Sunday Sit-down: Santa Claus

Santa Claus will visit Old Sturbridge Village for its "Christmas by Candlelight" event at various times and dates this month. For more information go to www.osv.org/event/christmas-candlelight or call (800) 733-1830. 

What is your favorite attraction at Old Sturbridge Village's "Christmas by Candlelight" event? 

The kids. Their excitement and just the way they look at you. Children are just so special. I tell parents, you should listen to your kids. They're smart. They might be little kids, but they are people and they know things. 

What does Christmas mean to you? 

To me Christmas is kids. I think God blessed us with children and we should enjoy them. That's the whole thing. Kids ask me, "Why are you Santa?" I tell them, "Because I love children all over the world." I've got the best job in the world. 

Does the North Pole have Wi-Fi? 

Unfortunately we do. I don't use it myself. I don't do any of that electronic stuff. I have elves that do it. They've kept up with it. 

Do you use GPS for your sleigh? 

They finally have put in GPS. I have an elf up there, Aldo. He's my geek. He's the one who programs everything and brings us into the 21st century. It's been quite a challenge because I have no idea how any of it works. Some of the reindeer are programmed to follow GPS. 

Is there something else you would like left out for you instead of milk and cookies? 

Eggnog and rice pudding. I love rice pudding. 

After a busy night of delivering presents what do you do? 

I take a nice nap; then I get up and have a nice Christmas dinner with Mrs. Claus and a bunch of the elves. 

What do you want for Christmas? 

I just want kids to be happy. I want children to be able to be children while they are young before society spoils them. That why I think I have the greatest job in the world; I get to talk to all these children. 

How does someone get off the naughty list? 

It takes a lot. They really have to show that they want to be nice. Sometimes they get on the naughty list for doing something simple: hitting their sister or picking on their brother or sister. Those kids I kind of just hope they see what really is right. As far as getting off the naughty list, they really have to prove to me they love their parents and everyone they live with. 

Does the "Candlelight by Christmas" event bring you back to the older days? 

Yes. I would rather go back to the older days when kids are satisfied with getting a toy truck or something like that. I enjoyed it then because it was so much easier. Kids now, one of the biggest things they ask for is a telephone. The first thing I ask is, "Do you have a job?" If they say no, I say who is going to pay for it. I love coming to Old Sturbridge Village because it reminds me of what Christmas was all about. 

Ever shave your beard? 

Never. Sometimes I'll cut it shorter because Mrs. Claus likes it a little shorter because it tickles her. She has gotten used to it. She has never seen me without a beard. 

Chocolate or regular milk? 

It can be either. I love milk. That's my dessert. 

How do 
you get into homes if they don't have a chimney? 

That's why I have a magic key hanging around my neck. The elves made it for me. It gets me into every door in the world. 

How much mail do you read in a day? 

Actually, I have a whole crew that helps me read the mail because it would be impossible for one man to read all that mail. When the helicopters fly over and drop the sacks of mail, there are thousands and thousands of letters that we have to answer, so we have a department that reads the mail.

Insurance agents feeling left out of "Obamacare"

MIAMI - (AP) -- When insurance agent Kelly Fristoe recently spent 30 minutes helping a client pick a mid-level health plan and the federal marketplace website froze, he called the government's hotline and tried to finish the application. But the operator refused to credit Fristoe as an agent on the application, meaning he wouldn't get the commission or be listed as the follow-up contact if his client needed help again later.

The Wichita Falls, Texas, insurance agent is one of many brokers around the country finding frustration as they try to help customers navigate the Affordable Care Act's marketplaces while earning the commissions they've long built their businesses around. Some insurers and insurance agents are calling on President Barack Obama's administration to allow them to bypass healthcare.gov and enroll consumers directly amid growing complaints about problems with enrollment information generated from the website.

The so-called 'back-end' problems could mean that consumers who think they've successfully signed up for a health plan, may find themselves unable to access their coverage come January. The problems include enrollment information that's rendered practically useless by errors, duplication or garbles. Efforts to fix the issues are underway.

