When you think about how the asbestos was mined and processed there are many more who should be brought to justice for the harm that has been caused in my opinion. Asbestos has been mined all over the world, imported and exported and still is unfortunately. Some still with very little protection in some countries exposing the workforce to the fibres.

According to a public information film playing in the background of Upstairs Downstairs last night (keep you criticism of my veiwing choices to yourselves, please) the government-issued gas masks contained blue asbestos. Never knew that ...

Just to expand on walker's information below, it's almost certain that the manufacture of the cartridges for gas masks for WW2 in the UK resulted in many deaths from asbestos disease, notably mesothelioma. I recall this topic (the "Nottingham Housewives" case) being covered during training for HSE inspectors in the latter part of the 1970s, but don't know if it is still used and publicised by HSE and/or any others such as IOSH. Please can anyone expand on tihis aspect? To summarise, doctors in the Nottingham area were mystified during the 1960s by an incidence of lung disease among a significant number of middle-aged women, mostly housewives. However, investigation revealed that most/all of them had previously worked for Boots just before and during the war filling vast numbers of gas mask cartridges with handfuls of blue asbestos fibres. With no respiratory protection apparently or other precautions being taken, their exposure to airborne fibres would have been considerable and prolonged. Apparently other firms assembled gas mask cartridges under similar conditions, so it's very likely that similar circumstances would have occurred elsewhere. Does anyone know of multiple cases elsewhere? This information remains very pertinent because various museums have WW2 gas masks of various types on display or in storage. Also, it's likely that some gas masks have been retained as curiosity items or forgotten about in lofts or cupboards in private dwellings. When I happen to see gas masks during visits to museums I tend to ask staff if they know what the cartridges contain. Thankfully, most do - which seems to reflect reasonably good awareness of this matter among people and organisations involved with museums. However, it's likely that very few people who encounter gas masks in private dwellings (perhaps while clearing those of elderly relatives who have died) will know of their asbestos content. Thus, masks which are being discarded will get put into normal household waste with subsequent risk of damage to cartridges during compaction or pulverising processes and scattering of asbestos fibres. Also, a few curious people might even try to open the cartridges to find out what they contain. My understanding is that the asbestos inside the metal cartridge cases is enclosed by pads at each end, and therefore poses no risk provided that the cannisters are left intact and unopened. However, please could any forum users involved with museums confirm or correct this aspect?

According to the SHP web article about the Eternit trial neither of the two accused men were present when convicted and sentenced, and apparently never attended any of the trail hearing. Therefore, it might be unlikely that they will spend any time in prison pending appeal. Another aspect of the case is that if the men were convicted of breaching health & safety laws between 1976 and 1986, did Italy have any organisation to enforce such laws during that period? If so, did the organisation try to enforce the laws relating to asbestos? If it didn't, why not? It's appropriate to mention that during the same period in the UK, the newly-formed HSE did take asbestos seriously and has done so ever since. Some people might suggest that some of this arose from the report of the Government Inquiry around 1976 into many asbestos-related deaths (employees and also local residents) associated with the asbestos works of Cape Insulation Ltd at Acre Mill near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. HSE's main precedecessor, HM Factory Inspectorate (HMFI), was heavily criticised for not having effectively enforced the Asbestos Industry Regulations 1931 at Acre Mill. It could be argued that the 1931 regulations were very limited and ineffective, and that recognition of this by the late 1960s had resulted in their replacement by the Asbestos Regulations 1969. However, the 1969 Regulations were also limited because they only covered employees at premises defined as factories or locations for building operations and engineering construction. It seems that there was no law about protecting non-employees from asbestos exposure (and other risks to their safety or health) until the arrival of the revolutionary Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which included all-encompassing duties under Section 3 to protect non-employees.

It was only when CAR2006 came into force that the 'At Work', as in Control of Asbestos At Work Regulations 2002 was dropped. Like it was only ever used in the 'workplace'. The drip drip of necessary change I think. My sources tell me that the UK and Belgium are the most regulated - in terms of asbestos -places in the EU. So why has it taken so long to recognise and comply with this directive? That was a rhetorical question, by the way. It's interesting that you mention museums Graham. I visited a newly opened museum with the exhibits moved from the old place. I spotted an ACM in one of the exhibits. 'Cos I know what to look for. This piqued my interest. I sent a nice email off to them just out of curiosity. I expect them to know about it and how to manage it. I am still awaiting their response...

Interesting comments, for me the startling statistic is that ALL asbestos products were not banned in the UK until 1999! When I have provided AAT I have asked those present when the import, use and manufacture of asbestos products was totally banned in the UK. Without fail they all choose dates prior to 1999 except of course for those in the know. So, who is going to put their hand up for that one...

Asbestos becomes waste as soon as it removed from its original location. It's still a big problem in the agricultural industry as asbestos cement (AC) sheets are frequently moved/ modified when farm buildings are changed in any way. AC sheets are often stored and used for 'patching' up leaks, storm damage, etc by unsuspecting or reckless farmers.