Asbestos Exposure in New Zealand 1992 to 2005
Key dates in the health history of asbestos
1898 Adelaide Anderson, DBE, MA, Principal Lady Inspector of Factories in the Home Office, noted that asbestos fibre inhalation in the workplace was injurious to the bronchial tubes and lungs. Referring to complaints from girls employed from 1898 onwards, she wrote: "The sharp jagged edge of the insoluble mineral dust has undoubtedly occasioned much illness and death from respiratory disease."
1906 Dr Montague Murray recorded fibrosis of the lungs in a 33-year-old asbestos cloth worker. He had been employed 10 years and was the sole survivor of 10 men who were at work in the carding room when he began his employment.
1924 Cooke coined the term asbestosis.
1928 Merewether and Price launched an extensive investigation into the disease and in 1930 published their results.
1931 Great Britain introduced Asbestos Industry Regulations.
1955 Doll confirmed the relationship between lung cancer and asbestos exposure.
1960 Wagner reported pleural mesothelioma among asbestos miners.
Asbestos awareness in New Zealand
1938 The introduction to the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Silicosis refers to asbestos as follows:
"In the working of asbestos the dust produced gives rise to a pulmonary condition known as asbestosis, which, although different in its character from silicosis, causes a disease similar in some respects to it. Free silica is not associated with asbestos, yet the fibres produce a deadly pulmonary disease."
1951 In the Annual Report of the Department of Health Dr Garland, Director of the Division of Occupational Health notes:
"Asbestos is now being quarried in the Dominion, and the dust can be expected to cause a certain amount of lung damage unless proper precautions are taken."
1953 Notification of occupational diseases introduced. No specific identification of asbestos-related lung disease.
1960 Occupational Health Notes on Diseases Arising from Occupation published by the Department of Health:
"The fibrosis of asbestos is diffuse ... there is some statistical evidence for an increased incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma."
1964 A New Zealand standard is set for asbestos fibres in air.
1968 Dr Copplestone, Assistant Director (Occupational Health) initiates a New Zealand asbestos survey.
1971 Dr Allingham, who succeeded Dr Copplestone, reports on survey:
"207 workers surveyed.
101 workers x-rayed.
17 showed pleural changes (one case later confirmed as asbestosis)."
1977 Environmental Dust Laboratory established to identify asbestos fibres in air.
1978 Asbestos Regulations promulgated.
1981 The allowable concentration for asbestos fibres (other than crocidilite fibres) was reduced from 2 fibres/ml to 1 fibre/ml. Crocidilite remained at 0.2 fibres/ml over a 10-minute sampling period.
1982 Jim Butterworth, Auckland Secretary, NZ Engineers Uunion expresses concern about long-term effects of asbestos on workers at James Hardie factory.
1983 Interim Report of Workers at James Hardie (unpublished). Kjellstrom T and Rennie F
Of 353 workers x-rayed. 53 showed parenchymal and/or pleural changes.
An increasing percentage of abnormalities found over time since first exposure.
1983 Asbestos Regulations replace 1978 regulations.
1983 Gazette notice reduced air standard for crocidolite to 0.1 fibre/ml over 4 hours.
1984 Relative Cancer Risks from Exposure to Different Asbestos Fibre Types. J.Keir Howard, NZ Medical Journal 97 646-9. In this review article, the point is made that:
....considerable amounts of crocidolite were used in the past particularly in insulation and as New Zealand did not restrict the use of the amphiboles until well after most industrialised nations had done so, the use of blue asbestos continued for longer in this country."
1984 Importation of blue and brown asbestos banned in New Zealand.
1987 Asbestos Regulations 1983, Amendment No. 1, tightens provisions for medical examinations.
1988 Thelma Bell widow of asbestosis victim, Clarrie, organises public meeting in Christchurch.
1988 Barry Brown Secretary of the South Island Labourers Uunion arranges for Mavis Watson, occupational health nurse and Associate Professor Bill Glass from the Otago Medical School to interview ex-Fletcher workers from the Mandeville Street plant.
1988 Cate Brett - Christchurch Star - highlights the tragedy of asbestos use.
1989 Robin McKenzie, Engineer with NZED is diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma. In 1990, his lawyer took legal action against the Crown. Media coverage keeps up public concern.
