Because of its resistance to heat and corrosion, asbestos has been woven, moulded and sprayed. It has been used on at least 3,000 products ranging from brake linings to ironing board covers and children’s toys.
The use of asbestos is so widespread that anyone who works in a building or area where asbestos was used and is now deteriorating or creating dust is in danger of contracting asbestos-related disease. This includes CUPE members working in schools, hospitals and libraries, many of which were built when the use of asbestos was extensive, that is during the period between 1945 and the early 1970s. Although many CUPE members may be exposed in schools, hospitals and libraries, others may be exposed by working directly with asbestos.
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Fact sheet
Fact sheet: Asbestos
Asbestos is the general name for a group of naturally occurring minerals that are silicon-based and made up of fibres. Asbestos can be used to make or enhance products that are long-lasting and fire-resistant. It was mainly used in Canada before 1990 in commercial buildings and homes due to its heat resistance, tensile strength and insulating qualities. However, when we breathe air that is contaminated with asbestos dust, we breathe in small sharp, barbed-like asbestos fibers that find their way deep into our lung tissues and other internal organs where they remain – for life.
The Canary
Changes to federal labour code now in effect
Health and safety-related changes to the Canada Labour Code came into effect on October 31, 2014. These changes only apply to workers that are regulated by the Canada Labour Code (rather than provincial health and safety legislation) which includes CUPE members who work in communications, ports, airlines, rail and other cross-provincial border transportation.
The Canary
You still have the right to refuse dangerous work
30 years after CUPE’s national health and safety committee first proposed the Day of Mourning, workers are seeing some significant setbacks.
The most blatant assault is happening in the federal sector. As reported in the last issue of Canary, omnibus budget Bill C-4 recently passed by the Harper government – reduced workers protections and changed the definition of danger to make refusing dangerous work confusing for workers.
The Canary
Federal budget bill undermines right to refuse, inspectors
With the introduction of a new omnibus budget bill C-4 on October 22, 2014, the Harper government has again signaled their total disregard for the interests of Canadian workers.
Health and Safety
No worker should be put at risk on the job. At CUPE, we fight for robust workplace protections and practices that ensure the safety, well-being, and health of all workers.
News
Ban asbestos: Health Canada reversal makes Conservative government’s position untenable
With Health Canada’s recent reversal of its position on the health risks of asbestos, it’s time for the Harper government to scrap recent changes that encourage imports and exports of this dangerous substance.
The Canary
Dangerous definition
The proposal to change the definition of the word danger in the Canada Labour Code could dramatically change the right to refuse. How exactly would it be changed?
Fact sheet
Fact Sheet: Bill C-4 - A budget bill attacking workers’ rights
Two parts of Bill C-4 are a direct attack on worker and union rights: changing how bargaining will be done for workers employed by the federal government and re-defining health and safety rights for all federal government workers and all workers in federally regulated industries.
Fact sheet
Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation
Indoor air quality is a general term for the physical, chemical and biological state of the air inside the building you work. Poor indoor air quality and poor workplace ventilation are hazards that affect the health of CUPE members.
Health and Safety Legislative Review Project
In response to membership demand, the CUPE National Health and Safety Committee, in conjunction with the National Health and Safety Branch has started a Health and Safety legislative review project.