Over 1000 people died of asbestos diseases

Over a thousand people died as a result of asbestos

22/02/2011

Although the asbestos insulating and fire-retardant asbestos has been banned nationwide for the past sixteen years, more than 1,000 people die each year as a result of an asbestos-related illness, according to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For the most part, it's because there are several decades in between the damage and the onset of the disease.

Work-related accidents related to asbestos happen again and again. Only in the past week employees injured themselves in a Hessian logistics enterprise, because dangerous vapors had leaked. According to the available data of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, such incidents are apparently not uncommon. In 2009, 1375 people died of asbestos-related illness. In total, 2803 people died of occupational disease during the period. Every second death went to the account of asbestos. Those affected suffered from the typical asbestos diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis or other cancers. Craftsmen such as locksmiths, welders, electricians, plumbers, roofers, masons or construction workers are still at risk for the most part. In particular, the professional group is affected from the age of 50 years.

Asbestos prohibition exists since 1993
For sixteen years (1993) the production, use and processing of asbestos materials in Germany has been banned. However, it can take up to 20 to 30 years for asbestos poisoning to provoke the onset of a serious illness. „As a result, new cases are still to be lamented today“, it says in a published on Tuesday „Report on the state of health and safety at work“ (SUGA). Every year, the Federal Institute issues statistics on accidents at work. Because data from multiple sources is evaluated for statistics, the reporting period is more than a year away.

Less and less fatal accidents at work
The number of occupational accidents with a fatal outcome reached a new low in the year before last with 622 deaths. The accident rate has also dropped significantly compared to the same period of the previous year. Statistically, out of 1000 full-time jobs, around 26 reportable accidents at work occurred. A total of 975,000 occupational accidents were counted in the workplace.

After evaluations of the authority were in 2009 significantly more statutory health insurance sick leave. While there were still 98.4 cases of inability to work for 1,000 insured persons in 2006, there were already an average of 114.3 sick leave letters in 2009. On average, the duration of incapacity for work was 12 calendar days. Here the sick days remained constant compared to the year 2006. For the year 2010 some health insurance companies report a decreasing number of sick leave. However, an increase in mental work lost was observed. This is also reflected in the data from 2009. The proportion of absences due to mental illness such as depression rose to 11.4 percent. Every fifth sick leave was triggered by back pain or other musculoskeletal disorders. With 14.8 percent, respiratory diseases rank 2nd in terms of sick leave. 12.2 percent had to be sick due to an accident or injury. (Sb)

Picture: Jan Tornack