Lawyers working with sufferers of silicosis are concerned that the National Dust Diseases Taskforce final report doesn’t go far enough to protect workers. Dust diseases principal from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers,
Historic exposure at BBC orchestra site, company concedes liability
The British Broadcasting Corporation is being sued by the widow of a former member of its symphony orchestra over alleged asbestos exposure at the company’s studios for several decades. Christopher
Soil treatment facility fined over asbestos-contaminated material
The New South Wales branch of the Environment Protection Authority has fined a contractor for allegedly accepting and storing asbestos-containing waste at a contaminated soil treatment facility in Cootamundra. EESI
National heat-map of asbestos exposure in homes on track for 2022 launch
The Australian federal government is working on a national public database which aims to assist in predicting the presence of asbestos in homes across the country. The ‘residential asbestos heatmap’
71 separate properties, plus road works, affected by asbestos contamination in base
The rubble used at 71 properties across the southern coast of South Australia has been found to be contaminated with asbestos. The Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority confirmed that it has
Historic exposure to asbestos for San Diego firefighters at training facility
In February of 2019, US-based news agency, NBC7 Investigates, obtained documents from the San Diego Fire Department which showed the city had delayed remediating a known asbestos issue at the
Asbestos presence revealed at preschool in Libby, former vermiculite mining town.
A public school department in the town of Libby, Montana, has been forced to conduct an asbestos mitigation project after workers released asbestos while removing a boiler at a preschool
Fines issued following demolition of historic asbestos-containing building in Pennsylvania
It has been found that proper asbestos abatement procedures weren’t followed during the demolition of a century-old building in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, according to the Department of Environmental Protection and the
Johnson & Johnson sunscreen found to contain benzene
Johnson & Johnson are in hot water with safety regulators again after it revealed five products that tested positive for low levels of benzene. The five products are: Neutrogena Beach
Asbestos company fined after worker fell through roof
A company in Scotland has admitted to failing to provide a safe work environment for an employee who fell through a garage roof while conducting work in 2017. The company
New calls for Europe-wide elimination of asbestos
The European Parliament is calling for a new strategy to entirely eliminate asbestos across the union as it moves to strengthen protections for workers and reduce exposure. The recommendation by
$220,000 over asbestos-contaminated fill
A man has faced the Windsor Local Court to face charges brought by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority after he was found to have organised fill material, including asbestos waste,
Three month suspension for asbestos assessor
South Australia’s workplace safety regulator has issued a licenced asbestos assessor with a three-month suspension. The state is currently undertaking a state-wide asbestos compliance campaign for those who hold licenses.
New on-the-spot fines for asbestos and other offences in Victoria
Victorian employers or PCBUs who risk the health and safety of their workers will shortly face on-the-spot fines in an attempt by the Andrews Government to stamp out dangerous actions
HSE Workplace Death data points to improving workplace safety & mesothelioma rates
The initial data from the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive show that for the year 2020/21, the total deaths nationwide increased by 29 on the year before. While the
New Safe Work campaign to target occupational lung disease
The Australian workplace safety regulator has launched a new awareness campaign for occupational lung disease, which will run until December this year. Safe Work Australia chief executive officer Michelle Baxter
Three separate prosecutions by NSW EPA, warnings issued to not obstruct officers
The NSW Environment Protection Authority is warning would-be offenders who attempt to obstruct their officers or fail to cooperate that they may face significant consequences. The warning comes after three
UK company fined over importing asbestos-containing goods
United Kingdom businesses are being put on notice over the presence of asbestos in imported goods after Power Link Machines Ltd was sentenced for safety breaches after the HSE found
Rising frustrations over continued inaction at Wittenoom
Successive Western Australian governments are under fire over their inaction to remediate the largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere: Wittenoom. The industrial asbestos mine site, which devastated many local
Asbestos find confirmed in prison after unusual exposure report
Asbestos removal specialists have attended Tasmania’s Risdon Prison to perform removal and remediation after cockatoos damaged the roof to such an extent that the material in the structure was exposed.
Concerns over historic asbestos exposure at Liddell Power Plant as decommissioning date set
New South Wales’ Liddell Power Station is planned to be decommissioned by the state’s government in 2022. The first generation unit is being taken offline in the next twelve months
Trucking contractor avoids prison over fraudulently disposing of 17,000 tonnes of waste from Green Square Town Centre site development
The boss of a trucking company who arranged the illegal dumping of 17 million kilos of asbestos-containing waste and other hazardous material will not return to prison. Fayed Afram was
Central Coast business fined over 15 tonnes of asbestos-containing waste at unlicensed site
A Central Coast business that stored asbestos waste unlawfully has been fined by the NSW Environment Protection Authority. EPA officers carrying out a routine inspection of EBH Environmental Services Pty
Asbestos company director sentenced to home detention over fraudulent asbestos accreditation and funding
A former safety consultant company director has been sentenced to five years probation with eight months of home detention over charges of theft of federal funding relating to asbestos removal.
Mesothelioma drug added to PBS, price now $41 from $130K per course
One immunotherapy treatment that previously cost up to $130,000 for a course of treatment has been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for mesothelioma patients and will now cost $41.
