Brief Summary of ADSA and ADAS

The Asbestos Diseases Advisory Services (ADAS) was established in 1984 in response to an identified need for independent advice and assistance with asbestos-related issues. The ADAS provides free advice and assistance in the following areas:

• Medico/legal matters (including Workers Compensation and Common Law damages claims)
  
• Industrial and environmental hygiene
  
• Collation and distribution of global medical and scientific research information on asbestos-related issues
  

In 25 years, ADSA and ADAS have developed a degree of experience and expertise in asbestos-related issues that are unparalleled in Australia. Every year both organisations spend tens of thousands of dollars keeping informed of the latest medical and scientific developments associated with asbestos, especially in relation to problems associated with asbestos in the community. All information gained is used in furthering the Society's objectives - often in the context of legal battles, political negotiation and community anxiety.

Finally, in addition to the above resources and experience, ADSA and ADAS rely on distinguished medical, legal professionals and a worldwide network of scientific and medical contacts that specialise in particular areas of asbestos and they are ready to offer advice as and when required.

Accordingly, ADSA and ADAS see themselves as an independent voice in any issue associated with asbestos risk and asbestos related diseases.
Since the formation of the Asbestos Diseases Society in 1979, its continuing activities reflect the deep, community wide concern over the growing incidence of asbestos induced diseases, the apparent callous indifference of industrial management to the health of employees, and most particularly, the complete lack of social responsibility of the asbestos industry, which indiscriminately mined, manufactured and disseminated a known carcinogen (asbestos), throughout the community.

In Australia it has been clearly shown that asbestos diseases can no longer be considered as a problem mainly isolated to the miners of asbestos, as occupational exposure to lethal asbestos amongst the former workers of asbestos manufacturing industry, Government Railways, Electricity Commission, Wharfs, building industry, Defence Personnel (Navy, Army, Air Force), tradesmen, etc is now producing lung cancers, mesothelioma, asbestosis and pleural disease of epidemic proportions. Tragically, asbestos diseases not connected to occupation are also now emerging amongst those in the broader community.

One of the underlying aims of the Asbestos Diseases Society and its Advisory Service is to foster in the community, a greater understanding of the problems and hardship experienced by sufferers of asbestos diseases and their families. To illustrate, Specialists may confirm that the individual appears to have only a benign form of asbestos disease at present, but what causes distress for the patient, is not knowing how far and in what way the disease may progress. What is most feared is the suffering and pain that will result from slowly dying of asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer or other carcinomas.

In addition the Asbestos Diseases Society and its Advisory Service also provide educational programs to the Community, Government, Industry, Unions and other organizations on a number of issues associated with asbestos. Only an informed public, which understands the carcinogenic consequences of asbestos risk, can put pressure on politicians to develop policies that will remove and reduce asbestos products from the community.

Sadly there are more than 2500 asbestos caused deaths per annum in Australia today and the numbers are on the increase. This is a grim reminder of the dismal failure of both the Australian State and Federal Governments' asbestos occupational health and safety policies.