1,700 silicosis patients in 3 districts of Indore division

 More than 1,700 silicosis patients were found in three districts of Indore division in which 503 have already succumbed to the disease, claimed a voluntary organisation Read More:

Most occupational injury and illness costs are paid by the government and private payers

UC Davis researchers have found that workers' compensation insurance is not used nearly as much as it should be to cover the nation's multi-billion dollar price tag for workplace illnesses and injuries. Instead, almost 80 percent of these costs are paid by employer-provided health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other disability funds, employees and other payers.Read More:

Import ban fails to curb asbestos danger

BEIRUT: Known for its stunning beaches, the Batroun town of Shekka has a less pristine past that might still be killing its residents. Until 2000, Shekka housed the Eternit Company, the country’s biggest importer of the carcinogen asbestos. In 1998, Lebanon banned imports of most types of asbestos – but it didn’t ban selling or using what was already here. Experts have said that asbestos still poses a serious health risk, both in Shekka and across the country. Read More:

Study: Safety inspections don't hurt profits but save workers life

While businesses bemoan the cost of regulations, a new study suggests that government enforcement of workplace health and safety rules can save lives without sapping a company's bottom line. The findings come from a decade-long look at hundreds of California work sites subject to random safety inspections. Researchers found that 9.4 percent of those companies reduced their injury claims with no discernible impact on profits. Read More:

Britain's waste: Now it's coming back to haunt us

 A GPB 300m criminal trade that smuggled rubbish out of the UK is so toxic that the trash is being sent home. Cahal Milmo saw it finish its journey from Jakarta to Felixstowe.Read More:

Asbestos Protests in India

On Tuesday (May 22, 2012) 500 Indian villagers in Odisha, India's 9th largest state, mounted a highly visible march and demonstration against plans by Vishwakarma Asbestos Ltd. to build an asbestos factory in the Sohella area of Bargarh district. Read more:

Ban Mining In Ghana

People living in mining communities in Ghana have called for a total ban on mining because their lives have worsened since mining operations began in their respective communities. Read More:

Overdue Baie Verte asbestos miner registry coming soon - Nfld. & Labrador - CBC News

 A project to set up a registry of workers exposed to asbestos at a Baie Verte Peninsula mine — which some miners and their union hope will ultimately lead to more former workers receiving compensation — is long overdue. Read More:

Government not tracking removal of cancer-causing asbestos from federal buildings- Canada

OTTAWA — The federal government says it doesn't actively keep track of projects to remove asbestos from infrastructure, despite owning 318 buildings that contain the cancer-causing substance, according to a recently compiled list from Public Works and Government Services Canada. Read More:

Malaysian children as young as 12 getting hearing impaired

 Private hearing care centre Bay Audio Malaysia tested about 4,000 Malaysians at roadshows since January and discovered that one-third of people who took a five-minute hearing test showed hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. Read More:

Illegal mining still rampant in Aravallis, 40 lives lost in Alwar region - The Times of India

ALWAR: Illegal mining on Aravali hills has not only raised environmental concerns, but also resulted in huge loss of human lives in the state. As per the records made public in the state assembly recently, 40 people have lost their lives due to illegal mining in Mewat's Alwar region over a three years' period. Read More:

Electronic waste rules: In letter, but without spirit | India Insight

The second largest electronic waste-producing state in the country — Tamil Nadu (responsible for 13 percent of the total waste produced in India) — has only one recycler for the entire state. Other states face similar problems. Read More:

India activists hail mining firm’s loss of UK award

Welcoming the BSC decision, Prafula Samantara, convener of the National Alliances of Peoples’ Movements, wondered how a firm that he alleged was looting natural resources and tribal people could be chosen for the award and invited to an event billed as the Oscars of health and safety measures. Read More:

Canadian Unions Say No to Sending Deadly Asbestos Overseas

Canadian Unions Say No to Sending Deadly Asbestos Overseas: In a overwhelming voice vote today, representatives of the 300,000-member Confederation of National Trade Unions voted against the planned expansion of Canada's last asbestos mine in the town of Asbestos, Quebec, union communications director Michelle Filteau told AOL News.

