An occupational health and safety clinic in Windsor, Ontario, expressed its concerns about the health of former workers at a foundry and insulation plant in Sarnia to the Canadian Auto Workers union early in 1998. The workers suffered cancer, respiratory and hearing problems, and heart disease. An investigation of their workplace exposures ensued. Researchers obtained government documents that showed the history of ineffectual regulation at Sarnia and some of the highest levels of asbestos—hundreds of times over the legal limits—ever recorded in Canadian workplaces.
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References
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“The Holmes Foundry Strike of March 1937: ‘We'll give their jobs to white men!’” written by SnowDuart, Carleton University, from Ontario History1977.
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In 1987, FinkelsteinMurray, Ph.D., working for the Ministry of Labour, released a mortality health study regarding the Caposite and Holmes Insulation Plant. An appendix was included which discussed several studies of iron and steel foundry workers that consistently showed an excess risk for lung cancer. He cited the findings of eight studies as reference to substantiate his recommendation for a mortality study of Holmes Foundry workers to determine whether the increased risk observed elsewhere also has occurred in the Holmes environment. A recent interview with Dr. Finkelstein established that his recommendation was never acted upon.
