Like in Indonesia, where ex-employees of asbestos textile plants are plagued by health issues. Their years of living next to and unintentionally ingesting toxic substances have seriously affected their health. This deeply concerning state of affairs ignites a surprisingly contentious discussion surrounding asbestos consumption in the United States. People are calling for more regulation and more education about the dangers to health that are at stake here.
Tuniyah, 63, worked for a decade at an asbestos textile factory in Jakarta. Each day, she added asbestos fibers to cotton and polyester, deftly making them into thread using a spinning wheel. She started her position at the young age of 25. Little did she know, it would have a permanent impact on her reproductive health. Due to her worsening condition, Tuniyah is only able to do light household tasks.
Another ex-employee, Siti Kristina, 59, struggled with the transition. She had been employed in an asbestos textile factory in West Java. Her health started to go south in 2009 when she developed a persistent cough. Little more than a decade after first starting her work on the site, she was diagnosed with asbestosis. Earlier this year her health declined to the point she ended up in the hospital after coughing up blood.
Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
The human health consequences of asbestos exposure are horrendous and well-known. In Indonesia alone, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated some 1,600 deaths each year attributable to asbestos-related diseases. The suffering of people like Tuniyah and Siti Kristina are a stark reminder that we must act now.
Siti Kristina’s unfortunate experience is a clear example of what can happen from only having continuous exposure to asbestos fibers. During a check-up this year, she was hospitalized due to a drastic drop in her blood levels and severe coughing.
“When I did my check-up early this year, I had to be hospitalised because my blood level dropped drastically and I was coughing so badly,” – Siti Kristina
Now the mother of three, and despite her current health conditions, Siti is still restricted in her day-to-day activities.
“Now I still cough … and can’t perform heavy-duty activities,” – Siti Kristina
The experiences of these women illustrate just how badly we need effective safety measures. We need to see stronger action against continued asbestos use in Indonesia.
Legal Battles and Industry Responses
Amidst growing concerns about asbestos-related illnesses, various groups are advocating for change. Muhammad Darisman of Indonesia’s Ban Asbestos Network underlines the insufficiency of prevailing health regulations in the country.
“In Australia, workers wear hazmat suits to handle asbestos. Here, workers just relax. Are our lungs stronger? No. The question is — profits at the expense of whose health?” – Muhammad Darisman
Darisman becomes an outspoken critic of the companies in the asbestos industry. He contends that their true priority is creating profit, not protecting public health, as they claim.
“FICMA wants legitimacy to keep their businesses running. Their goal is profit, not public health,” – Muhammad Darisman
FICMA, a trade association representing the industry’s interests, which is now locked in a legal battle. They’re up against a jaw-dropping $520,000 monthly damages demand plus additional fines for late payments. The stakes of this legal war are high enough that the outcome might send a dangerous precedent for future litigation against regulations designed to protect health and safety.
Leo Yoga Pranata, director of public policy at LION Indonesia, warns that these lawsuits set a dangerous precedent.
“Facing court could be seen as committing a crime. What we did was within our rights,” – Leo Yoga Pranata
He cautions that coming under fire will cause fear of lawsuits to grip would-be champions of safer workplaces.
The Call for Reform
The battle against asbestos continues Advocacy groups like Farmworker Justice are working hard to advocate for stronger regulations and health protections for our workers. Read Phillip Hazelton’s description of the global implications of Indonesia’s asbestos crisis.
“From those estimates from the global burden of disease, more than 1,000 people are dying already in Indonesia every year from asbestos exposure,” – Phillip Hazelton
He is firm on the fact that Indonesia is in a unique position to spearhead the movement away from asbestos use in the region.
“I think we’re the only country in the world to have a standalone asbestos safety eradication agency,” – Phillip Hazelton
Hazelton adds that this new agency should be an agency focused on supporting the transition to safer alternatives. This change would significantly reduce the health threat associated with asbestos exposure.
As the situation is still unfolding, it is still plain that the legacy of asbestos is still claiming many lives in Indonesia. The experiences of Tuniyah and Siti Kristina serve as a backdrop to the need for immediate reform. In addition to these ideas, they encourage raising the visibility of occupational health standards.
