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Asbestos, Hazardous waste, Health and Safety in Lebanon, Lebanese government, lebanon, Occupational health and safety, Safety
As if the Lebanese government is in short of methods of how to kill its own people. Every now and then, we get either environmental disasters like dumping hazardous waste in the ecosystem or health disasters like having to deal with corrupted food.
Although the health and safety awareness is very low in Lebanon as numerously discussed on this blog before (here, here, here and here), in terms of legislation and implementation, but sadly, the citizens’ personal health is always subject to political bargaining and turning-the-blind-eye in Lebanon.
The Daily Star reported today on the state of asbestos trading in Lebanon. Pretty scary stuff.
The material is one of most dangerous constituent in construction and insulation materials, but can still be found in Lebanon, with no controls on its disposal. Asbestos is banned almost all over the world, with Lebanon banning its imports in 2006.
Joseph Arbajian, co-owner of the import business Arbajian Brothers, told The Daily Star “we had been buying products that contained asbestos since the 1950s. Now [we] are stuck with poisonous products that we can’t sell or dispose of.” So what is this guy suggesting? Selling his poisonous stuff?
This material is called the hidden killer, because all what needs to happen to kill the person is to inhale the dust of the disturbed material (let’s say during demolition or old pipe removal). The fibres get into the person’s lungs and cause cancer within years or decades. Hence it’s “hidden” as the symptoms are not prompt. It has no cure as well, so if the person was exposed to the asbestos dust, that’s it, they are done.
You don’t need to be doing big projects to be exposed to this danger. You could face it at your home if you were doing any structural changes or simply drilling in an old contaminated plaster board you didn’t know about.
Lebanese government dealing with matter is no way near acceptable. I am not exaggerating if I say it’s literally killing its people.
Assuming it’s being implemented efficiently, banning imports is not enough. Who is going to control or remove all the contamination (when dumped or disturbed) in the existent massive national stock. And where is the public awareness campaign?
If you want to find out more information on this killer, you can check this informative page from the UK Health and Safety Executive which is a law-enforcement agency that we have no equivalent in Lebanon.
Your interest in this article is very much appreciated, the picture of break linings in the article is in my store in Dora.
By saying that we are stuck with these poisonous goods that we cant sell and cant dispose off we mean:
1) We cannot sell them due to their cancerous properties which is very well documented, thus not taking the responsibility nor the burden on our conscience by selling dangerous goods to our fellow Lebanese.
2) We are stuck with these goods because we are receiving no assistance what so ever from any party or organization concerning the safe disposal of these materials.
These rest of the your comments are very interesting to me and i would like to get in touch in order to try and a safe end to this toxic problem.
Kindest Regards,
Georges Arbajian
Hi Georges
Thanks for taking the time to comment on this post, and actually, to explain your quotation in The Daily Star.
It makes more sense now as to what that meant. Yes, you need to safely dispose them, but as far as I know, we are not equipped for this Lebanon.
This is a big problem for you first, and for the whole society. And the state (government and parliament) are supposed to solve by supporting people like you, and specifically legislating for the asbestos control measures/procedures. That’s why I said they are killing us. And I said above, banning imports doesn’t completely solve the problem.
As you know, working with asbestos is not a joke. In Europe, competent and experienced people are hired to remove them. They wear special protective equipment and receive special training. They seal the room/site/factory whatever, and they air-test the facility after the removal to ensure no dust is still in the air, before opening it to the public.
Their disposal is done in similar way, using sealed containers and kept in a special transfer station.
Please note, its main danger exponentially increase when it’s disturbed. So if you are not sure, PLEASE DON’T TOUCH IT.
Keep harassing the relevant ministries, because obviously you have a problem you can’t solve on your own.
zak;from joseph arbajian to all concerned :we have in lebanon the law
القانون رقم 64\88 الصادر في 12 اب 1988 تناول النفايات الضارة والمواد الخطرة واعتبر الاسبستوس احداها
المادة الثامنة ان كل من يتهرب من موجب التصريف يكون مسؤولا” بالتضامن عن الاضرار الناجمة للغير (مسؤولية جزائية)
المادة العاشرة اذا نجم مرض كان من الممكن توقعه عوقب الفاعل بالاشغال الشاقة اذا نجم موت انسان او اكثر قضي بالاشغال الشاقة اذا ثبت ان الفاعل قصد النتيجة الجرمية
قضي بالاعدام
here is a copy of the e mail sent to federal mogul and which is self explanatory From: josepharbajian@hotmail.com
To: graham.phelan@federalmogul.com; mefi.barrera@federalmogul.com; christine.hughes@federalmogul.com; mphealth@cyberia.net.lb; info@justice.gov.lb; webmaster@moe.gov.lb; mo_mulla@eu.fmo.com
Subject: Ferodo Distribution Contract In Lebanon.
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 12:10:06 +0200
Dear sirs,
Since you resiliated our 30 years old contracts for the distribution of Ferodo goods and FP diesel goods for the benefit of Mr. Joseph Nicolakes your local director and Gednico director, please note that:
• Indemnity has not yet been paid to Arbajian brothers.
