Month: September 2021

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A diary of a #Mesowarrior Living With #Mesothelioma #Asbestos- The Contamination 2021 At Birmingham NEC

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I have been out and away to Birmingham. The first time for 2 years almost. It was great to be packing a case and getting a taxi to the station, wait for a train and travel to London again. It was very strange.We had to down load all our COVID test details and jab info etc and we did a test to take. Its like a Pregnancy test waiting for the lines to appear.

We changed to the Birmingham train and was soon booking in to a hotel for the night and going out for a Japanese meal in the city.

Next morning off we travelled again by train to the NEC and we were back at the Contamination Expo with all our friends.

It was kisses and hugs (I felt safe as we were all tested and had a red arm band on)

So we spent a day happy, but after 2 years in slippers my poor feet. Both Ray and I found walking around getting harder and harder. We booked into the speakers lounge to load our talk onto their computer and to meet with the organisers, that done we were free to walk around again and have a drink.

It was lovely to get to our hotel.

I had booked us into the Hilton Metro, for a treat.

We went out for dinner at the other Hilton by the airport with Paul Chamberlin and the Sundstrum team and had a great laugh with Gary Pharo telling the rudest of story’s Bless him. (but thats another story)

We had to go back to our hotel, as we had to get up early to talk at the NEC.

Next morning we went to the theatre to make sure we knew how to work everything. It was empty and I thought we would be talking to ourselves at 10 in the morning, but it did fill up and we gave our presentation that was received really well.

Then we walked round and round again and bumped into so many people more hugs and kisses.

A great surprise was on the UKATA stand. Its amazing how someone that you only know through social media,and yet you know them so well and that was the case of meeting with Andrew Paten. He smiled at me OMG!! what a wonderful surprise. A very happy moment as I love his barcode for buildings that will show where the asbestos is in a building. Its got the right name. The Smart System, and it will be great for people like my son who is a fire alarm engineer. He will put his phone to the barcode and know just where the asbestos is and not have surprises finding it in lift shafts etc etc and be able to drill safely. Andrew is asking for investments to be able to see his dream happen keeping trades people and school children, NHS staff etc etc, safe https://www.ethex.org.uk/invest/uknar?utm_content=buffere8948&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

UK National Asbestos Register (UKNAR)

After a lovely lunch with more friends we had another walk around but then it was time to say goodbye,

Catch a train and change in London to our fast train to home.

We have lots of happy memories and lots of plans.

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A Diary Of A #Mesowarrior Living With #Mesothelioma#asbestos — Im back on the Conference Circuit doing what I do best –Talking !!

We have had an Interesting week. The asked us to talk via Teams on Thursday, So many people were on the call from around the world that we were nervous. We needn’t have been they loved our presentation as we learnt from the feed back afterwards. The patient is being listened to nowadays, our voices are making a difference to their understanding.

Synteract wrote –Just grabbed a tissue while listening to this morning’s Oncology Journal Club featuring guest speaker, Mavis Nye Dr (hon) BEM. BCAh and her husband, Ray, of the Mavis Nye Foundation.When we’re sitting at our desks day to day, we’re so focused on what’s in front of us. Today’s session was a wonderful reminder that each patient and carer we’re involved with comes with their own unique story, and it was a privilege to hear Mavis and Ray’s love story and their #mesothelioma and #ClinicalTrials journey.Just grabbed a tissue while listening to this morning’s Oncology Journal Club featuring guest speaker, Mavis Nye Dr (hon) BEM. BCAh and her husband, Ray, of the Mavis Nye Foundation.When we’re sitting at our desks day to day, we’re so focused on what’s in front of us. Today’s session was a wonderful reminder that each patient and carer we’re involved with comes with their own unique story, and it was a privilege to hear Mavis and Ray’s love story and their #mesothelioma and #ClinicalTrials journey. —–

Oh how lovely. We did enjoy ourselves after the technical glitch disappeared. So many great questions were asked, its good to have such interaction. ——–

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https://web.cvent.com/event/9c0b6ffb-7957-4e64-9d2a-d58be320cd61/websitePage:645d57e4-75eb-4769-b2c0-f201a0bfc6ce?fbclid=IwAR1nUFYQiyhySvcz5vDVTpRoP0dhN1I4JjROJOGXGj_2fCAH2VDJTuSpRnU

Then on Friday and Sat I sat for hours on the computer for the ADAO Conference.

