BLOG 5- Australia

According to an article published by Radio National written by Stan Correy there are major health risk involved with diesel fuel and underground miners. Last June the World Health organization raised the status of diesel engine exhaust to a Grade 1 Carcinogen, after concluding that long-term exposure to the fume was a cause of lung cancer.  A ruling has been made followed by a court decision in Quebec concerning the case of mine electrician Claude Fortin that has taken over seven years to resolve. Fortin contracted lung cancer from his long-term exposure to disease exhaust and he was not a smoker. This is a serious issue because it is showing that mind safety inspectors have been ignoring the long-term effects of the fumes.  According to the deputy director of United Steen Workers in Quebec a government inspector had been called in at least six times regarding the air quality in the mines where Fortin had been working. The emissions from the diesel didn’t exceed the standard however they were always present.  Despite the World Healthy Organizations ruling that the diesel exhaust caused a serious health threat, Western Australia government decided to close its compulsory mine healthy surveillance program.

            This article should be an eye opener not just to Western Australia but to the world because diesel engines are being used daily for all kinds of jobs.  Therefore putting all of that exhaust into the atmosphere.  If it is possible for a miner electrician to develop lung cancer from breathing the exhaust so much, then it is possible for every person in the world to develop it. We can only imagine how this is causing destruction of the atmosphere. I believe this article puts out good evidence of how the world isn’t doing enough to keep a healthy environment and workplace for people.  I believe the article should explain how important it is for us to cut down on the amount of fossil fuel burning we do because it is slowly killing us.  

 http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/dangerous-diesel/4545656

Natalie White

March 1, 2013 1:37 pm