• Old stock is still at your disposal.(asbestos containing products)
• You have not performed your duty of information and indemnification in Lebanon concerning Asbestos diseases before and after 25/8/2010 when you started fulfilling your duty of indemnification towards Ferodo asbestos products distributed worldwide
To avoid serious penal proceedings where the ministry of health and the ministry of economy will be asked to join us in the procedure, and where we will seek to apply the French code de commerce ARTICLE L442-6.
We urgently ask you to inform us how you will settle above matters, your answer is appreciated within 30 days latest.
Joseph arbajian
that is what federal mogul is depriving lebanon from
Welcome to . The Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust
Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust T&N Subfund (Ferodo …
________________________________________
The Federal Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust will use the Trust Assets to pay all Asbestos Personal Injury Claims, caused by exposure to asbestos-containing products for which Federal-Mogul and/or its wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiaries Turner & Newall (“T&N”) and its direct or indirect subsidiaries, Gasket Holdings Inc. (“Flexitallic”)and Ferodo America Inc. (“Ferodo”)(collectively, the “T&N Entities”); ………The Trust was formed on December 27, 2007 and commenced operations………. The Trust began accepting T&N Subfund Trust Claims on August 25, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. EST. Further information regarding the filing and processing of T&N Subfund Trust Claims can be found on this website.
“The goal of the Trust is to process and pay valid claims as promptly and efficiently as possible.”
Scheduled Disease
Scheduled Value
T&N Flexitallic/Ferodo
Scheduled Value
________________________________________ Average Value
________________________________________ Maximum Value
________________________________________
Mesothelioma (Level VIII) $ 200,000 $ 250,000 $ 600,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII) $ 42,500 $ 60,000 $ 125,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) None $ 12,000 $ 40,000
Other Cancer (Level V) $ 14,750 $ 19,500 $ 90,000
عSevere Asbestosis (Level IV) $ 42,500 $ 54,500 $ 125,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III) $ 12,700 $ 13,500 $ 25,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II) $ 5,700 $ 5,800 $ 8,000
do y want to have an idea of the victims in lebanon : go back 20 or 30 years where these ferodo asbestos products where sold to lebanon
. Au lieu de stocker ces déchets, ce qui coûte cher, ils pourront s’en débarrasser tout en récupérant de l’argent
رسالة من شركة فيرودو وردت لشركة عربجيان سنة 1993 تقول: في بريطانيا اصبحنا نبيع فقط منتوجات خالية من مادة الاسبستوس . A.F.) ولبنان هو المفضل لارسال اليه المنتوجات المحتوية على مادة الاسبستوس (HG1) باسعار مخفضة
FERODO 1993 Well we hold quite a bit of stock of HG1 (asbestos )at caernafon ,but the time has come when we want to swing all our U.K.customers over to asbestos free. Our thoughts went immediately to you and we would like to give you the first opportunity to purchase this stock at very competitive prices
more offers
: 1988 I EXPECT TO HAVE SOME ASBESTOS PADS LATER TO OFFER BUT THESE WILL BE OFFERED SEPARATELY
: 1988 SPECIAL PRICING WAS GIVEN ON THE BASIS OF ASBESTOS STOCKS ONLY
: 1989 WE DO STILL HAVE SOME ASBESTOS STOCKS I SHALL SHORTLY HAVE A NEW LIST AVAILABLE AND THIS WILL BE SENT ON TO YOU QUICKLY .LATER WE WILL HAVE MORE ASBESTOS AVAILABLE IN THE SPRINGJM A NEW LIST WILL THEN BE SENT
: 1989 WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING ASBESTOS PADS IN STOCK WHICH WE ARE PREPARED to LET YOU HAVE AT THE PRICES INVOICED TO YOU LAST YEAR
Un crime contre l’humanité est une « violation délibérée et ignominieuse des droits fondamentaux d’un individu ou d’un groupe d’individus inspirée par des motifs politiques, philosophiques, raciaux ou religieux »1. Cependant, « il n’y a pas, pour les crimes contre l’humanité, de définition
I heard once a that no one destroyed Lebanon more that the war canons other than the engineers that built during the war… Frankly and without any reserve as an engineers I can add now the destructive construction continues…
Pingback: Can You Sleep Like These Beirut Construction Workers? « Lebanon Spring Blog
I thinks there’s someone behind the government, dictating them to do these kind of things.
from joseph arbajian to all concerned :we have in lebanon the law
القانون رقم 64\88 الصادر في 12 اب 1988 تناول النفايات الضارة والمواد الخطرة واعتبر الاسبستوس احداها
المادة الثامنة ان كل من يتهرب من موجب التصريف يكون مسؤولا” بالتضامن عن الاضرار الناجمة للغير (مسؤولية جزائية)
المادة العاشرة اذا نجم مرض كان من الممكن توقعه عوقب الفاعل بالاشغال الشاقة اذا نجم موت انسان او اكثر قضي بالاشغال الشاقة اذا ثبت ان الفاعل قصد النتيجة الجرمية
قضي بالاعدام
here is a copy of the e mail sent to federal mogul and which is self explanatory From: josepharbajian@hotmail.com
To: graham.phelan@federalmogul.com; mefi.barrera@federalmogul.com; christine.hughes@federalmogul.com; mphealth@cyberia.net.lb; info@justice.gov.lb; webmaster@moe.gov.lb; mo_mulla@eu.fmo.com
Subject: Ferodo Distribution Contract In Lebanon.
