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
UQ Theatre closed suddenly over asbestos presence
An historic theatre at the University of Queensland campus was immediately closed last week over a positive asbestos result. The Schonell Theatre, Geoffrey Rush Theatre and several hospitality outlets at
Japan’s highest court rules in favour of asbestos plaintiffs
Japan’s highest court has ruled in favour of close to 500 plaintiffs across four lawsuits, who are seeking damages from the government for diseases contracted while working in construction and
Hurstville school latest to contain asbestos, among more than 350 NSW schools
A New South Wales school has been revealed as containing asbestos in one of its buildings, months after it was revealed that more than 350 NSW schools also contained the
WA researcher receives prestigious award for mesothelioma research
A researcher from the University of Western Australia has been awarded the world’s most prestigious prize for mesothelioma research, only the second time the prize has been won by an
Asbestos-containing illegal dump of 100 tonnes uncovered, UK councils scrambling to address issue
More than 100 tonnes of building waste has been found dumped in Herne Bay in the United Kingdom, with locals furious that waste collection companies have used the land to
Blue Mountains City Council begins EU with asbestos safety campaign
As the Blue Mountains City Council enters into an Enforceable Undertaking with SafeWork NSW, the council has launched a new education program, focusing on community members protecting themselves against the
115 firefighters undergo health checks after suspected asbestos exposure
Firefighters in the Texas city of Austin are being monitored and are undergoing health checks after potentially being exposed to asbestos at a warehouse fire. On Thursday last week, a
Mr Fluffy asbestos campaigner dies after compensation fund win
James Wallner, who successfully campaigned for governmental support for victims of ‘Mr Fluffy’ asbestos, has died of pleural mesothelioma. Mr Wallber contracted the disease after the house he and his
Ohio EPA chasing millions in cleanup costs and fines
A trial has begun this week in Cleveland, Ohio, to determine whether the operator of a waste dump on the outskirts of the city would be responsible for paying back
Asbestos discovered during Dunedin City Council office renovations
Staff at the Dunedin City Council office have been forced to work from home, after asbestos dust was discovered in the civic centre offices. The material was found last week
$8,000 in fines over illegally dumped ACM
A Melbourne waste company faces thousands of dollars in fines for dumping asbestos-containing material at an unlicensed tip. Monash Bin Hire and Demolition were found to have disposed of construction
Federal Government considering compensation scheme for victims of ‘Mr Fluffy’ asbestos
The federal government is considering a new compensation fund for victims of asbestos disease. The program is under investigation as a method for compensating victims who were not exposed to
Another fight for residents of asbestos-contaminated town in Montana
Residents of Libby, Montana, are fighting for compensation and appropriate healthcare over the asbestos-related health disaster that is now recognised as one of the worst human-made environmental disasters in the
Study shows inherent danger in US EPA’s asbestos disposal strategies
The Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters published findings earlier this year that has disproven the long-held belief that if asbestos is buried, it no longer poses a threat to human
Historic pool works halted over asbestos discovery in regional Victoria
Repair works at a historic swimming pool in regional Victoria has been halted after contractors uncovered asbestos in the Gisborne pool’s overflow channel. While the site was already closed to
Asbestos company fined almost $300,000 after death of worker
An asbestos remediation company in the UK has been fined more than £161,000 ($289,138AUD) after it admitted to errors that resulted in the death of a worker in an explosion.
‘Disgraceful’ actions of painter leads to fine, $48K clean up bill
The action of a Brisbane house painter has been labelled as ‘disgraceful’ by a local magistrate after he failed to protect workers and the general public from the risks of
QLD Government reveals it spent $6.5M remediating asbestos in schools in last FY
Asbestos audits conducted across Queensland public schools from July 2020 until February 2021 revealed more than 100 schools have asbestos present. The Queensland government has spent more than $6.5 million
Warning over contaminated road base containing asbestos
An amount of bonded asbestos has been uncovered in unmarked road base at a regional waste facility on the Fleurieu peninsula. The Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority’s Goolwa Waste and Recycling
Little Bay to be closed to the public over asbestos contamination
Popular Sydney beach, Little Bay, will be closed for at least two weeks over asbestos contamination concerns. Authorities have known the presence of asbestos at the site for eight months.
Building boom in Victoria reveals breadth of asbestos waste problem
As Victoria recovers from COVID lockdowns and business limitations, the construction industry is booming. With the increase in building activity, comes a new challenge – how to deal with the
Asbestos support organisation at a loss after Return to Work SA cuts funding
The Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia, which provides assistance to victims of asbestos-related diseases, is in shock after funding for the project was slashed without warning. President of ADSSA,
Calls for ban on stone bench tops amid ‘spiralling’ silicosis rates
Australia’s National Dust Diseases Taskforce, established two years ago to combat the rising levels of silicosis among workers in construction and home renovation industries, is considering a ban on artificial
Victoria’s silicosis rates increasing, fast-tracked compensation available
WorkSafe Victoria has confirmed that claims relating to silicosis from working with artificial stone are continuing to climb in the state, with the numbers renewing calls for greater screening for
Cyclone-affected Western Australian residents warned of asbestos risks
Residents of cyclone-hit Kalbarri are facing a new threat as they begin the mammoth task of cleaning up after Cyclone Seroja. The damage caused by the cyclone has revealed the
40,000 cubic metres of asbestos remediated at Morwell Power site
The former Morwell Power Station site has finalised its remediation of the Energy Brix demolition project, and control of the site has been handed to the Victorian Government. The Department
Fraser Coast latest site of illegally dumped asbestos
A Queensland council is counting the cost of an urgent clean up after illegal asbestos was dumped at Nikenbah, on the Fraser Coast. The material was left at the Nikenbah
Illegal asbestos dumping on the rise in regional New Zealand
Ratepayers in a New Zealand council area are facing a significant clean-up bill after a dump of asbestos and building waste was found at the Waimakariri River. Zone delivery lead
Asbestos material found in Adelaide kindergarten playground
A four-year-old child has potentially been exposed to asbestos material within mulch on a playground in an Adelaide kindergarten. The suspected exposure took place on the 23 of March when
The importance of indoor air quality in aged care homes
Close to a year since more than 200 scientists shared their concerns over COVID-19 transmission via airborne particles, experts are calling for greater monitoring and controls in air quality control
Truck driver to pay more than $145K over acid spill
A Victorian truck driver has been hit with a $50,000 fine and ordered to pay $95,000 for the clean-up after he drove away from the site of a sulphuric acid
UK waste contractor jailed for more than two years over illegal disposal
A Welsh contractor has been jailed for two years and three months after he was found to have illegally disposed of 100,000 tonnes of waste at a quarry in Somerset,
Renovators urged to reconsider artificial stone bench tops
Australia’s current housing boom is fuelling a similar uptick in renovations around the country, with calls from builders urging homeowners undertaking renovations to consider using alternatives to artificial stone. Artificial
Painter shocked after asbestos contamination
A New Zealand house painter completing work for a customer has been left in shock and potentially facing severe health issues after his goodwill gesture took a turn for the
Queensland produce company fined $150,000 over crush fatality
A Queensland produce company has appeared in the Bowen Magistrates Court over an incident in 2019 that resulted in the death of a worker. In March of 2019, the worker
WorkSafe NSW under fire for failing to attend sites of ‘major incidents’
Construction industry veterans have claimed that the NSW safety regulator is failing to attend significant workplace incidents, with confidential reports that there have been at least six incidents where a
Residents of regional Tasmanian town furious over illegal asbestos dumping
Residents in Tasmania’s Burnie are furious over the alleged illegal dumping of asbestos-containing material, which a local resident discovered. Testing of the material was undertaken by specialists and confirmed the
Worker in a serious condition after incident with slasher
A worker has spent the Easter long weekend in hospital after a workplace incident where he was run over by a tractor in a small town in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley
Major fines over “blatant disregard for safety”
A Melbourne business, Timberwood Panels Pty Ltd, and its director Iain Agyeman, have appeared in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on two counts of failing to provide or maintain safe systems
Safety alert after incident that resulted in amputation
WorkSafe Victoria has issued a safety alert following an incident at a mine site that saw an employee seriously injured during a mobile conveyer’s maintenance. The alert is specific to
Hay processing company fined over double amputation incident
SafeWork SA has prosecuted a South Australian hay processing and exporting company after an incident that saw a company employee lose both his legs below the knee in a hay
Worker’s fingers sawn off in workplace accident
A worker has been rushed to hospital after a workplace incident in Kiama on NSW’s south coast. The worker, in his 60s, was using a table saw at a property