom’s workplace safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with asbestos, aimed at younger workers
ACTU and CFMEU back ban on engineered stone, despite new ad campaign from producers
The Australian Council of Trade Unions, as well as the construction union CFMEU, has announced that they back a blanket ban on engineered stone products regardless of the concentration of
NZ busiest fire station on lockdown after asbestos contamination
The Auckland City Fire Station has been declared a ‘hot zone’ today as emergency services attend the site to complete asbestos decontamination works. The station was completely shut down this
Two asbestos licenses suspended in a week over compliance failures
Two South Australian asbestos professionals have had their licences suspended in separate incidents in a week. The first was an asbestos assessor who had their license suspended immediately, while the
Almost 150 teachers and hospital staff killed by mesothelioma in the last 5 years in the UK
Schools and hospitals are the target of new asbestos safety concerns in the United Kingdom after new data was released that showed close to 150 health and education workers had
NZ looks to Australian silica safety improvements, calls for greater action
Construction Health and Safety New Zealand is calling for swifter action over the deadly effects of dust from engineered stone benchtops, following in the steps of Australian construction workers and
Concerns over govt-owned site in Earlwood contaminated by asbestos
Inner-west residents of the Sydney suburb of Earlwood are claiming government “negligence” after it was revealed that asbestos sheeting was left uncovered and accessible to the public on a government-owned
Asbestos and air quality concerns over massive waste fire in Richmond, Indiana
A massive industrial fire in Richmond, Indiana, is causing concerns for local residents as the local Department of Emergency Management moves to declare an air quality action day for nearby
Tradesman sounds alarm over additional silica-related illnesses after lung transplant at 25
A young tradesman is warning fellow engineered stone and asbestos workers after being diagnosed with scleroderma at age 25. Hak Kim was working in demolition and launched legal action against
Canadian authorities look to Australian asbestos strategy to counter asbestos exposure
Canadian authorities are looking to Australia’s asbestos eradication strategy as the nation grapples with rising mesothelioma rates and construction organisations seek more significant reforms to their industry to protect workers.
Leading talc producer seeks to settle claims over asbestos contamination
International talcum powder producer Johnson & Johnson proposed a $8.9 billion settlement this week to settle current and future claims against their talc-containing products. This announcement could potentially end tens
New national mesothelioma report released; two Australians diagnosed every day
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its latest report on the state of mesothelioma in Australia. It is the eleventh report of the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR),
Montana Senators urged to break ranks and support asbestos ban as part of National Asbestos Awareness Week
Last week, Montana Senators helped to pass a resolution that designates the first week of April this year as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” within the state. However, many local residents
$480K committed to research for mesothelioma and lung cancer research in WA
After securing this year’s Cancer Council WA Research Fellowship, a Western Australian researcher has been granted close to half a million dollars in funding over four years to research lung
Climate council calls for an end to gas cooktops, concerns over IAQ
Australian doctor and contributor to the Climate Council, Dr Kate Charlesworth, has penned an op-ed calling for a move to gas-free cooking over concerns to health. Dr Charlesworth makes the
Asbestos dumping on the rise, are rising costs of living to blame?
After asbestos sheeting was found dumped in a regional Victorian park recently, patrols are being stepped up across the border in forests around Mount Gambier in an effort to reduce
Housing estate management said mould was ‘acceptable’ in refugee housing where child died
A housing estate outside of Manchester, the site of the death of a child after mould exposure, has been found to have extensive management concerns, including prejudices and “lazy assumptions”
Brisbane rail project hit with claims of silica risks
The largest infrastructure project in Brisbane is the latest worksite in the country to be hit by claims of unsafe working conditions relating to silicosis. The Electrical Trades Union says
Asbestos & silica risk warning over New Zealand cyclone, floods
An asbestos removal company based in Auckland has reminded homeowners returning to their properties in flood and cyclone-affected areas to be mindful of the risks of silicate and asbestos material.
