PM defends his support of asbestos industry

[CDNBear]

If we 'relabel' and keep our mouths shut it another marketplace just opened up, should problems arise, just blame it in the radiation, ... and vice-versa should the opportunity arise.

(in part)
Associated Press= SENDAI, Japan (AP) — Inside the chunks of slate and wallboard smashed and scattered by Japan's tsunami hides a health risk that has been overshadowed by contamination from a leaking nuclear plant: the odorless and nearly invisible threat of asbestos.
Activists have found the cancer-causing, fibrous material in the air and debris collected from the devastated northeastern coast.
Levels in the air remain within Japan's safety range but are expected to rise significantly once cranes and cleanup crews begin their work in earnest, scraping and shaking loose the minuscule, white fibers from insulation and fireproofing layers.

Asbestos, Japan tsunami's other hidden danger | World news | guardian.co.uk

Is there a date stamp on that asbestos?

I'm not sure how many medical professionals it takes to bring home the message about the dangers of chrysotile asbestos. It seems like every time some doctor enforces the message 10 lobby groups pop up to shoot him down. I only have to look to my hometown to see the dangers of this mineral. Chrysotile was mined on the Baie Verte peninsula for years until Dr. Irving J. Selikoff published a report exposing the occupational health risks of mining and milling the ore. Of the 485 people he examined in 1977, 10% had asbestos related diseases. As the years passed it became clear that more and more workers would suffer the affects of inhaling the carcinogenic fibres. The cancer rate on the peninsula far exceeds the national rate. Today the Baie Verte Mining Registry is attempting to study the medical history of these miners to assess the long term affects of exposure to asbestos.

Not to mention the tailings left behind that continues to throw dust around whenever the wind picks up. The local ponds and lakes are contaminated with the stuff.

So yeah Harper, you are pushing a dangerous product the medical world condemns. What a hero. C'mon Jack, give this guy the boot.

Is it just a regional issue with safe work environments?

I've worked in all manner of facilities, from handling isocyanates, to explosives. I have three letters for people that work with hazardous material, PPE.

Look them up.

 

[Praxius]

Yep, for cheap tricks, people can ignore the major difference between chrysotile asbestos and crocidolite asbestos.

Then they'd have to ignore the fact that what is being made from the asbestos Canada sells, are solidified parts/materials. Not the spun fibre that was the root of the issue with crocidolite asbestos.

But hey, when you need to knock your favourite Nazi, why not through your intellect to the wind.

It doesn't matter what kind of abestos is being talked about, all of it is bad and all of it is a danger to one's health.... if there are alternative products that can be used to replace abestos, why the hell wouldn't one choose them?

Whether they're solidified now, doesn't mean they'll remain completely solidified years down the road and become a serious danger to someone's health.

And sure, if one tries to handle abestos properly and as safely as possible, they might be just fine...... but later down the road when someone decides to replace a mouldy wall or ceiling, or someone comes along and was never told abestos was used in the construction of something, and then exposes themselves to the crap, guess what happens then?

What's the point of taking such a risk when there are many other alternative products that can be used in its place?

That's what I don't get.

 

[CDNBear]

And sure, if one tries to handle abestos properly and as safely as possible, they might be just fine...... but later down the road when someone decides to replace a mouldy wall or ceiling, or someone comes along and was never told abestos was used in the construction of something, and then exposes themselves to the crap, guess what happens then?

Why does this argument always come down to insulation? That is but one of a thousand different uses for the stuff. I don't even know if anyone does make insulation out of it anymore.

What's the point of taking such a risk when there are many other alternative products that can be used in its place?

I've built automated jigs for robotic welding. I've tried a number of composite materials to ward off heat degradation to pneumatic cylinders and prevent spatter build up.

Nothing has beat asbestos board. Nothing. When I cut it, I wore my PPE. When I shipped it, I sent an MSDS with it. but the customer already knew what they were getting.

 

[Sparrow]

First of all the PM was just trying to get votes.

