The Asbestos Advisory Committee was established in October 1990 as an ad hoc body to report to the Minister of Labour on issues relating to the health effects and use of asbestos in New Zealand, adequacy of controls and legislation, and clarification of the legal entitlements available for affected workers. The committee's report, issued in April 1991, is in four parts as detailed below.

Table of Contents

PART 1: REPORT OF THE ASBESTOS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Introduction
  • History of use of asbestos
  • Types of asbestos
  • History of health effects of asbestos
  • Compensation
  • Social welfare entitlements
  • Asbestos use in New Zealand
  • The extent of asbestos-related disease in New Zealand
  • Asbestos legislation in New Zealand
• Terms of reference
• Responses to the terms of reference
  • 1. The current state of knowledge about asbestos-related medical conditions
  • 2. Establishment and maintenance of an asbestos medical register
  • 3. Procedures for tracing former employers and their employees
  • 4. Respiratory protective devices
  • 5. Current medical knowledge about the respiratory effects of synthetic mineral fibres
  • 6. A nationwide strategy for dealing with asbestos
  • 7. A national register covering importation, location, quantities, use and condition of asbestos
  • 8. Removal and disposal of asbestos
  • 9. The need for education about asbestos
  • 10. Standard environmental monitoring and identification techniques for asbestos and synthetic mineral fibres
  • 11. The management of SMFs in the workplace
  • 12. Aid and compensation issues
• Summary of recommendations
• Appendix I: Correspondence received
• Appendix II: Further comments by committee members

PART 2: REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE MEDICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ISSUES OF ASBESTOS

• Summary
• Definitions
• Terms of reference
• Preface
• Setting the scene
  • History of use
  • Types of asbestos
  • History of health effects of asbestos
• Asbestos-related diseases
  • Characteristics of asbestos
  • The reaction of the body to asbestos
• Fibre type, dose and disease
  • Fibre characteristics
  • Inhalation of asbestos fibres
  • Fibre type and disease
• Asbestos exposure and smoking
• The asbestos register
  • Notification of occupational disease
  • Location and staff of centre
  • Entry to asbestos register
  • Procedure following notification
  • Surveillance
  • Publicity
  • Effectiveness of procedure
• Diagnostic procedures
  • Experienced personnel
  • Medical procedures under the Asbestos Regulations 1983
  • Medical procedures for those not covered by the regulations
• The workplace standard
  • Asbestosis
  • Mesothelioma
  • Lung cancer
  • Adequacy of present standard
• Respiratory protective equipment
• Synthetic mineral fibres
  • Respiratory effects following the inhalation of SMFs
  • A workplace standard for synthetic mineral fibres
• Conclusions and recommendations
• References
• Appendix I: Bibliography
• Appendix II: Asbestos Regulation
• Appendix III: Approved respiratory protective equipment
• Appendix IV: Letter of disassociation

PART 3: REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS

• Introduction
  • Extent of asbestos use in New Zealand
• Key elements of a national strategy
• Outline of a national strategy
  • Control of importation
  • Control of sale
  • Control of hazards in manufacture and repair work
  • Identification and recording of asbestos in situ
  • Assessment and management of risk
  • Substitutes for asbestos
  • Removal and disposal of asbestos
  • Training of personnel, including asbestos workers and enforcement agency staff, and the licensing of removalists
  • Provision of information/education
  • Implementation of strategy
  • Enforcement
• Appendix I: Terms of reference
• Appendix II: Dissenting views

PART 4: REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON ASBESTOS AID AND COMPENSATION ISSUES

• Summary of conclusions and recommendations
• The issue
• Historical background
  • Workers' Compensation Act 1956
  • Woodhouse Report 1967
  • Gair Report 1970
  • Accident Compensation Act 1972
  • Accident Compensation Act 1982
  • Accident Compensation Corporation policy
  • Law Commission Report 1988
  • The Rehabilitation and Incapacity Bill 1990
  • 'The McKenzie decision'
  • Committee on Reform of Social Assistance
  • Overseas jurisdictions
• Dimensions of problem
  • Overseas information
  • New Zealand information
• Compensation options for the future
  • The status quo
  • No cover under accident compensation scheme
  • A stand-alone scheme
  • Extending the accident compensation scheme
  • Summary
• Aid
  • Medical screening
  • Counselling services
  • Relevant publicity
• Other factors
  • Acceptance criteria for compensation entitlement
  • Value of compensation entitlement
  • The effective date
• Appendix 1: Workers' Compensation Act 1956, s 19
• Appendix II: Accident Compensation Act 1972, s 67
• Appendix III: Accident Compensation Act 1982, s 28
• Appendix IV: Original ACC five-point test
• Appendix V: Current ACC policy and procedure
• Appendix VI: Asbestos litigation in the United Kingdom
• Appendix VII: Summary of symposium on health aspects of exposure to asbestos in buildings
• Appendix VIII: Financial models
• References