r 3,000 Asbestos Deaths
Historic Criminal Negligence Verdict in Turin Eternit Trial
Eternit
asbestos cement company magnates, Swiss Stephan Schnidheiny and Belgian Baron De
Cartier de Marchienne have been found guilty today in a Turin court of criminal
charges of causing wilful and deliberate environmental disaster and wilful and
deliberate failure to implement precautions in the work place.
They have been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for an
estimated 3,000 deaths from asbestos-related diseases as a result of Eternit’s
activities.
In the
UK, environmental and occupational health disasters have been caused by Turner
& Newall (T&N) and Cape plc asbestos production. T&N’s Leed’s Armley
factory notoriously contaminated hundreds of houses and the failure to protect
workers at the Cape asbestos factory in Hebden Bridge led to a Government
enquiry.
In the UK, thousands of deaths have been caused by T&N
and Cape activities but no criminal charges have ever been brought against the
company executives.
Tony
Whitston, Forum Chair says:
“This
historic verdict provides justice for thousands of asbestos victims in Italy. It
sends a powerful message to companies not to flout workplace and environmental
laws. The asbestos tragedy in Italy and the UK, and in many other countries,
could have been prevented if action had been taken earlier. In the UK, asbestos
manufacturers have, literally, got away with murder.”
“The
asbestos tragedy in the UK will afflict future generations if the Government
persists in attacking health and safety legislation, cutting enforcement
activity and thereby failing to prevent exposure to thousands of tonnes of
asbestos in buildings in the UK.”
END
NOTES
TO EDITORS
Eternit, T&N and
Cape formed a cartel with other asbestos manufacturers.
