BWTUC raises awareness on Asbestos in Siem Reap province. Photo credits: BWTUC Cambodia.
Union representatives from the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) have appealed to the Ministry of Labour to introduce regulations to restrict and prevent the use of asbestos in construction to protect worker’s health.
Asbestos is a very small fibre and is the common term used to describe a group of natural silica minerals (Silicate) that has been mined and distributed worldwide for a long time. There are six types of asbestos but the most common type is called chrysotile (white) asbestos.
President of the BWTUC Sok Kin said that the union asked the government to draft a law to ban the import of asbestos to protect residents, and especially construction workers who are most affected by asbestos as the substance is used in construction material.
He said that long-term exposure to asbestos impacts people’s health and causes health problems, such as asbestosis and lung cancer.
“Asbestos is very harmful to the people‘s health, especially construction workers because most asbestos is used in construction materials. The government and related ministries should consider a law banning asbestos in the country in order to protect worker’s health,” he said.
He added that unions are always prepared to conduct workshops to educate workers on the effects of asbestos.
He said that since 2017, the union has prepared workshops to educate 5,000 workers about asbestos in Phnom Penh and provinces such as Preah Sihanouk, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey. The union is planning more workshops in other provinces.
“At least every month we prepare a workshop and train workers about asbestos. Sometimes the worker are unaware of asbestos and its impact on health, so training is very important,” he added.
The chrysotile asbestos has been recognised as having many advantages in construction material as it is very strong, resilient, and fire resistant, but the tiny particles it releases can be harmful to health if inhaled.
Products which contain asbestos include ceiling panels, fibro cement sheets and other building materials, heat and sound protection systems, firefighting equipment, insulation materials, vinyl floor tiles, clothing, frictional materials (brakes), gaskets, and packaging materials.
Katta Orn, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said that the Ministry is working with other ministries to create a master plan that aims to reduce or stop asbestos use in construction as a first step.
“Asbestos is a substance that affects the health. The Ministry of Labour has cooperated with the relevant ministries to develop a master plan to educate site owners who use construction materials containing asbestos to reduce or stop using it. This is the first step we need to do urgently,” he said.
Last year, the Ministry of Labour and Australian-based Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA co-sponsored a workshop in Phnom Penh to confirm Cambodia’s commitment to ban asbestos by 2025.
The Ministry said that the ban marks a great step towards protecting workers from the occupational hazard asbestos represents and how exposure is dangerous and can lead to death.
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