Asbestos News
Australian tug boat workers potentially exposed to asbestos
A number of workers on a tug boat in Australia are upset after they were allegedly exposed to asbestos.According to the Western Australian, the Maritime Union of Australia says that 10 workers on a BHP Billiton-leased vessel endured exposure to asbestos when removing gaskets off the boat. The workers were employed by the contractor Teekay Shipping.
Asbestos was once widely used in a variety of industries because of its insulating properties and resistance to fire. These traits made the material seemingly ideal for ships, where fire is a major concern. However, it has been proven since the mid-1960s that exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer that attacks the thin membrane that lines the body's chest, abdomen and many internal organs.
The news provider reports that the incident aboard the Star Voyager occurred just two weeks after several union members walked off another Teekay boat - this one the PB Fitzroy - because of asbestos issues.
Both tugs were built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, a Chinese shipmaker.
10/6/11
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