Comments on: Asbestos in Thailand http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:28:26 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-667308 Mariner Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:46:15 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-667308 Regarding Jonfernquest's post: So...uhmm, before asbestos became available in Thailand houses didn't have roofs? Perhaps dear little Siam Cement -who I'm sure have always had our best interests at heart- might have taken the trouble to warn us about the risks asbestos poses. We could then have made am informed decision as to whether we want an asbestos roof or not (by the way, how many of you have houses decorated with Shera?). I wonder why it never occurred to Siam Cement to do so? (not a hard question to answer really, is it). Come on Siam Cement, over to you! What do you have to say on all this? Your silence is deafening. Regarding Jonfernquest’s post:

So…uhmm, before asbestos became available in Thailand houses didn’t have roofs?

Perhaps dear little Siam Cement -who I’m sure have always had our best interests at heart- might have taken the trouble to warn us about the risks asbestos poses. We could then have made am informed decision as to whether we want an asbestos roof or not (by the way, how many of you have houses decorated with Shera?).

I wonder why it never occurred to Siam Cement to do so? (not a hard question to answer really, is it).

Come on Siam Cement, over to you! What do you have to say on all this? Your silence is deafening.

]]> By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-667307 Mariner Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:36:00 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-667307 The Thai authorities are well aware of the the dangers but you will still not see asbestos sheet labeled with a health warning. Asbestos is a highly profitably product for some very important and powerful Thais, but only because the dangers involved in its use are not conveyed to the Thai populace. If those dangers were widely known, safety precautions would be required on building sites; that costs money and profitability falls. Also, less home owners would purchase the material. Interesting to see that Siam Cement, the jewel of the Crown Property Bureau, has excised any reference to asbestos from its website. It seems they are running scared of future lawsuits. The Thai authorities are well aware of the the dangers but you will still not see asbestos sheet labeled with a health warning. Asbestos is a highly profitably product for some very important and powerful Thais, but only because the dangers involved in its use are not conveyed to the Thai populace.

If those dangers were widely known, safety precautions would be required on building sites; that costs money and profitability falls. Also, less home owners would purchase the material.

Interesting to see that Siam Cement, the jewel of the Crown Property Bureau, has excised any reference to asbestos from its website. It seems they are running scared of future lawsuits.

]]> By: Antoni P. Uni http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-667224 Antoni P. Uni Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:47:46 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-667224 My personal experience with asbestose was a client who worked in his youth a couple of months only part-time in the central-heating industry in England. His whole live being healthy until 50/60 years later when asbestose was diagnosed which caused his death. My personal experience with asbestose was a client who worked in his youth a couple of months only part-time in the central-heating industry in England. His whole live being healthy until 50/60 years later when asbestose was diagnosed which caused his death.

]]> By: David http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-667182 David Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:23:19 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-667182 I was shocked that my Thai other half in describing her house in Thailand said; the roof is made of sheet, the stuff that breaks put like this... I think if the populace were aware of the dangers then something might be done. I'm amazed asbestos is still used and more so that Canada is still producing it, shame on them. It's cheap because so few countries will still allow it's use. I've worked in construction and that side isn't half the problem, asbestos is great stuff because it is so long lasting, it'll be around long after it is finally banned and long after the buildings containing it are wanted. Then you have one huge problem. I was shocked that my Thai other half in describing her house in Thailand said; the roof is made of sheet, the stuff that breaks put like this… I think if the populace were aware of the dangers then something might be done. I’m amazed asbestos is still used and more so that Canada is still producing it, shame on them. It’s cheap because so few countries will still allow it’s use. I’ve worked in construction and that side isn’t half the problem, asbestos is great stuff because it is so long lasting, it’ll be around long after it is finally banned and long after the buildings containing it are wanted. Then you have one huge problem.

]]> By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-580658 Mariner Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:26:07 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-580658 Once again, I can't help noting the irony in the apparent concern of Thai officials regarding contamination of Chinese imported dairy products and their deathly silence of those same officials when it comes to the dangers of asbestos. The following is a brief extract from a recent interview available on the net: Somkiat believes all forms of asbestos should be banned but that is a decision the Thai Government is not likely to take as long as there is pressure from the business community. SOMKIAT SIRIRUTTANAPRUK: Yes, yes. We first happen two months ago, I joined the meeting between ministries and we raised this topic in the meeting but, for the employer side of view, they said right now if they change to use another material, the price will increase and it will affect the industry in our country. In other words health is an issue of apparent concern but only if it doesn't hurt the commercial interests of the most wealthy Thai citizenry. Make no mistake, Siam Cement and others are not ignorant of the dangers of their product. Seems like a great issue for you to expose, Jonathan H. -Mariner Once again, I can’t help noting the irony in the apparent concern of Thai officials regarding contamination of Chinese imported dairy products and their deathly silence of those same officials when it comes to the dangers of asbestos. The following is a brief extract from a recent interview available on the net:

Somkiat believes all forms of asbestos should be banned but that is a decision the Thai Government is not likely to take as long as there is pressure from the business community.