Asbestos removal company fined $25K
Melbourne asbestos removal company, Nu Tech Demolition & Asbestos Removal, has been fined after facing the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for failing to eliminate or reduce the risk of exposure from
Silicosis diagnosis register proposed in draft legislation
Australian doctors who diagnose tradespeople with silicosis will face fines if they fail to report their patient’s name and workplace to a new registry under legislation drafted to address the
Tenant awarded +$76,000 over mould damage
An Australian tenant who claimed she and her family were rendered homeless due to their insurer’s failure to properly assess damage claims due to mould has been compensated following a
Mould reporting in the spotlight as UK complaints double
The UK Government is under fire after it was revealed that the number of social housing tenants across England is on track to double in the two years since the
Asbestos dumped in regional park highlights ongoing issues
Five piles of demolition waste have been uncovered in a regional park outside of Ballarat, and Parks Victoria has confirmed that the material contains asbestos. An investigation has begun after
Strengthening of WHS laws as Act amended for negligence
At the beginning of March, the Australian government passed amendments to the national Work Health and Safety Act which aim to make it easier to penalise negligent employers who put
‘Rogue’ asbestos company caught; director imprisoned over unlicensed works
A ‘rogue’ asbestos company has been fined in Manchester after it was discovered they had conducted asbestos removal works and dumped contaminated material in the street, all while not holding
WA worker fined more than $15,000 over attempted illegal dumping
A young Western Australian man who was only a few weeks into working for his father’s asbestos handling company has been handed a $15,000 fine for attempting to dump two
Focus on silicosis safety practices as lab-grown diamonds grow in popularity
As lab-grown diamonds grow in popularity, with marketing claims that they are an ethical alternative to traditional diamonds and significantly cheaper than their natural counterparts, there is rising concern about
Philadelphia schools closed over asbestos safety concerns
Two schools in the Philadelphia School District have closed due to asbestos safety concerns in the space of a week. Simon Gratz High School and Prep Middle School, and Building
Asbestos exposure a major health risk in Ukraine war
A year on from the start of the war in Ukraine, safety experts are warning that the scale of damage, especially to buildings, could mean potentially long-term health risks to
Storage and shipping company fined $1.6 million over asbestos breaches at warehouse facility
American storage and shipping company, U-Haul Co of California, has agreed to pay more than $1.1 million (AUD1.68 million) in civil penalties to settle asbestos-related breaches from one of its
MPs voice concern over silicosis action plan
Federal MP and medical doctor, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, has brought the capacity of Safe Work Australia into question over a proposed ban on silica-containing engineered stone benchtops. She believes that under
Settlement over death of UK teacher highlights risk of mesothelioma
The family of a teacher in the United Kingdom who died from mesothelioma has won a settlement over the asbestos exposure she experienced at the school she taught at. The
Demolition company fined over asbestos work with no licensing or PPE
A Melbourne demolition company has faced court to answer three charges of failing to provide a safe working environment over the alleged exposure of workers to asbestos during demolition works
Company fined after asbestos removalist fatally injured in fall
A South Australian asbestos removal company has been fined over the death of a worker at a site in 2021. The worker, employed by Allstar Asbestos Services Pty Ltd was
Ban on engineered stone products enters consultation phase after joint meeting of WHS Ministers
According to Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke, the proposed nationwide ban on engineered stone, predominantly used for kitchen bench tops, will take at least a year. He urged state and
NSW roofing company fined after asbestos sheeting collapse
An NSW roofing company has been convicted and fined close to half a million dollars over two incidents at workspaces at Moorebank that occurred three years ago. In the first
Staff at bus depot raise concerns after asbestos discovery
A Geelong bus depot has had a section of the site closed following asbestos being discovered on site. CBC Victoria Chief Executive Jeff Wilson confirmed that WorkSafe Victoria inspectors had
Tens of thousands in fines over failure to appropriately dispose of asbestos
A Queensland resident has been fined tens of thousands of orders for failing to properly dispose of asbestos that had been in a skip bin for years. Myron Lichtnauer was
More than $1M in fines over illegal asbestos dumping
The Allegheny County Health Department in Pennsylvania has fined an asbestos contractor more than $1 million over illegal asbestos disposal while renovating a property in Churchill, just outside of Pittsburgh.
Asbestos risk warning after natural disasters
Following a series of devastating natural disasters in recent years, health officials are warning Australians to be mindful of asbestos risks. Covid-19, flooding and bushfire crises could lead to an
Engineered stone manufacturer announces new product with less silica, says it is an “immediate solution” to silicosis crisis
Cosentino, one of the world’s largest stone benchtop companies, has joined the growing call for a ban on products responsible for rising rates of silicosis across the country. Additionally, several
CFMEU launches national campaign, calling for an end to engineered stone
Australia’s largest and most influential construction unions have begun a new media campaign, hoping for a ban on engineered stone products across the country. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and
Reminder issued over asbestos flooring risks following
WorkSafe is reminding businesses of their obligations when it comes to asbestos and the general public as to the genuine risks that come about when renovating after it was made
UK MPs lobby for mesothelioma research pledge from asbestos manufacturer
Members of the United Kingdom Parliament have written to Altrad, one of the largest asbestos manufacturers, calling for the parent company to make a £10m donation towards mesothelioma research “for
