The Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia together with Slater & Gordon asbestos lawyers have revealed concerns about reports of asbestos at the three iron ore mines in the Pilbara.

Slater & Gordon said the asbestos contamination raised concerns for the hundreds of mine workers and construction workers who might have been exposed to the deadly dust.

"As we understand, investigations into these contaminated sites are continuing," Slater & Gordon senior asbestos lawyer Simon Millman said.

"The presence of asbestos at these sites may present an imminent risk to the health and safety of these workers."

In light of the reports, ADSA called on the multinational mining companies to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of their workers with regard to asbestos exposure.

"With the Australian asbestos management review to report to the government this week, the contamination at these three mines is a stark reminder of the prevalence of asbestos at worksites," ADSA president Robert Vojakovic said.



In response to the reports, a company spokesperson from BHP Billiton told MiningNews.net it had been informed by Holcim that some fibrous material might have been found in building products supplied to one or more of its Pilbara iron ore mining operations.

"Control measures have been implemented to ensure the material is isolated and the required tests are being conducted to determine if it is hazardous in nature," the spokesperson said.

"The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority and they are being kept informed of the situation."

Rio Tinto told MiningNews.net asbestos was detected at West Angelas around May 23 this year as part of standard monitoring processes and was found to be brought in from an outside source.

Rio said controls were immediately put in place under its fibrous minerals management plan and the Department of Mines and Petroleum was immediately notified when the contaminated sample was found.

According to the miner, DMP approved a clean-up plan which was in place and anticipated to be completed in the next couple of days.

"The personal monitoring regime has indicated that exposure levels are well below the occupational exposure limit and continually reports this," a Rio Tinto spokesperson said.

"We have maintained continual contact with our employees and contractors onsite, informing them of the process and advising the exposure levels are well below the occupational exposure limit.

"Asbestos is a natural material found throughout the Pilbara and our processes are established and effective."

Millman said not everyone who had been exposed to asbestos developed an asbestos-related illness but even the briefest exposure to asbestos had the harmful potential to develop into a life threatening asbestos-related disease.

According to ADSA, 2500 people were diagnosed with diseases caused by asbestos each year and the numbers of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancers were increasing.

"Owing to the long latency period from the exposure to asbestos fibres and manifestation of asbestos disease, often up to 30 years or more, the epidemic of asbestos diseases is yet to peak in Australia," ADSA said.

It expected the next case of asbestos-related health concerns to peak around 2023.

It is not the first time asbestos claims have emerged from the dust ridden Pilbara.

Slater & Gordon was the first law firm to win an Australian asbestos claim when it fought for the Wittenoom miners based in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara.

In 1986 Slater & Gordon established a small Perth office to gain justice for the victims of the deadly Wittenoom asbestos mine.

The firm has since assisted hundreds of Australians who have developed an asbestos-related disease.

In contrast to the Wittenoom case, Millman said employers at the Marandoo, West Angelas and Jimblebar sites must ensure their workers were kept safe from exposure to asbestos.