FRIDGE RESEARCH COLUMN: THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE
PHASING-OUT OF ASBESTOS
Asbestos has been identified worldwide as a public health and
environmental hazard. Internationally, the move for the total ban
of asbestos has been gaining momentum since the 1980's. In 1986 the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) also promulgated Convention
162 which recommends the total or partial ban of the use of
asbestos when it is necessary to protect worker's health and when
it is technically possible to do so. By 1993, only a handful of
countries, including South Africa, were still producing asbestos.
The statistics indicate that during 1997 South Africa accounted for
8.2% of the world's asbestos reserves. With regards to world
production and exports of crysotile and crocidolite (types of
asbestos) South Africa accounted for 2.3% production and 4.3% for
exports in 1996.
The reason why asbestos has been widely used in many industries
is that asbestos fibres are strong, durable and resistant to heat
and fire. It is also a cheap material. The building and
construction industry use it for strengthening cement and plastics
as well as for insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The
shipping industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers,
steampipes, hot water pipes, and nuclear reactors in ships. The
automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch
pads. More than 5, 000 products contain or have contained
asbestos.
The extent of the current usage of asbestos in South Africa is
largely unknown. What is missing particularly is the use of
asbestos in the informal sector.
It was thus felt that research needed to be conducted into the
socio-economic impact of phasing out asbestos in South Africa.
.
- Policy approach to asbestos in SA;
- Potential cost and other implications for investors and
employees;
- Socio-economic transitional measures for the phasing out
period;
- Product substitution and alternatives to asbestos;
- A code of best practice for SA users of asbestos in
manufacturing and construction.