Nearly 70,000 agents and brokers have been certified nationwide to sell health insurance on the federal exchange. Many say they could be the troubled health law's best ambassadors with the potential to boost lackluster enrollment figures -- only about 27,000 had enrolled via the federal website nationwide in the first month. But instead, many agents said they're continually met by obstacles.

"You look at this dismal number they have of how many people have enrolled on healthcare.gov," said Fristoe. "If they would just relax and loosen up, because me and all of my associates across this nation want to help these consumers get enrolled into the market."

Federal health officials announced on Nov. 22 that they'd fixed some portions of the website to allow more insurers and insurance agents to enroll consumers directly. The feds are asking roughly 16 insurers, agents and brokers in Florida, Texas and Ohio to test it out and give detailed feedback about the fixes, hoping to expand it to other states in the coming weeks. Health officials have been vague about the scope of the botched applications insurers are receiving and what steps they're taking to fix the problems. One bug related to Social Security numbers, which federal health officials said accounted for more than 80 percent of insurers' problems, was fixed last weekend.

But the problems have persisted, prompting the head of the National Association of Health Underwriters to write the president Tuesday, urging him to make additional fixes a priority, saying agents have a significant backlog of clients with incomplete applications.

"We want to make it clear that a number of back-end technical obstacles still exist for health insurance agents and brokers trying to actively support the federal marketplace," said CEO Janet Trautwein.

Insurance industry executives also met with Obama last month and encouraged him to let them take a more active role in enrolling consumers in the 36 states relying on the federal website. Brokers' frustrations with the website are amplified by the pressure they face to add customers to offset reductions in their commissions under the law.

Among the complaints, agents say the website isn't always crediting brokers when they help enroll consumers -- meaning they're losing out on commissions. Once an application is started, consumers can't go back in and add a broker's name if they help midway through the process. Federal health officials said there are 975,000 customers who have started an application but not selected a plan.

Agents say they're also still waiting on the federal government to add a promised feature on the website that would easily connect consumers with local insurance brokers.

Insurers and insurance agents are allowed to sign consumers up for health plans through a "direct enrollment" process. Even though the process may start on the insurer's website, at some point it's redirected to the technology-plagued healthcare.gov website to determine if customers are eligible for subsidies, and then ideally transferred back to the insurer's site. But various points in the process have been mired in glitches. Federal health officials said they've fixed some of the problems, but skeptics fear the improvements still won't allow for a smooth shopping experience and are pushing for a way to bypass the website.

Brokers face similar problems in some of the states that are running their own exchanges, such as Oregon. It's easy for insurers to enroll customers who want a health plan and don't qualify for a subsidy. The trouble comes when insurers and agents need to sync to federal data hubs to verify income, citizenship and other personal information. Democratic Florida state Rep. Richard Stark, who is also an insurance agent, said many of his clients have received inaccurate subsidy estimates from the federal government for clients. For example, a client with twin children was told one is eligible for a subsidy, but not the other.

Like others stymied by website malfunctions, Ken Statz and other agents at his firm in Brecksville, Ohio, filled out paper applications and mailed them, but it was taking time to hear back from the federal government about whether clients are eligible for a subsidy. Then they tried to get creative, planning to fill out the applications with clients during the day and hire someone to input the information into healthcare.gov during off-hours after 11 p.m. But that didn't work either because the site asks personal identification questions that only the user would know.

"We don't have a clear pathway to get them enrolled into the plan. (The federal government) hasn't given us the ability to do that. They're kind of missing the mark on this. They need to realize that we are the best pathway," he said.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, recently sent a letter to federal health officials urging them to fix the barriers hampering brokers and possibly create a way to bypass the healthcare.gov site. She suggested a dedicated call-center line or mailing locations for paper applications.

Stark has noticed a chilly reception toward his industry when he's attended local outreach organizations on the health overhaul.

"They basically didn't want to work with insurance agents because they felt agents were going to steer a customer toward (a plan) where they think they will make the most money," said Stark. "If I steer someone incorrectly to a plan that doesn't meet their needs, there's a lot of hell to pay as an agent."