Every year Linda asks me to be the International voice of the mesowarriors and every year I have made recordings and they have gone disastrously wrong. So this year I was determined it would would be spot on. and I feel it did go well.

I will post a recording when ADAO publish.

On Friday The film festival was spot on. It was a very emotional program but I enjoyed every moment.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3582968/

The event will include:  “The Mother” by Paolo Monico, “Breathless” by Daniel Lambo, “Dirty Laundry” by Conor B. Lewis and Zack Johnson, and ADAO’s 16th Congressional Staff Briefing, “Impact of Asbestos on Public Health, Environment, and Economy,” with Brad Black, MD; Barry Castleman, ScD; Raja Flores, MD; Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD; Brent Kynoch, Environmental Information Association; Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH; Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, American Public Health Association; Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization; Greg Russell, International Association of Fire Fighters; and Robert Sussman.

“The Mother” by Paolo Monico

  • When a hardened widow receives an unexpected visit, she is given the chance to shed light on her husband’s death. Starring Mary Testa, Boris McGiver, Michele Hicks and Sylvia Kauders.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC3g2Ky4xbM&t=1s breathless

“Breathless” by Daniel Lambo 

  • Following the deaths of his father and many others from his village, filmmaker Daniel Lambo sets off on a passionate quest to find the truth about the deadly asbestos industry. His search takes him to the largest asbestos waste dump in India and unveils a cold-blooded industry still endangering the lives of workers and consumers around the world. A gripping story on the fight of individuals against a booming asbestos industry.

“Dirty Laundry” by Conor B. Lewis and Zack Johnson 

  • Two cousins journey across the United States by bicycle, fueled by a curiosity about their elderly grandmother’s sudden passing from a rare cancer, mesothelioma, and uncover a trail of broken families bound by asbestos.

Then Saturday was the Conference where so many spoke and told their stories

The speakers were

Linda Reinstein, Opening Remarks9:00 AM-9:10 AM ETWarrior

Message of Support by Mavis Nye (UK)9:10 AM-9:20 AM 

ETSession I: Progress and Challenges from the Frontline

9:20 AM-10:20 AM ETSession II: Medical Advancements: Diagnosing and Treating Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Diseases

10:30 AM-11:40 AM ETIntroduction: Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

11:45 AM-11:50 AM ETKeynote Speech: Rebecca L. Reindel, MS, MPH, Safety and Health Director, AFL-CIO

11:50 AM-12:30 PM ETSession III: Prevention: What Is It? Where Is It? What Do I Do?

12:30 PM-1:40 PM ETIntroduction: Kathy Best, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, University of Maryland

1:45 PM-1:50 PM ETAndrew Schneider Memorial Lecturer: Wendy Ruderman, Journalist1

:50 PM-2:30 PM ETSession IV: Advocacy: Global Ban Asbestos Action

2:30 PM-3:50 PM ET

Linda Reinstein, Closing Remarks

3:50 PM-4:00 PM ETSATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2021: AWARDS AND RECOGNITION CEREMONYVirtual Awards and Recognition Ceremony

4:30 PM-5:30 PM ETSponsorship Recognition

A good Conference under difficult situation of COVID

Then also last week I had 2 articles printed in The Asbestos Hub Magazine so all in all it has been a great week.