Second my father worked 42 yrs, my husband 33 yrs and I worked on the plant also 33 yrs. When my father died he did not have a speck of asbestos in his lungs and hubby and I are in perfect health. What we produce here has been taken off the asbestos list internationally but some thick skulls refuse to accept the change. Come here for yourselves and see how many old mine workers are still alive and well.

 

[CDNBear]

First of all the PM was just trying to get votes.

Second my father worked 42 yrs, my husband 33 yrs and I worked on the plant also 33 yrs. When my father died he did not have a speck of asbestos in his lungs and hubby and I are in perfect health. What we produce here has been taken off the asbestos list internationally but some thick skulls refuse to accept the change. Come here for yourselves and see how many old mine workers are still alive and well.

I bet people wore their PPE eh Sparrow?

 

[MHz]

What's the point of taking such a risk when .......

That's what I don't get.

Calculate the tonnage left in the ground, add that into the economy of the 'town(s)' where the raw product is. The legality might explain the way it is shipped, raw means it is off Canadian soil ASAP rather than making that 'town' create a final product that is stable even when being 'destroyed'. I'm pretty sure the members of the town would sell it to 'other Canadians' while finding alternatives for themselves.

Perhaps in some kiln dried clay product that has the ................... never mind..... hemp for that.

How about putting it into the spec for the concrete used in N power facilities, you know the ones that fall apart on the very first ****ing explosion. this you already start off with a product that is the 'ace of spades' if you want to live 'under the volcano' might as well make it a deadly one.

 

[petros]

Safely mined Canadian uranium has never killed anyone why would asbestos?

 

[mt_pockets1000]

First of all the PM was just trying to get votes.

Second my father worked 42 yrs, my husband 33 yrs and I worked on the plant also 33 yrs. When my father died he did not have a speck of asbestos in his lungs and hubby and I are in perfect health. What we produce here has been taken off the asbestos list internationally but some thick skulls refuse to accept the change. Come here for yourselves and see how many old mine workers are still alive and well.

I'm happy for you and your family. You are some of the lucky ones. My father worked the asbestos mine for nearly 20 years. He's now 73 and healthy as a racehorse. Some people can eat this stuff and still be ok. Not so lucky for my father-in-law.

I have no doubt the product you're producing is done in a safe manner and I'm sure the workers are wearing personal protective equipment like they should. I also realize this industry is important to you, your family and friends and without it you would be forced to find employment elsewhere. But hey, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the dangers associated with asbestos. A simple search on google is all I need.

Is it just a regional issue with safe work environments?

I've worked in all manner of facilities, from handling isocyanates, to explosives. I have three letters for people that work with hazardous material, PPE.

Look them up.

At the time yes. You know yourself that safe work practices were not a high priority in the 70's. But those tailings. All the safe work practices in the world can't stop that stuff from blowing around.

I have a bag of personal protective equipment at my workplace for those exciting trips to the oilsands. Got anymore job related acronyms you can throw at me?

 

[taxslave]

More people die in car accidents than die from asbestos so why do we not ban cars?
Part of our business is asbestos removal and the rules are quite strict. except at the disposal end which has been a cash cow for the regional district dump. They simply dig a hole in the existing part of the dump and burry the stuff and charge about three times what regular garbage costs. The problem is that this is what happens to legitimate contractors but joe homeowner and the fly by nighters are free to take their asbestos laden drywall to the drywall recycling depot without any testing or proof that it is asbestos free and drop it off for a fraction of the price. Insurance companies are complicit in this as they will always go with the low bidder without proof of proper disposal or work procedures. The last one that I am aware of was done for about 10% of our bid. An out of towner hired a crew from Labour Unlimited, said take that drywall off, put it in that bin and call this number for the truck to pick it up when you are done. That was about a year ago and so far I have not heard of WorksafeBC charging anyone. The insurance company? Said it was not their responsibility.

 

[mentalfloss]

More people die in car accidents than die from asbestos so why do we not ban cars?

You seriously used that equivocation?