Mesothelioma killed 675 Australians in 2015
Today is Mesothelioma Awareness day. Not heard of it? Don’t worry you’re not the only one. Mesothelioma is a incurable cancer that, in the most common form, affects the lungs. In 2014, 759 new cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed in Australia; there were 675 deaths caused by Mesothelioma in Australia in 2015. The main cause of this this cancer is exposure to Asbestos.
Asbestos is a heat-resistant, fibrous mineral that can be woven into fabrics and used, amongst other things, in fire-resistant and insulating materials.
A large amount of products were still manufactured using asbestos until the 1980’s. Gaskets and friction parts containing asbestos were still made within Australia up until 2003. Although no longer manufactured, many asbestos-containing materials still remain in place throughout Australia. Examples of these products include Flat or corrugated sheeting, cement pipes, insulation, floor tiles, roofing and textured paints and textiles. As a result, Tradespeople and home renovators are still at risk of exposure to the asbestos fibres in these materials which is why Asbestos Awareness training is a prerequisite of working on a construction site.
In support of Mesothelioma Awareness day, Safenet are promoting their Course in Asbestos Awareness (10675NAT) for the remainder of this week.
The course provides learners with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with asbestos exposure and inhalation. Learners will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to determine when and where asbestos and Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) may be present, the precautions that need to be taken if it is present and reporting procedures.
The course costs $135 for eligible individuals/companies (full cost $230) and dates are currently available for enrolment. Click here for more information and to enrol.
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Safenet of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organisation or individual. Safenet bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.