Annual Report 2014

Social report
Carefully managing our asbestos past
4.3
Carefully managing
our asbestos past
Some Etex companies
used asbestos as a
raw material in their
production process in the
past. They stopped using
asbestos over a decade
ago. However, given the
long latency periods,
we will continue to be
faced with the harmful
effects of asbestos.
Consequently, Etex
companies subscribe
to the group policy
on asbestos and are
committed to carefully
managing their past.
Widespread use of asbestos
in the 20 th century
Asbestos has been widely used in the
20th century because of its many qualities.
These include resistance to fire, mechanical
and chemical aggression, tensile strength,
insulation properties and affordability.
Many industries, including the construction,
chemical, shipbuilding and automotive
sectors, used asbestos in a wide variety of
applications. Some examples include:
• insulation of buildings
• fire protection for trains, buses,
buildings and even clothing
• heat protection in industrial processes
• domestic appliances: from
hair dryers to toasters
• water and wine filters.
Scientific research established that, in the
1950s and 1960s, about 25% of the male
active population in European cities was
exposed to asbestos in their work.
Risks depend on many factors
Partly due to the long latency periods of
asbestos-related diseases, it has taken
many years to fully understand the health
risks associated with asbestos exposure.
These risks depend on many factors:
measures since the 1970s to reduce the
exposure to asbestos and comply with the
recommended exposure limits.
These measures included:
• the use of dust extraction equipment
• the wearing of personal protection
equipment such as masks
• a conversion from dry to wet
production processes
• a research into alternative fibres
• the ban of first blue and,
eventually, white asbestos
• the switch to automatic
production processes.
By taking these actions, Etex companies
considerably reduced the dust and
asbestos exposure levels in the factories.
They played an important role in reducing
the health risk and the number of diseases.
Asbestos usage banned
In 2002, asbestos was entirely banned from
our production processes.
Unfortunately, due to the long latency
periods of asbestos related diseases — on
average 45 years for mesothelioma — some
people will continue to become ill as a
result of previous exposure to asbestos.
• the type of asbestos:
white, brown or blue
• the dose or quantity of fibres inhaled
• the time elapsed since the exposure.
For a long time, the health risks related
to asbestos exposure were not fully
understood. As a result, the medical
world, governments and the industry long
underestimated the risks and assumed that,
by substantially reducing the exposure
levels, these risks would be avoided.
Various preventive actions over the years
In line with the scientific knowledge
and legislation on asbestos at the time,
Etex companies have taken a series of
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