Document vqapmo3XYK4bV8DGz5d9KbY8

FILE NAME: Allied Signal Bendix (ASB) DATE: 1980 Aug DOC#: ASB028 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Article RE Bendix & Asbestos NEWS IN BRIEF From: At the Source (O n t.Federation o f Labour) AUG.1930 Asbestos -- Bendix Windsor, June 1980 Two Bendix workers have been award ed compensation tor cancer attribut able to the asbestos they were exposed to at work. One, Tommy Dunn, had worked at Bendix only 11 Vi years. His case had attracted a great deal of media attention. So far these two are the only ones of the nineteen filed which have been awarded. Two are still pending. Seven others are being appealed by the Ontario Federation of Labour on behalf of Local 195, UAW. The tragedy of the whole situation at Bendix is that it is unnecessary. If , Ministry of Labour recommendations made in 1966 had been acted on then, ` perhaps none of the deaths would have occurred. I Who said that? "Existing guidelines for controlling exposure to asbestos in the occupa tional setting have been developed to control the development of asbesfos/s, rather than cancer. Occupational limits for asbestos in the Province and all other jurisdictions with similar control strategies have been based upon epi demiological studies relating solely to this form of lung fibrosis." Asbestos In Public Buildings Ontario Ministry of Labour Occu pational Health and Safety D ivi sion. March 26. 1980. p.I.I. /'/Je.' '.ite No r7i;sf p ro b le m here Tew (pxMT t ** U N tw rt S*v*c Asbestos London, England, June 1980 The British Advisory Committee on Asbestos has made three recommen dations to Britain's Health and Safety Executive with respect to asbestos: 1) substitute safe products for asbes tos where possible 2) establish standards based on type of asbestos --If/cc for white asbestos (chrysotile) 5f/cc for brown asbestos (amosite) stronger voluntary ban on blue asbestos (crocidolite). 3) reduce all overall exposure. These recommendations are based on the belief that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos and that all the best standards can do is minimize risk. WORKMENS COMPENSATION BOARD Below are the Ontario WCB figures on workplace deaths, both due to acci dents and industrial disease (those which the WCB recognizes) for the past three years. Total Deaths Traumatic Injury Industrial Disease 1977 1978 1979 228 226 263 185 184 209 43 42 54 Farewell to Our Friends It is with great sadness that this month, will lie missed for Uranium Miners Elliot Lake, May 1980 After more than a year of pressure from the USWA, the federal govern the Centre says goodbye to Mary Morison and Dr. John Marshall lier extensive knowledge of toxic substances and her com ment finally announced this month that uranium minors would be covered Mary and |ohn were greatly mitment to women worker's prob by the provisions of Bill 70 by referent e responsible tor the development lems. She made an invaluable under the Canada Labour Code. of the OFL Health and Safety contribution to the Centre in ini According to Paul Falkowski, Safety Manual. |ohn Marshall pro tiating and editing At the and Health Coordinator. District 6 of duced the original audio-visual Source' and developing many of the USWA, this may prove to be a shal materials used by the Centre our teaching programmes. low victoiy. Bill 70 is a provincial law |ohn left our staff last We wish |ohn well, as he takes and can never take precedence over September, but he has continued up his residency in surgery in federal law --in this c ase the Canada to help with the development Halifax and we know that Mary Labour Code --where the two may be of now materials and lias been will continue her tine work in in conflict (eg. right to refuse provi consulted by many union health and safety. We can say to sions). A tar better alternative, accord groups over the past year, for our union brothers and sisters in ing to the Steelworkers, would have his expertise in health and Nova Scotia and the Maritimes, been to cover the workers by referenc e i safety. you have two good friends join to Bill 70 under the Atomic tnergy Mary, who leaves our staff ing you from away". Control Act where no conflict with existing provisions would occur. t