Occupational Diseases: Asbestos List Grows

The number of people diagnosed with asbestos-related health conditions is continuing to rise; however, concerns have been raised that doctors still need to work on improving their reporting of work-related diseases. More than 17,000 people have told New Zealand's Department of Labor since 1992 that they may have been exposed to asbestos. The chief advisor for occupational health, Geraint Emrys, says that not many doctors told their patients about the system for reporting occupational diseases and very few patients knew to ask their doctors about it.

Warning for doctors as asbestos list grows

Emrys said that family doctors need to improve their reporting of work-related diseases and injuries and encourage their patients to do the same. "Notifying the department of a health problem that may have been caused by work protects not only an individual's health but also the health of their workmates who may be being harmed by the same workplace exposure," said Emrys. Emrys noted that lung cancer reportings related to asbestos exposure were small compared to many other asbestos-related medical conditions.