1990 Review of Fletcher's Mandeville Street Factory (unpublished). Glass WI.
103 workers contacted.
87 investigated.
47 cases of asbestos-related conditions (plus 7 probable cases). 12 deaths to date.
1990 Hon. Bill Birch, Minister of Labour establishes the Asbestos Advisory Committee in October to report on all aspects of asbestos exposure in New Zealand.
1991 Lung Cancer, Smoking and Exposure to Asbestos in New Zealand. Glass WI., Kawachi I., Pearce N. Journal of Occupational Health Safety 7 (1).
"Case control studies based on NZ Cancer Registry showed that asbestos-related occupations were found to be associated with elevated risks of cancer in the lung, pleura and peritoneum. The risks of cancer in these three sites were highest among the group comprising machinery fitters, plumbers, welders, boilermakers, metal moulders, metal polishers and electricians."
1991 Report of the Asbestos Advisory Committee presented to the Minister in April and Minister decides to implement the recommendations following Cabinet approval in August.
1991 Tim Frederiksen establishes Asbestos Vvictim and Support Group, which later became the Asbestos Disease Association of New Zealand.
1992 In March a National Asbestos Register was established (recommendation 4) of the Report. This Register was to be in two parts: Part 1 for those who had been exposed and Part 2 for those suffering from an asbestos-related disease. The Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour was to administer the registers.
1992 ECNZ combines with the Department of Labour to publicise asbestos hazards.
1992 An audit of floor sanders and work practices involving asbestos-backed vinyl sheeting in the Christchurch area was carried out by KD Sheat and published by OSH.
1992 ACC lump sum entitlements ceased.(cons
1993 The first Annual Report of the National Asbestos Registers confirming 199 cases of asbestos-related disease.
1993 (March) Rights to initiate common law claims in regard to asbestos-related conditions ceased.
1993 ECNZ establishes model asbestos surveillance programme of current and past employees.
1993 Secondary cases of asbestos disease occur in family members of asbestos workers whose only exposure was to dust brought to the home from the workplace.
1994 The second annual report reviews and confirms a total of 462 cases of asbestos related diseases.
1994 Visit by Professor Margaret Becklake, International Asbestos Authority to advise on registers.
1995 Asbestos Exposure and Disease: Notes for Medical Practitioners, Department of Labour.
1995/96 The third annual report confirms 535 cases.
1996 The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment, Ministry of Health.
1996/97 The fourth annual report of the National Asbestos Register notes an increase in occurrence of mesothelioma cases.
1997 The Asbestos Medical Panel publish its first report based on a review of asbestos cement exposed workers on the exposure register, 2257 notifications were reviewed. A positive finding was a non-significant association between cumulative asbestos exposure and a questionnaire diagnosis of asthma.
1998 Health and Safety in Employment (Asbestos) Regulations 1998 promulgated.
1999 Visit by Professor Corbett McDonald and Professor Alison McDonald to advise on updated information on mesothelioma.
1999 Asbestos and the New Millennium. A publication prepared by Lois Syret and Ed Grootegoed on behalf of The Asbestos Association of New Zealand.
2000 Mesothelioma in NewZealand, the second study by the National Asbestos Medical Panel.
2000 Increased Mesothelioma Incidence in New Zealand. T Kjellstrom, P. Smartt. NZMJ, November.
2000 Lung function changes in asbestos-exposed workers with pleural plaques, the third study by the National Asbestos Medical Panel.
2001 Asbestos New Zealand 2001, Lois J Syret and A H Grootegoed.
2001 Occupational Safety and Health Review of Guidelines for the Management and Removal of Asbestos.
2001 Asbestos Exposure in NewZealand Bill Glass New Ethicals. August.
2003 The New Zealand National Asbestos Registers 1992 to 2001, Lessons Learned. Presented at Asbestos Symposium Seoul National University, Korea by Bill Glass.
2004 The Epidemic of Asbestos-Related Diseases in New Zealand. Int. J. Occup - Environ Health 10.2 June 2004 Tord Kjellstrom
2004 Mortality and Morbidity in Asbestos Exposure in NewZealand: The Hidden Legacy of Asbestos Exposure. NZ Med J. 117 117: 1 P Smartt.