Neglect of occupational health and safety results in death, injuries of workers

When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.

“Asbestos-related diseases kill more than 100,000 people annually around the world, and most of the cases are from work exposure. Exposure to asbestos dust is already deadly,” said Colina.

Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure include:
Asbestosis — Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.
Lung Cancer — Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.
Mesothelioma — Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.

Colina shared that legislative proposals have been filed before the Senate and the House of Representatives calling for the total ban of all asbestos use. Only last March 16, the House Committee on Ecology held a meeting on the said proposals, House Bill Nos. 479 and 896. Both bills seek to ban the importation, manufacture, processing, use or distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.

It was the first times the bills were discussed in congress since the 15th Congress opened in July 2010.
IOHSAD is also calling for legislative reforms, specifically a review and revision of the Chemical Control Order (CCO) for Asbestos issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in January 2000.The CCO bans the the use of amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue) asbestos fibers, but it allows the use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials for asbestos roofing felts, cement roofing, cement flat sheet and several other applications.

To popularize the campaign against asbestos, IOHSAD has launched the Asbestos Street Fighters street art competition. It aims to bring together various street artists and anti-asbestos activists across the Philippines to propagate information regarding the dangers of Asbestos to human health.The Asbestos Street Fighters is open to all street artists. Participants are tasked to create a piece interpreting the competition theme “Asbestos Kills People”. Prizes will be awarded to winners.

The theme for the 2011 competition is “Asbestos Kills People”. The group has also set-up the website of the ASF at www.streetversusasbestos.com and is also using www.Facebook.com/Asbestos.Street.Fighters and www.Twitter.com/artvsasbestos to spread the information about the dangers of the deadly dust.