Document nkN0gMV9B05B6kgy2bMbRxZGa

WINDSOR STAB February 14, 1980 Bendix claims dismissed By Sheila McGovern Star labor Reporter DETROIT - The Work men's Compensation Board of Ontario has dismhscd 10 of the 16 claims for compcnration Hied on behalf of Bendix of Canada workers who reportedly are wlTcSing or he *e died ofcancer. At a preae briefing here this morning, John O'Hara, wtpresident of industrial rtia* tionr for Bendix. announced ihe diamisaaIs and argwd no. proof has been nica the' workers* iHneaa is Aractljr related to working with asbestoa. UAW local 195. which represents the workers. *r|un the cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos used in brake linings manufactured at the company's Argyle Road and Prince Road plants. O'Hsre said he had no names for the cases dismissed nor no explsnaiion of the beib on which the WCB made Hs rulings. A WCB spokesman con firmed'that 16 of Ihe cam had been disallowed but said ha would provide q further information until the families of the css involved had been (unified. Howler, b said some of ihe lOcuses *ti> dismissed bccau cancer *J not involved He said h would provide niore inform, (ion next week. The union h* submittedthree more casesi. (he WCB for compensation meaning that nine rases an still under WCB review. However. O'Hare said, "wi recogniet asbestos is a pole* (rally harmful substance" an< the company "will conllnut learning as much aa we cas about It and how to further improve our control meth ods." CONTINUED on Page 4 Bendix claims (C--tlwoed tnm Page Owe) O'Hare said thacompany is committed to discontinuethe use of asbestos "as aoon as possible." but did not indi cate when Ihst would be. He also admitttd the com pany had failed to comply with all the conditions of a 1966 Ontario government order which directed the comptny to cease certain practices and institute certain controls. "Unfortunately, my review of the directives and our sub* sequent actions indicates that hi d>d not respond timely or completely to thg, directive. We Cannot explain how this happened or excuse it," he said. O'Hare argued the plants hove always been within Ontario ministry of health guidelines on all air sampling ints and in the majority, were below 50 per cent of the min* 1 iitry'S two fibres per cubKJ centimetre guideline. However, the company announced number of new measures to improve safety . which include providing pulmonary function tests for all employees annually, vacu uming of all brake shoes before use in assembly opera-' tions to remove any loose fibre*, more strict enforee( men* of Ihe rule egeinat aet* ina. smokine usd drinking in Abe*owsensitive trite, arranging to sponsor amok* ing'*ithdn*ai clinics for employees, and undertaking formal education programs. O'Hare said in order to obtain "mors conclusive findings oh cause and efTect relationships in worker expo* sure to asbestos at our Win* tlsor facilities, the company . wiltcommisavonastudybyan \ independent research orfantwtron.* Tuesday of thh week Ben* dix announced it was rioting and selling its Argyle Road plant, putting 65 of 85 work ers outofajob- The company said the plant was uneconomic and that the closing was not connected with the asbestos-cancer controversy. WCB Information officer John Hastings said > thJs morning ths cases were re jected because none fell within the WCB's guidelines for warding claims. Some .had not worked at Bendix Ipng enough, or got esneer sooner than would be expected if asbestos was the cause, he said. Hasting* said in order to get an award lor asbestos-caused lung canter, a worker has to be exposed extensively to asbestos dust at work for 10 tears, and lung cancer must be diagnosed 10 years after first exposure The reason for the 20->ear `'incubation" period is that the WCB believes it takes 20 years for cancer toshow itself, after asbestos exposure. Some other authorities dis agree. Hatting* said none of the 10 Benda coses could be proven io foil within the guideline*. Two or the 10 could not be fully investigated because the deceased workers' next of kin couldn't be found. He said they may yet be investigated if a family member can be located. Hastings said the WCB investigated (he cases for asbestosis. a lung-scarring disease, as well at lung can cer. "We looked at all the possi bilities, "he said. - All the rejected cases'em be' appealed and possibly re-