Canadians Say British Columbia Often Ignores Asbestos Safety

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Proponents of a ban on asbestos, as well as individuals simply concerned about public safety, say that British Columbia’s Work-SafeBC isn’t being tough enough on repeat offenders who are consistently charged with violations of asbestos handling laws.
An article in the Vancouver Sun points out that in the last three years, the agency has issued nearly 2,500 orders against construction companies that violate regulations that are put in place to protect their employees (and others) from asbestos exposure. Data shows that 59 penalties and nearly a half-million dollars in fines were imposed on the law-breakers, yet repeat offenses continue. That’s because, many say, the province – beyond warnings and fines - just isn’t tough enough on those who break the rules.

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South Australian Town a Lingering Asbestos Wasteland

Terowie, Australia - A small town in South Australia says they’ve been an asbestos wasteland for long enough and are appealing to the government to remove the debris they say is having a negative effect on the health of everyone who lives there.
A story aired by the Australian Broadcast Company outlines the plight of the town of Terowie, where there sits a legal asbestos dump that’s been festering for decades, say residents. The site is owned by the South Australian government, they note, but there’s no fence around it and not even any warning signs.
Unfortunately, a playground and school sit downwind from the dump, and residents say particles from friable asbestos in the dump often blow in the direction of where children are playing.
One resident, who’s lived in Terowie for 2 years, describes the mess.
“I walked down to the southern rail yards and saw just the massive asbestos down there,” said Dave Perron. “It blew me away that it had been there for so long and nobody had bothered to clean it up. The ground is just covered with broken up fragments of asbestos. It extends for well over 200 meters from the bottom of the southern platform to up at the cemetery.”
Locals say that Terowie wasn’t always a “forgotten town”. It was once a thriving railway stop, they explain, and served as a staging area for Allied Forces during World War II. It was visited by Douglas MacArthur, they state, proudly.
But when the train station was closed and then demolished in the early 1970s and the asbestos wreckage left behind, the town’s popularity waned and no one ever bothered to come back and remove the debris. Asbestos roof shingles and sheeting and other small pieces of the material remain at the dumpsite and can be found along a popular walking trail, says Perron.
“I have young grandchildren who want to come over here and explore the buildings, the old train station and the old train line,” he said. “To do that they have to walk on this asbestos. I won't allow them here because I don't want my grandchildren in 30 years time to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.”
Some individuals who’ve lived in the town for years are already suffering from asbestosis and other respiratory problems. Those people have vowed to fight until the South Australian government commences a clean-up project. So far, they’ve made little progress.

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