NEWFOUNDLAND – At least three workers from the Marine Atlantic have been told to seek further tests from their family doctors for health issues that may be related to asbestos, said a Union representative.

The three workers were part of a group of workers how underwent health tests provided by the company in December after learning that they had been exposed to friable asbestos while working on or around the Marine Atlantic. Thirty-nine of fifty-eight employees completed all of the tests in December. Of those, seven were told to consult their family physicians for further testing. Three were told that their health issues may be asbestos-related. Fourteen others declined the testing.

Union representative Sue Irvine stated that the testing will continue for quite some time as there are over 1,000 past and present employees and others who may have been exposed to the hazardous substance on board the Marine Atlantic.

The first group of employees invited to be tested at Port aux Basques were those deemed by the company to be at high risk of asbestos exposure. Ms. Irvine said that those invited to the first clinic were present employees. She believes that those at highest risk have not been addressed yet – retired employees who spent years working on the Freighter in jobs where the chance of exposure was high.

CAW is also contacting dock workers, truck drivers and other contractors who may have been exposed to asbestos on the freighter. Those people have been sent a questionnaire to help determine how much risk there is of them having been exposed to asbestos, which causes serious health complications like asbestosis and mesothelioma.

The company has assured the Union that any workers compensation claims for those who develop asbestos-related health problems after exposure will be uncomplicated and straightforward because the company has acknowledged its responsibility. Benefits will depend on the illness and other factors.

Because the asbestos exposure is covered under the workers’ compensation plan, employees will not be able to file any civil court actions against the company. The company said that there will be more clinics to test workers, but have not yet set dates.

“This could be ongoing for years and years,” she said. “There are no rules about who will get sick. It’s totally random.”

The complete picture of damage from the untreated asbestos problems on the Marine Atlantic may take decades to unfold. Asbestos exposure is a major risk factor for lung cancer and a number of other cancers like mesothelioma, as well as non-malignant illnesses and conditions like asbestosis. It can be up to three decades before those problems develop, however, and not everyone who is exposed gets sick. So far, research into asbestos exposure and illness has shown a positive connection between asbestos and the conditions, but no one has identified a way to determine who will become ill. Some workers who had heavy exposure to asbestos do not become ill, while others with very limited exposure have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Jobsite Exposure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.