Asbestos

The time's they are a changing.

It is good to see that todays owners of the New Plymouth Power Station Contact Energy are acting on and doing all they can to remove the asbestos resently found at the station, putting the safety of their staff first, even if that means closing down the station permanently. This would not have happen in the past. I have been involved in both past Power Station asbestos problems and the Paritutu dioxin issue. And I have seen how past authorities have dealt with these problem, by being in denial or sweeping the problems under the carpet over many years, hoping the problem will go away. But it won't those who have been exposed to asbestos their health effects can accrue at anytime usually many years later. Dioxin exposure can course genetic changes in the body that can be past from generation to generation. So like in the past by just having a register in the hope those on it will eventually die, as a act of doing something about it.. Will not solve the problem or compensate their families, many of whom have also been exposed through their partners exposure. The Power Stations asbestos register that started 20 years ago for those who thought they were exposed. Those charged with the maintanance of the register have since gone by the wayside, and those on it have not been followed up for many years. A dioxin register is now being talked about for Chemiclly Exposed Paritutu Residents in Allen and Clarke's latest report to government " Health Support Services For Exposed To Dioxin". And I dear say those on it will end up the same as those on the Power Station asbestos register, forgotton about. I hope this time the authorities and todays Government do more than just write down names on a register, but act on it and compensate all those who have been exposed and their families. And I don't mean a one off free doctors visit, but a real proper medical and monetary compensation package.

Rusty Kane NZ