Asbestos kills and maims those who work with it and members of the public who are often exposed to it.
In the spring of 1998, the CAW was approached by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) in Windsor regarding its concerns about the health of former Holmes Foundry and Insulation workers in Sarnia. The CAW then initiated a process to investigate the potential health problems of former Holmes workers that might be related to their work exposures. This investigation culminated in a public meeting where 300 former Holmes workers and their families turned out to document their health problems. To date, nearly $25 millions have been awarded to victims and families.
Our top leadership began asking workers throughout the country to examine their workplaces to find out where asbestos may be found (often in ceiling and walls, around pipes and boilers and in building cladding, cement, ceiling tiles and roof tiles), make sure it is identified clearly, wrapped safely, and removed by experienced, qualified personnel. When asbestos becomes friable (crumbly) it can get into the workplace air and breathed in by workers.
There is only one useful thing we can do with asbestos. Ban it. The CAW along with other unions is working towards a worldwide ban. This means switching from asbestos mining, processing and use, to alternative products. It means industrial regeneration to replace deadly jobs with safe and sustainable jobs.
Sari Sairanen is the National Health & Safety Director for the Canadian Auto Workers.
