The former Goliath Cement Works in Railton, Australia is to be the subject of the largest asbestos survey and research program ever to be undertaken at a single work site in that country.

According to an Australian Broadcasting System story, Goliath Cement was the largest producer of asbestos products in Australia from the 1940s through the 1980s. Removal of asbestos at the site began two years ago but the idea of the study was prompted because the Australia Workers’ Union (AWU) decided that the removal process identified serious concerns for past and present employees.

Yossi Berger of the AWU says the removal process also found “concerns for the wider community.”

“Whenever there is a hazard like benzine or asbestos or any of those, you don’t know what the future brings,” Mr. Berger said. “That’s part of this study, it will try and evaluate risk and risk in this case means how many people are likely to become ill,” he said.

With the support of Cement Australia, the current owner of the property, the study will be conducted by researchers from three Australian universities and include the use of an Occupational Health and Safety historian. “The historian will research the history of the previous company, particularly its activities in asbestos manufacturing, and how this might affect the health and safety of workers,” notes an article on Safe to Work, a safety news website.

“Researchers will aim to evaluate the level of asbestos-related disease in current workers, retired workers and members of the local community. This will contribute to formulating an assessment of risk for all the involved stakeholders,” the article explains.

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