Report finds major lapses in the implementation of labour laws on occupational health

Read More: A just-released report, “Invisible Victims of Development – Workers’ Safety and Health in Asia” regrets that more than 90% of the Indian labour force (own account workers, the workers in power consuming enterprises with less than ten workers and non- power consuming enterprises with less than 20 workers) fall outside the purview of the Factory Act – and the agate workers of Gujarat are no exception. Report, prepared for the Asia Monitor Resource Center, Hong Kong, regrets, “The agate workers, who cut, grind, polish and carve agate stones into ornamental items either at their homes or in small sweatshops are exposed to silica dust causing high incidence of various lung diseases, as serious as silicosis. They are not covered under any act.”

27% of India’s doctors exist only on paper - The Times of India

Read More: 27% of India’s doctors exist only on paper. Strange but True!!!

Watchdog wants licence put on hold

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Industry Ministry to temporarily suspend the issuing of a mining licence to a potash mining company in Udon Thani. Read More:

Of mines, minerals and tribal rights

The proposed liberalisation of the mining and minerals sector is an assault on the rightful owners of the land and its resources. Read More:

BWI: Goodbye and Good Riddance! Notorious Asbestos Institute Closes Down

Canadian NDP Member of Parliament Pat Martin — a longtime critic of the asbestos industry and former asbestos miner himself — said the closing of the institute signals the "death knell" of asbestos mining in Canada. "I see it as a real tipping point in the movement to get Canada out of the asbestos industry," Martin said. "It's just another demonstration of the death rattle of the asbestos industry in this country." He said he first learned of the institute's intention to dissolve Saturday, International Workers' Memorial Day — the annual day of commemoration for workers injured and killed around the globe. Read More:

Prevent Cancer Now - It’s time for McGill to stop colluding with the asbestos industry

 It is surely long overdue for McGill to hold an independent, transparent, thorough inquiry of the allegations of improper influence of the asbestos industry over the work of Prof. McDonald. It is surely long overdue for McGill to end its collusion with the asbestos industry. As Prof. Fernand Turcotte, professor emeritus of Public Health and Preventive Medicine with Laval University’s Faculty of Medicine, states “McGill has to make it universally known that it in no way supports the propaganda efforts of the industry and that under no circumstances should the peddlers of asbestos go around the world saying that they are supported in their statements by McGill University (research).”Read More:

The long, lethal shadow of asbestos

The long, lethal shadow of asbestos: At one point earlier this year, 15 of the 100 most expensive keyword search phrases for click-through ads on Google contained the word "mesothelioma," the deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The single most expensive phrase, online marketing firm SpyFu reported, was "Florida mesothelioma lawyers," at $177.74 per click

Trust deficit?

Trust deficit: The ministry of environment and forests is seeking judicial reprieve against the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) order of April 9, 2012 asking the ministry to make public the report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP). In its order, the CIC has noted “if such reports are put in public domain, citizens’ views and concerns can be articulated in a scientific and reasonable manner. If the government has reasons to ignore the reports, these should logically be put before people. Otherwise, citizens would believe that the government’s decisions are arbitrary or corrupt. Such a trust deficit would never be in the interest of the nation.”

13 American workers die on the job every day

PressTV - 13 American workers die on the job every day: The total of 4,690 Americans who died due to traumatic injuries at work in 2010 represented an increase over the 4,551 deaths reported in 2009, and yielded a rate of fatal injuries for 2010 of 3.6 per 100,000 workers, compared to 3.5 per 100,000 workers in 2009.

China's coal miners still at risk

China's coal miners still at risk - UPI.com: Figures from China's State Administration of Work Safety show there were 1,973 fatalities last year, down from 2,433 in 2010. In the United States, the world's second-largest producer of coal, there were 21 coal miner deaths in 2011.

From India to Appalachia, Coal Is A Human Rights Issue

From India to Appalachia, Coal Is A Human Rights Issue - Compass: “This is a human rights issue. Certain lives are valued differently, are considered expendable for resources.” This was the powerful message that resonated across the first full day of our exchange between India civil society participants and Appalachian community members fighting mountaintop removal coal mining. But it didn't come from one of our Indian guests; it came from Chuck Nelson, a former coal miner who spent 30 years working underground in West Virginia's coal mines.

