Asbestos History

British factory safety inspectors express concern about the “evil effects” of asbestos dust.

Royal Commission into working conditions in gold mines in Australia reveals widespread lung disease. Ventilation laws introduced.

First successful claim for compensation by a sick asbestos worker to the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents Board. Over the following three years several hundred further claims filed.

Johns Manvilled Corporation, the world’s largest asbestos mine/manufacturer served with 11 writs by asbestos victims. Claims settled out of court with secrecy order.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in the US finds that half the men working at John Manville plants for more than three years develop lung disease.

Inspector of Factories and Shops in Western Australia reports on the effect of asbestos dust on the lungs of workers in the James Hardie Factory in Perth.

CSR Limited send Senior Executive, MG King to the US, Canada, South Africa and Europe to study asbestos mining and manufacturing. It is the start of regular contact between CSR and John Manville, including further overseas trips between 1947 and 1952.

US adopt a “safe” dust limit of 176 particles of asbestos per cubic centimetre in the workplace.

German researchers identify six cancer deaths among asbestos textile works. Later animal studies confirm asbestos dust kills mice.

Hancock begins mining at Wittenoom. Plant opens in 1943 and CSR takes over in 1948.

First warning of asbestos dust at Wittenoom – the WA Assistant State Mining Engineer reports on the danger of dust being generated. Mines inspector Adams reports on the “dust menace” at Witternoom amd discusses the need to reduce dust levels.

Dr Eric Saint tells Witternoom mine management that asbestos is extremely dangerous and that men exposed would contract chest disease inside six month. He writes to the Public Health Department in Perth that the mine will produce the greatest crop of asbestosis the world has ever seen.

Over the following three years, dust levels at the mine and mill are regularly monitored at six to eight times “safe levels”. Further warnings are given to mine management. No improvement in conditions is noted.

WA has adopted a “safe” dust limit of 176 particles per cubic centimetre, Witternoom readings continually off the scale at 1000 particles. Mines and Health Department take no action apart from issuing further warnings.

Commissioner for Public Health writes to the Under Secretary for Mines that “The hazard from asbestos is considerably greater than that from silica…we have reason to believe that attention to this aspect of mining operations at Witternoom has been inadequate in the past.”

Dr Richard Doll in the UK produces the most comprehensive survey to date linking asbestos dust with lung disease.

Wagner paper published a “new” disease, mesothelioma (fatal cancer of the linings of the lungs) discovered among people exposed to asbestos in South Africa.

Annual reports of WA Commissioner for Public Health say working at Witternoom is thirty times more dangerous than other mining.

More than 100 cases of lung disease among Wittenoom workers and ex-workers – more than for all other mines in Western Australia.

G Major of the Commonwealth Health Department is highly critical of dust at the mine and mill, CSR closes the mine two weeks later.

Witternoom toll reaches 175. 27 men now known to have died.

Cornelius Maas becomes the first mesothelioma victim to sue the CSR subsidiary that ran the mine. He dies before the case gets to court.

Witternoom toll tops 500. National Health and Medical Research Council predicts the final toll will be 2000.

Union continue their efforts to make James Hardie accountable for its failure to acknowledge the damage to workers’ health and obligations to compensate workers affected by asbestos-related disease. James Hardie establishes the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation.

James Hardie and the NSW Government sign historic agreement, providing $4.5 billion dollars in funding for Australia’s asbestos victims.

ABC Journalist Matt Peacock’s Book “Killer Company- James Hardie Exposed” is released.

Insidious danger in the wake of deluge from Cyclone Yasi in QLD. Hazard alert for thousands of workers cleaning up debris of fibro homes.