Asbestos safety in Ukraine: Union initiative safeguards lives of construction workers

The war in Ukraine has triggered numerous cascading, long-term impacts, one of which is the looming environmental disaster caused by uncontrolled asbestos exposure. This poses significant health risks, not only for residents but also for those involved in the reconstruction efforts.

The Building Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (PROFBUD) fully recognises the inevitable dangers facing workers. While asbestos is relatively safe when encapsulated in glue or cement, the mass destruction of buildings due to missile attacks is generating millions of tonnes of hazardous, asbestos-contaminated rubble—a serious long-term health threat. The World Health Organization lists asbestos as a carcinogen responsible for various diseases, including respiratory issues, lung cancer, and cancers of the stomach, ovaries, and other organs.

From 1-3 October 2024, PROFBUD organised a comprehensive asbestos safety training. This initiative stemmed from the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, held on 9-10 April 2024 in Warsaw, and negotiations with advisers from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The training took place at the Lviv State University of Life Safety under the theme “Asbestos Hazards and Safe Removal”, and gathered around 30 occupational safety and health (OSH) specialists and trade union activists.

“We see thousands, if not millions, of tonnes of asbestos-contaminated debris in war zones, and worryingly, new asbestos products are still being sold online. Workers need to understand the hazardous, carcinogenic nature of asbestos and follow proper safety standards when removing it from our homes. PROFBUD was proud to welcome experts from the UK, who trained our specialists in asbestos awareness programmes that are crucial for our workers today,” said Vasyl Andreyev, President of PROFBUD.

Participants were taught about the dangers of asbestos, methods for its detection, and safe removal procedures. EBRD advisers—Dan Tooley, Ian Harper, and Alex Hitch—delivered detailed presentations on a database for identifying asbestos, insulation techniques, and the proper handling of asbestos-containing materials. They also demonstrated the assembly of isolation chambers to contain asbestos fibres. The participants gained hands-on experience by working with real equipment and structures, completing the entire process, from donning protective gear to exiting the isolation chamber.

PROFBUD also received humanitarian aid in the form of asbestos removal equipment worth over £20,000 from its British colleagues. This generous assistance will enable PROFBUD to continue organising training sessions, equipping health and safety professionals and construction workers with the knowledge and tools necessary to safely handle asbestos materials. The next asbestos awareness training is planned for 2025 at the "Pobuzhzhia Training Centre" in Khmelnytskyi.