Hotline Summer 2010  Official Opposition Labour Critic Raj Chouhan called upon the BC Liberal government this spring to establish an “Asbestos Registry” in response to the needs of workers who suffer exposure to this deadly contaminate during the course of their workday.
With BC’s Workers Compen-sation Board reporting increasing rates of asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer in the generation of workers who were exposed before the lethal effects of asbestos were widely known and acknowledged, Chouhan called upon the Minister of Labour to “create a registry of locations, facilities and buildings where asbestos is present so workers aren’t walking blindly into dangerous situations”. Local 258 President Michelle Laurie welcomes the call for an asbestos registry. “I urge the BC Liberal government to implement the recommendation for an Asbestos Registry as an important step in meeting the needs of workers in BC today. What we do know is that statistics on occupational deaths resulting from asbestos exposure are daunting – and the effects on these workers and their families is devastating,” said Laurie. “With the prolonged latency period before any of these fatal diseases are diagnosed, what we are seeing now is the result of exposures from 20 or 30 years ago. If we can help today’s generation of workers, there doesn’t seem to be any question - we should do this now.” Trades people suffer from a disproportionate rate of exposure to asbestos in their work lives. This leads to extra-ordinarily high death rates from asbestos related diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, laryngeal cancer, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and other diseases. Reports estimate that 300 BC construction workers will die of asbestos-related diseases each year for the next 5 years, for a minimum of 1,500 deaths. Labour Minister Murray Coell responded he will take Chouhan’s request “under advisement and will give it consideration”. BC Compared to Canada • Ontario Ministry of Labour has an “Asbestos Workers Registry”. • The Newfoundland and Labrador government have set up a registry of former miners who worked at the abandoned Baie Verte asbestos mine. • Saskatchewan employers have a clear obligation around asbestos management and transparency that is outline in the Occupational Health and Safety 1996 Act, in regulation 334. • Similarly, Quebec and Manitoba outline clear obligations on employers under their respective workers safety and regulation Acts to identify asbestos in the workplace, buildings facilities, etc. | 