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 12:10:06 +0200
Dear sirs,
Since you resiliated our 30 years old contracts for the distribution of Ferodo goods and FP diesel goods for the benefit of Mr. Joseph Nicolakes your local director and Gednico director, please note that:
• Indemnity has not yet been paid to Arbajian brothers.
• Old stock is still at your disposal.(asbestos containing products)
• You have not performed your duty of information and indemnification in Lebanon concerning Asbestos diseases before and after 25/8/2010 when you started fulfilling your duty of indemnification towards Ferodo asbestos products distributed worldwide
To avoid serious penal proceedings where the ministry of health and the ministry of economy will be asked to join us in the procedure, and where we will seek to apply the French code de commerce ARTICLE L442-6.
We urgently ask you to inform us how you will settle above matters, your answer is appreciated within 30 days latest.
Joseph arbajian
that is what federal mogul is depriving lebanon from
Welcome to . The Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust
Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust T&N Subfund (Ferodo …
________________________________________
The Federal Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust will use the Trust Assets to pay all Asbestos Personal Injury Claims, caused by exposure to asbestos-containing products for which Federal-Mogul and/or its wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiaries Turner & Newall (“T&N”) and its direct or indirect subsidiaries, Gasket Holdings Inc. (“Flexitallic”)and Ferodo America Inc. (“Ferodo”)(collectively, the “T&N Entities”); ………The Trust was formed on December 27, 2007 and commenced operations………. The Trust began accepting T&N Subfund Trust Claims on August 25, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. EST. Further information regarding the filing and processing of T&N Subfund Trust Claims can be found on this website.
“The goal of the Trust is to process and pay valid claims as promptly and efficiently as possible.”
Scheduled Disease
Scheduled Value
T&N Flexitallic/Ferodo
Scheduled Value
________________________________________ Average Value
________________________________________ Maximum Value
________________________________________
Mesothelioma (Level VIII) $ 200,000 $ 250,000 $ 600,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII) $ 42,500 $ 60,000 $ 125,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) None $ 12,000 $ 40,000
Other Cancer (Level V) $ 14,750 $ 19,500 $ 90,000
عSevere Asbestosis (Level IV) $ 42,500 $ 54,500 $ 125,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III) $ 12,700 $ 13,500 $ 25,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II) $ 5,700 $ 5,800 $ 8,000
do y want to have an idea of the victims in lebanon : go back 20 or 30 years where these ferodo asbestos products where sold to lebanon
. Au lieu de stocker ces déchets, ce qui coûte cher, ils pourront s’en débarrasser tout en récupérant de l’argent
رسالة من شركة فيرودو وردت لشركة عربجيان سنة 1993 تقول: في بريطانيا اصبحنا نبيع فقط منتوجات خالية من مادة الاسبستوس . A.F.) ولبنان هو المفضل لارسال اليه المنتوجات المحتوية على مادة الاسبستوس (HG1) باسعار مخفضة
FERODO 1993 Well we hold quite a bit of stock of HG1 (asbestos )at caernafon ,but the time has come when we want to swing all our U.K.customers over to asbestos free. Our thoughts went immediately to you and we would like to give you the first opportunity to purchase this stock at very competitive prices
more offers
: 1988 I EXPECT TO HAVE SOME ASBESTOS PADS LATER TO OFFER BUT THESE WILL BE OFFERED SEPARATELY
: 1988 SPECIAL PRICING WAS GIVEN ON THE BASIS OF ASBESTOS STOCKS ONLY
: 1989 WE DO STILL HAVE SOME ASBESTOS STOCKS I SHALL SHORTLY HAVE A NEW LIST AVAILABLE AND THIS WILL BE SENT ON TO YOU QUICKLY .LATER WE WILL HAVE MORE ASBESTOS AVAILABLE IN THE SPRINGJM A NEW LIST WILL THEN BE SENT
: 1989 WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING ASBESTOS PADS IN STOCK WHICH WE ARE PREPARED to LET YOU HAVE AT THE PRICES INVOICED TO YOU LAST YEAR
Un crime contre l’humanité est une « violation délibérée et ignominieuse des droits fondamentaux d’un individu ou d’un groupe d’individus inspirée par des motifs politiques, philosophiques, raciaux ou religieux »1. Cependant, « il n’y a pas, pour les crimes contre l’humanité, de définition
joseph arbajian