Document 2JpoB3b5p2prxK02My0NZkybg
FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR
DATE 1963 Sept 18
DOC CSR073
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memo to M.G. King RE A.B.A. Wittenoom Industrial Disease Asbestosis & Silicosis and Current Liability Rate at
Wittenoom
MEMORANDUM TO R.
_o
.
M.G.
M.G.
S..
KING 2
Andra's AndAra'sndra's -
oy
mn mn .
K.co. K.K.ccoo. . Bylin Bylin
my
Bylin
18/9/63
=
A.B.A. WITTENDOM
rom
Industrial Disease Asbestosis
Silicosis
"
*
is
Increasing being Australia prominence Western to the incidence of Asbestosis
basis of Silicosis cases on a regional
indicated indicated work Wittenoom * * lawre ge number of cases due to
given in At the same time
has allegedlindyicated
at
Asbestosis and wats
In 1963 to date 21 cases of
Asbestosis have been attributed to Wittenoom
=
Silico-
2
These 21 cases
cetea
arefigraded bythe
Health Department
in
the
following
way
~
f
of
*
a
1 Asbestosis
-
~
.
,7 4 early Asbestosis
an
a 14 early Asbestosis
2 Silico Asbestosis :
.
Co et
wo
- # vf
yo.{D.
aa!
ain
.
seriousness : The State Government Insurance Office has estimated
the current
to be 18,li0a0bliability0lliablitiy ty forindustrial
disease
cases at
Wittenoom Wittenoom
:
:
of * This liability is arrived at considering the
the 21 cases and also considering the maximum liability..".*
2,400 under the Western Australian Workers Compensation Act of 2
r -
in any one case or 3,000 if death results In the event of (Sie
made already from death payments Wor At
present Government Insurance paying Office a premium Insurance industrial
we are
are deductible
FA
the State
the 3,000 ry
Se Insurance
ey
:
of something in excess of 5,000 per year for
disease insurance cover
In conversation with the
Manager General
informed that
was of the State Government Insurance Office I was"8
the claims experience thispolicy very ;
| bad I was given to understand thathe would attemptto have
thepremium rate increased beyond the present 20 per 100
wages which has been in operation for many years
In further considering our potential liability We
should bear in mind that in N.S.W. there is no limit to the
amount a man may receive by way of weekly compensation for
i silicosis and on his death a desth claim of 4,300 is for
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
PENGAD 104960
dent fees
low
ues
payable in addition to all other payments made to him
The premium rate for industrial disease Silicosis mining
mining 80 cover for a similarmining
100 wages
operation in N.S.W. is
|
per
a Distribution of Industrial Disease Cases
;
It seems that 18 of the total 2 cases can be
attributed and .
to employment in the mine
3 cases to
in = - .
_
employment the -
.
mill .
ote ee. tet
.
.
. ofa .
Prevention of Industriel
Disease
SO. wR
The asbestosis to :
only sure way
prevent
and
silicosis is to reduce the concentration of contaminants
in the air to a reasonable
improving ventilation
e fio gure
This is done by
,
Regular sampling of air at chosen points is
practical a
;
OC
make eT unpopular t:
7
. .
necessary to provide a
proper of
dust trationoe :
&
supplying It is not
: check tph oe u
concen-
*
w.s s LT
-
to think in terms of
7
*
respirators to employees The hot working conditions
respirators
even in the mill
ve
.
General
on
and
-
General Comments Asbestosis silicosis capers Western following .
industrial disease Broadhurst an
TM otoes The
details were given by Dr. Letham 7
Australian Director of
recently discussed
and me
ee
Loe
-
Public Health
with Mr.
a
.
Be
when he Broadhurst ry
Ae? .
.
reeeke: -
Re TERE
" oan
oe}
oie
_
oe 1. A reasonable reading of concentration of
|
.
a
"*
+.
.
cous.)
asbestos in air would be 140 fibres per
danger contracting Above this there is
Above of Asbestosis
:
2.
_
. .
ree
Time taken for a man to be affected by either e |
of the two diseases depends upon the following
factors
"
- concentration of contaminants in the air
this - rate at which a man works the volume of
air he inhales depends on
:
;
red
Ce
Se
1- age
The critical particle size of asbestos is 20 - 30
microns
With silica the critical size is less
than 2 microns
:
:
Asbestosis can cause lung cancer
' ' It is rare for a man to develop asbestosis or
{ silicosis after exposure ceases If this were to happen it would be within one or two years after he had been removed from exposure
In its early stages before breathlessness results
development of asbestosis or silicosis can be -
arrested if the man is removed from exposure At
the stage of breathlessness the condition cannot
. be improved atte
lung 7. Asbestosis develops earlier than Silicosis because
the fibres are deposited in the
passages and
not thelung sacs as with silicosis
8.
as we best done to ....
Air sampling
with midget impinger
such Wittenoom Places sample
aofirthsehomuilndebaenddetmeirlmlined after a careful survey
.
.
<.
18th September 1963
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