NL Government Must Deliver Justice to Asbestos Miners
ST. JOHN'S, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - The Newfoundland and Labrador government must take immediate action to ensure fair compensation for the health problems suffered by former asbestos miners and their families, a new advocacy group says.
If necessary, the government should pass emergency legislation to ensure justice for former miners and their families, says the Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign, which includes former asbestos miners, workplace health and safety researchers and labour activists.
"The Baie Verte Miners Registry must not be put on the shelf. It must be used as an instrument to help deliver justice to former miners, their families and communities," the advocacy group states in a letter delivered today to Premier Kathy Dunderdale, Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission and to Leslie Galway, the commission's chief executive officer.
The Baie Verte Miners Registry, completed and released earlier this year, "confirms that most Baie Verte miners received more exposure to asbestos fibres in a matter of months than the law permits for a lifetime," the advocacy group states in its letter.
"Yet only 36% of registrants with medically verified asbestos-related diseases who made claims for compensation were successful," the letter states.
Dr. Paul Demers, a leading authority on occupational cancers and a member of the Baie Verte Registry's scientific team, advised the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission in September that such extremely high levels of exposure should lead it to a "presumption of acceptance" for compensation claims. These include claims for all asbestos-related diseases, including gastro-intestinal cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
The Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign is now calling on the commission to take steps to implement key findings of the registry project, including:
- Immediately exempt all former employees of the Baie Verte asbestos operations from restrictions on the recognition of a claim for asbestos- related diseases;
- Publicize this exemption;
- Provide resources for former miners who are not registered to register their medical and employment records and receive the appropriate exposure assessment;
- Accept applications to reconsider previous claims from Baie Verte miners, based on the new exemption;
- Ensure adequate resources for the Office of the Workers' Advisor to assist Baie Verte miners;
- Support a screening program for former workers and their families, to reduce the risk and the consequences of further incidence of asbestos-related diseases.
"In the event that these changes to commission policy and practice cannot be made expeditiously, we call upon the Legislature to pass emergency legislation to make it happen," the Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign letter states.
The letter also has been delivered to Leader of the Opposition Dwight Ball and New Democratic Party Leader Lorraine Michael and will be provided to all Members of the House of Assembly.
Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign Letter
Members of the Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign include:
Dr. Stephen Bornstein
Director, NL Centre for Applied Health Research
Director, SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research
Professor, Memorial University
Lawrence Hoven
Former Baie Verte miner
Chair, Baie Verte Community Group
Member, Baie Verte Registry Advisory Committee
Mary Shortall
President
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
Gerry Leblanc
Health, Safety and Environment Department Leader, United Steelworkers (USW)
Andrew King
Former USW Health, Safety and Environment Department Leader
Member, Baie Verte Registry Advisory Committee
SOURCE: Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign
Lawrence Hoven, 709-532-8260, [email protected]
Mary Shortall, 709-699-3112, [email protected]
Gerry LeBlanc, 416-544-5993, [email protected]
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, [email protected]
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