Document 85DX2VaKNg5wY2oa2RQEkpkV5
FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR
DATE 1961
DOC CSR085
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter from the Undersecretary for Mines with Summary of Action being Taken and Proposed to be
Taken at Wittenoom
"
Ns
THE HON MINISTER
a0
F
As
I have
recently advised
both our Department
to the
have been concerned in regard
and the Health Department Wittenoom Gorge We recently called
incidence of Asbestosis at
of both Departments and the
a conference of raenpdreasednitgaetsitveosf the proceedings appears in the
mSitnaitengMicnoimnpganEyngineer's minute hereunder ,
To summarise action being taken and proposed to be
taken I would advise as follows
1
has arranged that the method of dust control
The Company will be examined by Gregory and Co.
in the plant
and that any further chang
specialists
in
dust
handling this
examination will
be
under
to be made as a result of
taken
2
A system of dust records based on konimeter counts will
3
will visit Wittenoom Gorge
ventilation specialists
mine ventilation officers
Our
in
order
to
coach
the
company's
The
Company
has
a
ventlation ventlation
ionfftihceiaulsefuolflytheengkaogendimoentevrentilation work itself
c^i we have recently increased our own
4
As
you
know staff
at
Kalgoorlie
by
the
appointment
of
an
ventilation addition to our Assistant Ventilation c^i
a
Inspector in
enable us to
Inspectors and this is principally
centrate on WittenooM
5
them Our
Senior
Inspector
of
Mines
with
the
ventilation
will visit
officers and District Workmen's Inspector the use of
Wittenoom tvoensteitlaotuitnga epqruoigprmaemnmte taondenfortcheis regard I that Dr. McNulty
secondary
propose
to
ask
the
Health
Department he will
frequently
do
in
might
accompany as
,
I
hope
the future
6 7
that Dr. McNulty
The
Public
Health
Department proposes available as time
medical
within a year be
increased medical
will
and thus provide
officer for mining
investigation at Wittenoom
supervision including clinical
and f^,r will note further back in the file I obtained
As you
the Department of Mines South Africa
information fromin regard to blue asbestos and this has
on its
problems studied
although
it
has
not
greatly
helped
us
also been
blue asbestos countries are
The two major producing and Western Australia
In South Africa of
South Africa the labour is native
is indentured -
course
The labour is replaced
comparatively short periods
from time to time
of the disturbing features has been that
One
after only a limited working
some recent cases have been found cases recently cancer of the
period at Wittenoom and in three
lung has occurred
The Company is like the Government Departments and I think everything
most concerned about the position
possible is being done
will report to you of progress
From time to time I
made
13.10.61 for whi .
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.
13.10.61
whi
a
oy
raw
te
UNDER SECRETARY FOR MINES
a
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Leta eluents Pah
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
104420