Walk to find a cure for mesothelioma passes through Merredin, Australia

ABOUT 24 asbestos campaigners stopped in Merredin on Wednesday afternoon as part of their 600-kilometre walk from Kalgoorlie-Boulder to Perth to raise funds to find a cure for mesothelioma. The campaigners included a group of family and friends whose loved ones died after living and working in the WA mining town of Wittenoom in the Pilbara region.

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Safety NGO calls for comprehensive probe on Butuan killer fire

A safety NGO on Wednesday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to conduct a comprehnsive probe on a fire which killed 18 workers and injured 2 more. The fire started around 3 in the morning, May 9, 2012 at the Novo Jeans and Shirts department store along Montilla Boulevard, Butuan City. According to news report, there were a total of 22 stay-in female workers when the fire broke-out.

“The regional office of the DoLE must investigate the death of the workers and why they were trapped inside the burning building and prosecute those responsible for the neglect of the workers safety,” said Noel Colina, Executive Director of the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (www.IOHSAD.org). “Rule 1943.03 of the Philippine Occupational Health and Standards (OHSS) outlines the need to have 'at least of 2 exits every floor and basement capable of clearing the work area in five (5) minutes'. There must also be a safety plan in case of fire which the workers should made familiar with.”

“Workplaces remain to be the top killer of workers, with 2.2 M dying annualy across the globe based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates. The DoLE Department Order 57-04, allowing workplaces with 200 or more workers to conduct self-assessment on adherence to labor standards have failed to protect workers,” said Colina.

Colina reiterated the need to improve and add strong penal provision to the existing OHSS. “We should also legislate Industrial Manslaughter to prosecute employers who neglect their duty to protect the health and safety of their workers.”

Supreme Court bans tanker blamed for Alaska oil spill from entering India for dismantling - The Washington Post

Supreme Court bans tanker blamed for Alaska oil spill from entering India for dismantling - The Washington Post: NEW DELHI — India’s Supreme Court has banned the Exxon Valdez from entering India, saying the ship involved in one of the worst U.S. oil spills will not be allowed in for dismantling until it has been decontaminated.

CBI uses UAVs to nail illegal stone mining in MP, India

CBI uses UAVs to nail illegal stone mining in MP | Firstpost: The CBI, which was given the case by the state government in response to the public outcry against the IPS officer’s murder, hired a private UAV to fly over difficult terrain in Morena to gauge the extent of damage that illegal mining had caused. The UAV used high-definition cameras to record the depredations. These pictures, which have spotted huge moon-like craters in Morena, arrived at the CBI headquarters last week.

Apex Court refuses to lift stay on sand mining | Deccan Chronicle

Apex Court refuses to lift stay on sand mining | Deccan Chronicle: The Supreme Court has refused to vacate the stay granted by the AP High Court on sand mining in the state. While dealing with a batch of Special Leave Petitions moved by the state government and others, the apex court directed the state government to approach the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to get clearance for the sand mining in accordance with the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) notification.

115 mining companies operating illegally in forest areas in Indonesia

More than 100 mining companies are operating without licenses in forest areas across 471,000 hectares in Indonesia, reports The Jakarta Post.

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Firms overlook occupational diseases

Firms overlook occupational diseases: Around 170,000 workers are diagnosed with cancer every year, but only 25 on average are classified as patients suffering from a work-related illness, according to a report from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. Compared to developed economies in Europe, the report suggests that Korea lags far behind when it comes to the rate at which cancer is acknowledged as caused by job activities

National Human Rights Commission irate over poor response from states to deal with silicosis - The Times of India

National Human Rights Commission irate over poor response from states to deal with silicosis - The Times of India: NHRC member PC Sharma, after the conclusion of review meetings on silicosis held in New Delhi on Friday, said that states do not appear to be serious about tackling silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused due to inhaling silica. The issue remains a neglected area as they have failed to conduct surveys of industries generating silica and submit a 10-point questionnaire to the commission to assess work done by them. The fact is that no state can claim that there is no mining or an industry which does not generate silica, NHRC members said.