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Top Ten Industries at Risk from Asbestos Exposure Even today #asbestos #mesothelioma

Top 10 Industries at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

There are some industries that also risk asbestos exposure and are not commonly thought about when it comes to asbestos. While the exposure is not as high as in some industries, the exposure is still significant enough to cause health concerns and even mesothelioma deaths. The use of asbestos, unfortunately, has reached a variety of different industries that are still prominent today. Below are industries and jobs that have some exposure to asbestos over the years and should be assessed by an asbestos litigation specialist right away.

  1. Construction: Asbestos was widely used in many aspects of the construction process. Employees working with insulation or pipe fitting are most at risk, including drywall installers, electricians, insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, boilermakers, and brick masons.
  2. Firefighter: Though it is an incredible fire-retardant material, asbestos can become airborne as the surrounding materials burn. Firefighters often charge into older buildings containing an array of dangerous materials and compounds. 
  3. Auto mechanics: Asbestos has been used in brake linings, gaskets, and clutches for decades. Because mechanics cannot tell if a part contains asbestos by looking at it, anyone working on cars should proceed with the assumption that it does.
  4. Railroad: Railroad workers are still commonly being diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos through insulation materials on pipes, brakes, boilers, and gaskets.
  5. Shipbuilding: Workers from U.S. shipyards have experienced an abnormally high amount of mesothelioma cases after exposure to asbestos from 1950-64. Shipyard jobs that exposed workers to asbestos included machinists, pipefitters, electricians, boilermakers, and painters.
  6. Farming: With the extensive use of farming equipment operations and maintenance over the years, the use of asbestos has shown up as an issue for many farmers, including dairy and poultry farmers who need certain equipment to raise and harvest the produce from their animals. More animal harvesting farmers have had more exposure while crop farmers’ exposure has been limited only to farm equipment maintenance periodically. At the time of asbestos being used in farming, there were between 2 and 3 million farmers across the country working and using equipment that was lined with asbestos regularly. Unfortunately, this exposure could have also been transferred second hand through the home with dust from the equipment on clothing. 
  7. HVAC Technicians: While new systems do not use asbestos, HVAC technicians who have performed services on old systems and entered older homes where asbestos was used in insulation have risked exposure. Depending on how long they have been in the industry and how many homes they have entered over the course of their career. Those who have been in the industry for over ten years have probably experienced much more exposure to asbestos due to the age of the homes. Newer homes would not have the risk that older ones do with asbestos, reducing current exposure to HVAC technicians significantly. Older homes in most cases have updated their homes and removed the asbestos, but in some places, this was only a recommendation as opposed to a requirement. 
  8. Hairdressers: Over the last couple of decades, hairdressers and beauticians have risked exposure to asbestos through the use of hairdryers and other hair items used frequently. Old equipment made at least in the late 1970s, asbestos from the equipment is released into the air in the environment. While customer exposure is limited, a constant release of asbestos into the air can cause health concerns and risks to the hairdressers who have been using this equipment daily and for years on end. While it may be rare to find equipment today with this asbestos, there could be some hairdryers in some home salons left with asbestos in them. Beauticians that have been in the industry for several decades have a higher risk rate than others and should be aware of the potential exposure.
  9. Factory Workers: Working in plants and textile factories in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s is an industry where asbestos was used frequently in the machines, releasing toxins into the air. Those who worked on these machines daily in this environment, consistently breathing in these toxins from the asbestos have increased exposure to asbestos. Even when the machines they were using were serviced for maintenance and upgrades, the use of asbestos was prevalent all the way through the 1990s. Asbestos could have even been linked in the safety uniforms and gloves that were used to handle these machines while working. Depending on how long each person worked in that environment and how much they used could be more damaging than others. 
  10. Healthcare Workers: Through the 1970s and even part of the 1980s, some of the hospital equipment used asbestos for its practicality, since it was able to withstand extreme temperatures. In an area where temperatures can change significantly from one environment to the other, that was essential for earlier models of equipment. Those using the equipment such as healthcare workers may have experienced exposure to asbestos. Depending on the type of equipment and the frequency of use, the exposure can vary. 

Cooney & Conway, LLP. https://www.cooneyconway.com/