Document XOd27JNBOvqB4o0BdNk09GOZw

mMiEmWE Mining ' Mines of u <f fm. hi W.-4 **p FRICAN WORKERS employed jLa by (he British comptny Turner & A A Newell et their asbestos mines in Zimbibwe ere given inadequate safety protection against the killer dust that can cause incurable asbestosis and cancer. Furthermore, some miners are not even aware that they are at risk. These are among the claims made by employees Interviewed at one of the biggest Turner & Newall asbestos mines in Zimbabwe. The workers alio complained about low wares, laid to be below the minimum figure estimated to be the Poverty Datum Line for workers in the former British colony. And they criticised living conditions at the mine which relies mainly on migrant workers from the neiahbouring countries of Mnaambltiuc and Mnlusvl . The allegations about the health risks to workers at the Turner A Newell mines come at a time when the dangers from asbestos ere egein coming under Increasing scrutiny In Europe end the United .States. .' The KF.C governments agreed on 9 Juna to Introduce legislation within three years to en* sure that workers exposed to ubcitoi are made aware of the hazards. IliitaJn already reaulres employers 10 pass on that Information. Last year die (luvemment's Advisory Committee on Asbestos recommended that the limit forex* posure to the type of asbestu* fibre mined In Zimbabwe should be helved by December 1980. The allegations ebout wages also come at a time when the issue of starvation wages paid by certain Uritish companies to African workers In S.snh Africa hai become an Isua once mix*. Turner A Newall we one of the 33 companies identified as paying some African workers lest tlmn subsistence level. The company docs not mine asbestos In South Africa . Turner A Newall have three aibestoi mines at Shabanl and Mashaba In the south of 21m* bubvee. These produce chrysottta asbestos, lets hazardous than tha deadly blue variety but still dangerous. Several hundred Africans are cm* ployed at the mines. Despite unctions, these turned Into virtual gold-mines for the Manchester-based company. Tn January the company told shareholders that dnee November 1963 these mines had earned profits totalling 13 million before tax. largely as s result of this the British company said their net assets In Zimbabwe were now worth 192 million - against 6 milllon'at the time of UDI. SHABANI: town In the shadow at tellings hup From then until the recent political settlement asbestos users by former employees. Turner A the mines wars run by the local mentpment Newall are among those companies facing liti with no control from Britain. gation concerning asbestos-linked diseases in Workers interviewed recently it (he giant the US. Shabanl mine said they were not aware that tha At Shabaiil many employees and their fibres carried In asbestos dust could damage families have been working and living In this their health and possibly kill them. "No one has hazardous environment fur years. They live in ever told us that." said a miner who has worked company-provided housing around the mine. In at Shebenl for four years. Although working . February, 40 families living in the shadow of a underground, he claimed thtt neither ha nor his closed-down asbestos mine in Arizona were colleagues were provided with the usual protective| moved out and die area proclaimed con respirators, lie had noticed, howaver, that taminated by the state government. Families European oipervisors and engineers wore such were told that merely living close to two giant masks underground. But, he Aid, "If you said anything they would get the police". ' TAN's managing dirtetor Wilfred Newton tips of asbestos tailings had Increased their risk or contracting cancer by at least 10 times. The African homes at Shabani ase dominated vehemently denied that workers were not pro vided with respirators. "That's nonsense," he uld. "The ufety regulations In force follow good mining practice and comply with Inter national standards," Mr Nawton, who hu not visited the mines, uld respirators were provided "where necessary and appropriate*. Ha said ha was "surprised" over the claim by miners that they were not aware of the health hazards. Tha deadllntu of exposure to asbestos fibres hu been known since the 'forties. It can laad to a variety of cancers. Between 1968 and 1977 asbestosis was given u tha causa of ofer 1200 deaths In Britain. Tha figure rose from 80 in 1968to 183 In 1977. Exposura for even a short period to asbestos by grey hills of asbestos tailings from the mine. "Many people complain about difficulties in breathing and pains in the chest," aid a miner. He shrugged hu shoulders when asked what they did about it. "If you cannot work you have to leave, and if you are sick then you don't get paid." he claimed. There is a hospital at the mine and workers are X-rayed. ' Most of the houses at the.Shabani mine have two rooms and a kitchen, without running water or lavatories. Each section Instead has a latrine block and a water pipe. Most families have a house to themselves but bachelor workers have to share accommodation. Wages for underground workers were said to 1 fibres can prova fatal, for then is no ufe level. In March a widow was swarded 27,300 damages In the High Court for tha death of her husband start at Just over I a day for an eight-hour shift. Surface workers a/e paid around 80p a day and average monthly wages were estimated by the from asbesiosis. Ha hid worked et a firm using miners at from 30 to 47. They receive fringe the deadly material for only 18 months some benefits like free housing and medical case but 20 years before his death. Two other workers have received 71,000 end 37,300 In damages deductions are made for svater and also to cover gloves, glasses, overalls and boots. actions this year. Some 1,000 law suits are currently pending In California alone eplnst Even allowing for Use fringe benefits, it would seem (hat TAN miners receive below the Poverty Datum Line of 61.30 estimated rune months ago by the University of Zimbabwe. There are no unions at the mine, "if you start talking about that you are sacked." explained one miner. ' It was not possible to obtain any information about the conditions and wages of the Africans ( ''*'*** fin - Ti- employed at Shabnnt or the olher mines Irnm Turner A Newall in Zimbabsve. The reason given was die still-ex is ling pusi-UDI security regulations. Company secretary Peter I [odder told Priratt t'ye. "There is nothing I can say about lilts". Asked how security designed lo protect sanctions-bustcrs could cuvet infor mation about wages and conditions, he replied: "It Is security os'er information on mining". Ilosvever, Mr Hodder added reassuringly: "We have some very good athletes here". Two years agu, the then Chairman of Turner A Newall, Mr Patrick Griffiths, told shareholders and the Department of Trade, with regard to its South African operations: "Main board directors visit ail overseas companies and keep In close touch with the local boards on matters relating to conditions of employment". Last WARNING: Protection from motorists, but nothing against the dutgen of ssbestos month the current TAN chairman, Stephen Gibbs, visited the mine at Shabanl ifrr: