The legacy of disease from working with and exposure to asbestos in New
Zealand is continuing. Exposure is now largely confined to brake repairers, lino
removers, demolition workers, carpenters, electrical, plumbing and building
maintenance workers, and asbestos removal workers.
Worldwide, asbestos exposure still occurs
at a high level; and there are a number
of lessons than can be
learned as a result.
Firstly, there continues to be a general lack of awareness of the effects of inhaling dust at work, regardless of the type of dust. Secondly, too great an emphasis has been put on whether or not dust is a danger to health. Concepts that cement dust is safe and silica dust is unsafe; or blue asbestos is worse than white asbestos, have distracted governments from the real issue of dirty workplace air
http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/asbestos-registers-national-annual-reports/asbestos-exposure-annual-report-2010.pdf
Firstly, there continues to be a general lack of awareness of the effects of inhaling dust at work, regardless of the type of dust. Secondly, too great an emphasis has been put on whether or not dust is a danger to health. Concepts that cement dust is safe and silica dust is unsafe; or blue asbestos is worse than white asbestos, have distracted governments from the real issue of dirty workplace air
http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/asbestos-registers-national-annual-reports/asbestos-exposure-annual-report-2010.pdf