Sure Safety decontaminates 500 ships at Alang in 21 months

Business Line : Industry & Economy / Shipping News : Sure Safety decontaminates 500 ships at Alang in 21 months: AHMEDABAD, MAY 2:� The Vadodara-based industrial safety solutions provider Sure Safety on Wednesday said it has decontaminated 500 ships to protect workers from asbestos exposure at the Alang Ship Recycling Yard in Gujarat during the last 21 months.

Asbestos victims claim some justice in James Hardie ruling

7.30 - ABC: Australia's highest court has found seven directors of former asbestos manufacturer James Hardie guilty of breaches over the company's asbestos compensation fund.

The Environmental Impact of the Manufacturing of Seminconductors

The Environmental Impact of the Manufacturing of Seminconductors: This module gives a brief general overview of semi-conductor manufacturing and some of the components and processes used to produce them that can potentially cause harm to humans or the environment.

A decade of malignant mesothelioma surveillance in Korea - Jung - 2012 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine - Wiley Online Library

Read More: A total of 399 cases of malignant mesothelioma were reported in the last decade, translating to approximately 40 annual cases, and an annual average incidence rate of 0.83 cases per million. Of the 152 patients interviewed by occupational physicians, 56 had occupational asbestos exposure histories (36.8%). Their occupations and industries included construction (19.7%), automobile repair (5.9%), asbestos textile, shipbuilding and repair, refinery work, boiler making, and asbestos cement work. Another 31 patients had environmental asbestos exposure histories.

3 Gandhinagar units under lens for health hazards - Indian Express

3 Gandhinagar units under lens for health hazards - Indian Express: All employees handling polyacrylate material at three industrial units in Gandhinagar district must be sent to the National Institute of Occupational Health for a complete health check-up, amicus curiae Shalin N Mehta has told the Gujarat High Court.

The Rise and Fall of the Chrysotile Institute

The Chrysotile Institute (CI), formerly known as the Asbestos Institute, surrendered its charter to the Ministry of Industry on April 5, 2012.1 This took place 5 days after its suite of offices at 1200 McGill College in downtown Montreal had been vacated. According to the Assistant Building Manager, the CI had occupied suite 1640 for at least 15 years. When the lease ran out, the office was shut and three people were put out of work. They left no forwarding address or phone number; calls made to the phone number on their website and emails sent to the CI website go unanswered.

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E-waste norms rolled out but are we prepared? - Hindustan Times

Come Tuesday, you will not be allowed to chuck your old phones, printer cartridges and television sets in municipal bins. This new rule, however, may put any law-abiding citizen in a fix because the designated centres, where they are actually meant to dispose of the e-waste, have not come up in most cities.

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Optimizing Health Care Delivery by Integrating Workplace Health Programs | EHS Today

"The workplace is organically connected to the home and to the physical communities in which workplaces exist," the authors wrote. "Individuals do not leave the impacts of their personal health risks on the doorstep when they leave for work just as they cannot leave the impacts of their workplace exposures when they return home. Health behaviors extend across multiple environments and cannot be artificially separated."
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Workplace deaths underestimated by 800%, claims Unite

Trade union Unite has accused the Government of “hiding behind statistics”, as workplace deaths are underestimated by more than 800%.

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World Day for Safety and Health Puts Spotlight on workers health

WHO Thailand Home: In collaboration with the International Labour Organization, intergovernmental organizations and civil society, WHO is actively working towards the elimination of asbestos-related diseases. The most effective way to eliminate asbestos related diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos. Raising awareness about the harmful effects of asbestos is part of an international campaign intended to focus attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide

Activists call for asbestos inquiry - Sarnia This Week - Ontario, CA

Activists call for asbestos inquiry - Sarnia This Week - Ontario, CA: Cattran and her sister, Leah Nielsen, organized the Walk to Remember Victims of Asbestos last year. They became active in the fight to have the cancer causing agent banned completely, including exporting it to the Third World, after their father died of methsothelioma caused by asbestos exposure in his job as an electrician at the local plants