SOMKIAT SIRIRUTTANAPRUK: Yes, yes. We first happen two months ago, I joined the meeting between ministries and we raised this topic in the meeting but, for the employer side of view, they said right now if they change to use another material, the price will increase and it will affect the industry in our country.

In other words health is an issue of apparent concern but only if it doesn’t hurt the commercial interests of the most wealthy Thai citizenry. Make no mistake, Siam Cement and others are not ignorant of the dangers of their product.

Seems like a great issue for you to expose, Jonathan H.

-Mariner

]]> By: Antoni P. Uni http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-483633 Antoni P. Uni Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:52:14 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-483633 You mean the Thai Tobacco Monopoly??: http://lists.essential.org/intl-tobacco/msg00290.html You mean the Thai Tobacco Monopoly??:

http://lists.essential.org/intl-tobacco/msg00290.html

]]> By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-476639 Mariner Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:54:06 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-476639 Just to add that not all the asbestos fibres will have dispersed. The area where the work was being carried out will no doubt contain many fibres and it may take some time before they have are washed or blown away. As a rough guess, I would say that demolishing as asbestos cement roof with hammers would generate fibre levels of about 5 per ml in the immediate area. In other words, 50 times the minimal exposure as defined by the OHSA. Those making fortunes from asbestos are really no better than the tobacco magnates. Just to add that not all the asbestos fibres will have dispersed. The area where the work was being carried out will no doubt contain many fibres and it may take some time before they have are washed or blown away. As a rough guess, I would say that demolishing as asbestos cement roof with hammers would generate fibre levels of about 5 per ml in the immediate area. In other words, 50 times the minimal exposure as defined by the OHSA.
Those making fortunes from asbestos are really no better than the tobacco magnates.

]]> By: Antoni P. Uni http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-475742 Antoni P. Uni Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:43:36 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-475742 To-day they started to demolish a part of my house I want to renovate. I asked the boss to be careful with the roof-plates and demount them in one piece because I am suspicious that they contain asbestos. I was shocked when I saw afterwards that they destroyed almost all with hammers! As I know that in several countries the authorities has to be warned, that handling the asbestos has to be done by special qualified companies, that in case of a fire the fire-brigade officers wear special and completely sealed suits with oxygen and that they start hosing the surroundings immediately to prevent particles blown away I can only feel very sorry for all those, mainly very poor people, has to work with asbestos. When I read than that a Thai Minister once said: "Asbestos can cause cancer but 'it's cheap" I am getting speechless. To-day they started to demolish a part of my house I want to renovate.
I asked the boss to be careful with the roof-plates and demount them in one piece because I am suspicious that they contain asbestos.
I was shocked when I saw afterwards that they destroyed almost all with hammers!
As I know that in several countries the authorities has to be warned, that handling the asbestos has to be done by special qualified companies, that in case of a fire the fire-brigade officers wear special and completely sealed suits with oxygen and that they start hosing the surroundings immediately to prevent particles blown away I can only feel very sorry for all those, mainly very poor people, has to work with asbestos.
When I read than that a Thai Minister once said: “Asbestos can cause cancer but ‘it’s cheap” I am getting speechless.

]]> By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-452054 Mariner Sat, 17 May 2008 01:50:18 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-452054 If you were wondering whatever happened to Leo Mittelholzer, one of the former executives of Eternit found guilty of 'intentional homicide' (May 2005) then look no further! The lives of up to 730 former Eternit employees were put at risk by exposure to hazardous levels of asbestos over an extended period of time; as a result many contracted asbestos-related diseases. Prison sentences of more than twenty-three years were passed on the accused which included a sentence of 2 years and 4 months for , head of the factory between 1984-86; Mittelholzer is now the Managing Director of Siam City Cement PLC,1 Thailand's second largest cement company. If you were wondering whatever happened to Leo Mittelholzer, one of the former executives of Eternit found guilty of ‘intentional homicide’ (May 2005) then look no further!

The lives of up to 730 former Eternit employees were put at risk by exposure to hazardous levels of asbestos over an extended period of time; as a result many contracted asbestos-related diseases. Prison sentences of more than twenty-three years were passed on the accused which included a sentence of 2 years and 4 months for , head of the factory between 1984-86; Mittelholzer is now the Managing Director of Siam City Cement PLC,1 Thailand’s second largest cement company.

]]> By: Mariner http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/comment-page-1/#comment-421900 Mariner Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:12:29 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/03/28/asbestos-in-thailand/#comment-421900 One for the legal buffs: Under Thai law, is there a possibility of an action against companies such as Siam Cement (and other death merchants of their ilk) in negligence? I'm thinking along the lines of Donoghue V Stevenson (1932) and Lord Atkins duty of care. OMG!! Such an action wouldn't be construed as Lese Majeste, would it? One for the legal buffs: Under Thai law, is there a possibility of an action against companies such as Siam Cement (and other death merchants of their ilk) in negligence? I’m thinking along the lines of Donoghue V Stevenson (1932) and Lord Atkins duty of care.
OMG!! Such an action wouldn’t be construed as Lese Majeste, would it?

]]>