New Zealand company & directors fined more than $100K over illegal dumping
A New Zealand judge has described a contractor’s actions, when illegally dumping demolition material from the New Plymouth Airport terminal on a farm in North Taranaki as “deliberate” and “reckless”.
Prison sentence and $100,000 in fines over illegal asbestos dumping in California
A man from Chico, California, has pleaded guilty to three charges relating to an incident in February last year, during which investigators determined he transported asbestos from his own commercial
Illegal dump full of asbestos halfway cleared as EPA Victoria granted new powers over illegal waste dumps
New ‘waste crime’ laws are set to be introduced as the toxic waste dump in Lara, Geelong is now halfway to being cleared. At its largest size, the dump was
Asbestos and other building defects a concern as agents claim they’re not being fully informed
Property developers in NSW are forging ahead with off-the-plan apartment sales despite the Building Commissioner requiring them to fix or monitor defects that potential buyers are required to be advised
Victorian Government introduces new care structures for silicosis victims
The Victorian Government has introduced new measures to ensure that workers affected by crystalline silica dust to access critical care. Lung cancer with silicosis and scleroderma with silicosis are now
Canberra store closed over asbestos risk
A clothing store in Canberra has been forced to close after asbestos was found at the site. WorkSafe ACT has issued a non-disturbance notice to the business in Kennedy, which
New Zealand tradies encouraged to shave to save lives
Beards on construction sites may soon be a thing of the past as New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator launches a new campaign called Life Shavers. It aims to
Ice rink owners tasked workers to carry out asbestos work akin to a “home DIY job”
A popular leisure facility in Northern England has been fined after staff were exposed to asbestos after management tasked them with removing asbestos-containing material rather than employing the services of
US EPA required to tighten asbestos data collection, moves closer to total ban
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is moving to tighten data collection processes for asbestos, bringing the nation closer to a complete ban on the product. In a ruling in
Criminal negligence alleged over unsafe asbestos removal
Two people who were employed by a business tasked with removing asbestos materials from the former IBM site of TechCity in Ulster, New York, have pleaded guilty in federal court
Goulburn Council offering reward to catch illegal asbestos dumpers
The Council of Goulburn Mulwaree’s upgrades to local infrastructure, by way of its Fixing Local Roads Grant program, have been delayed after an incident of asbestos dumping. The incident occurred
Border Force cracks down on illegal asbestos importation
The Australian Border Force is targeting the importation of products used in the building industry that are at risk of containing asbestos, which is prohibited in Australia. Between 1 July
Children found making sandcastles out of suspected ACM in Wales
Residents of a beachside community in Wales are outraged after it emerged that children in the area were found to have built sandcastles on a beach with peices of suspected
New buyback scheme for ACT homes affected by loose-fill asbestos
The ACT Government has confirmed it will develop a new buyback scheme for properties affected by historic loose-fill asbestos products. The new scheme is largely a continuation of the current
SafeWork NSW cracks down on sites, focus on eliminating dry cutting
Construction sites across the Sutherland Shire have been told to expect visits from SafeWork Inspectors, with a focus on unsafe working systems across all trades and unsafe dry cutting processes.
New funding for silicosis in QLD as rates continue to rise
Queensland continues to lead Australian states in the fight against silicosis with a new $5 million research fund launched to assist in the prevention, detection and treatment of occupational dust
Serial illegal dumper to face court over alleged assault on EPA officers, failing to comply
The director of a Port Adelaide demolition and waste contracting service is being charged under the Environmental Protection Act after allegedly hindering, assaulting and using abusive language towards EPA officers.
Community corrections order for asbestos dumping as UK cracks down on flytipping
A rogue waste operator in England has been handed an 18-month community corrections order over an incident that saw asbestos material dumped in farmland and a residential area, as the
Landmark decision for ‘third wave’ of NZ asbestos victims
A landmark decision in New Zealand means that victims of asbestos exposure outside of the workplace will now be entitled to compensation from the country’s Accident Compensation Commission. Angela Calver,
Business fined after worker falls through asbestos roof
An industrial roofing company in the UK has been fined after a worker fell through an asbestos cement roof, resulting in significant injuries. DPM Industrial Roofing Limited (DPM) faced the
Deceased and dying Dust Diseases Care clients underpaid almost $15M
NSW workers who have died or have been diagnosed with dust diseases including mesothelioma or silicosis have missed out on close to $15 million in compensation due to payment errors
The most remote asbestos exposure incident? Two likely incidents on Norwegian drilling sites
The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority has issued safety orders to oil and gas giant Equinor over two incidents in the North Sea relating to potential asbestos exposure by staff. During
Alleged dumping leaves contaminated land owners with bill estimated to hit $22M
The highly publicised “sinking” at the housing development in Spring Farm has been linked to a remediation company that has been accused of failing to appropriately clean up asbestos-containing waste
Council-funded asbestos remediation found to be in breach of HSE legislation
The council-funded refurbishment of a number of units in Stevenage Borough in Hertfordshire, north of London, is under fire after footage was found of workmen completing asbestos remediation work in
New audit reveals Queensland schools containing ‘unstable’ or ‘severely damaged’ asbestos
A government audit in Queensland has revealed that nine schools currently contain asbestos that is classified as ‘unstable’ or ‘severely damaged’, with community groups concerned as to how remediation will
