The danger that ACM’s (Asbestos Containing Materials) pose to public health

A case study that serves as a sobering reminder of the ever-present danger that ACM’s (Asbestos Containing Materials) pose to public health that, unfortunately, will linger for generations to come...

In the early 1970’s the power industry in the Latrobe Valley was booming. Mr Tomkins joined around 1,000 other contractors on site at the time, to assist in the construction of the then new Yallourn W Power Station. 

What Mr Tomkins and other workers at the site did not realise was that their job exposed them to asbestos on a daily basis. 

"The laggers would go in and put the insulation on the pipes, and we would come in and coat them with sheet metal," he said. 

"You had a lot of asbestos dust … we would bring our overalls home, covered in white."

It would not be until 50 years later that Mr Tomkins and his family would discover the damage caused by this exposure. 

More than a decade ago, Mr Tomkins and his family started to monitor his condition by getting regular lung compression testing.  About three years ago, Mr Tomkins said he started to develop a cough that would not go away and soon found himself not able to walk to the front gate. A CT scan and a biopsy would later confirm Mr Tomkins had mesothelioma. 

140,000 workers were exposed to asbestos between the 1920s and the 1980s in the Latrobe Valley.

Disturbingly, a 2009 study by Monash University found that former power workers in the Latrobe Valley were contracting mesothelioma at a rate seven times the national average.

"We might have banned it 20 years ago, but we've got 6.5 million tonnes in the community still there and it's all well past its use-by date. The equivalent of 100 times the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge — from buildings across the country." "We can't keep passing it onto the next generation -it is the elephant in the room".

Although the numbers had been expected to drop, about 4,000 people still die each year in Australia from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer - That's about three times the national road toll!

According to the latest phase of an Asbestos National strategic plan (2024-2030), there's an increasing threat of exposure because these products are now breaking down, with the growing frequency of extreme weather events adding another layer of risk of airborne fibres.

HAZCON makes a significant contribution to rid our community of the Asbestos curse, training students for the nationally accredited qualifications of:

• Removing Friable Asbestos
• Remove Non-friable Asbestos
• Asbestos Removal Supervisor

HAZCON delivers non-accredited courses in Asbestos Awareness. 

Additionally, in accordance with WorkSafe mandates, Refresher training for Class A and B removal licence holders.

To learn more about ACM related training, check our website (hazcon.com.au) or call 1800 429 266.