Navigators will likely be gone when enrollment ends in March. That's why Statz said it's important for federal health officials to empower agents to "help people now, but help them make decisions on their accounts moving forward."

Yarnell Hill Fire inquiry reflects battle in safety enforcement

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s inquiry to determine whether safety violations played a role in 19 fatalities at the Yarnell Hill Fire reflects a decades-long battle in the wildfire community about causes and accountability in tragic accidents.

The enforcement of safety guidelines in wildfire fatalities has been a subject of controversy and change since the federal government first adopted the 10 Standard Fire Orders more than a half-century ago.

There are two perspectives within the profession: Some say safety protocols should be treated as strict regulations, and those who violate the rules should be held accountable. Others say the protocols should be regarded merely as virtues or cautionary guidelines.

Likewise, some firefighters believe deadly incidents should be investigated fully to determine what factors caused the fatalities, to identify whether safety protocols were violated, and to ensure that lessons are learned so tragedies won’t be repeated. 

But, in today’s wildfire community, many professional agencies and organizations oppose inquiries that identify mistakes or assess blame. That opposition is based, at least in part, on fears that the investigative findings may be used in lawsuits, criminal prosecutions or personnel actions against well-meaning firefighters and their supervisors.

The dispute has been particularly acute in cases where the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration or its state counterparts have investigated deadly accidents, using the “Standard Fire Orders,” “18 Watch Out Situations” and other firefighter-safety protocols as regulatory baselines.

The Standard Fire Orders have been fundamental to U.S. wildfire training and operations since 1957, instructing firefighters to be aware of weather conditions and fire behavior, to post lookouts and plan escape routes, and to communicate clearly. 

In a 2006 article, Valparaiso University assistant professor Jennifer Ziegler said the Standard Fire Orders were created by the U.S. Forest Service after a series of deadly blazes in the 1950s. Analysts determined that accidents resulted from “sins of omission” by firefighters: “…Men who know better just did not pay adequate attention to the good firefighting practices…” According to Ziegler, the Fire Orders were initially meant to be treated as “virtues” that would counteract negligence or overconfidence.

Over time, the Fire Orders became a sort of checklist to evaluate crews and — when accidents occurred — to establish causality and blame. In the 1970s, investigators began issuing reports that said deaths resulted because Fire Orders were neglected. After a burn-over in the 1990 Dude Fire near Payson left six firefighters dead, the inquiry placed blame on multiple “violations” of the protocols. Investigators of Colorado’s South Canyon Fire in 1994 complained that firefighters disregarded 8 of the 10 the fundamental safety rules, and that “time and time again fatalities can be attributed to one or more violations of the 10 Standard Fire Orders.”

In 2001, when the ThirtyMile Fire in Washington took four more lives, OSHA hit the Forest Service with three serious and two willful violations. Inspectors concluded that all 10 of the Standard Fire Orders were disregarded, as well as most of the Watch Out Situations. Safety zones and escape routes were not established. Crews did not get necessary updates on weather and fire behavior. Lookouts were inadequate. An incident commander was charged with manslaughter, though he eventually was convicted of lying to investigators.

The Forest Service vowed to implement 88 changes in policies and practices, but more deaths followed. Meanwhile, the dispute over causes and accountability suddenly entailed new components: If, in the heat of battling a blaze, firefighters neglected one of the 10 Fire Orders, they could be treated as criminals, lose their jobs or face civil lawsuits. 

Those concerns were magnified by OSHA, which began investigating fatal wildfires in 1994. In the 1990s and early 2000s, OSHA enforced such rules as inviolate. It began meting out sanctions to the Forest Service and other agencies. Inspectors general for some federal agencies also issued reports criticizing administrators and personnel for safety violations. 

In Idaho’s Cramer Fire of 2004, two firefighters pleaded via radio for a helicopter rescue as flames enveloped them. Once again, inspectors found multiple violations of fundamental safety rules. An OSHA report also blamed macho attitudes and a historic failure to discipline forest personnel for unsafe firefighting behavior. 

“Employees and supervisors are rewarded for aggressively fighting fires and taking serious risks,” noted the OSHA report. “Firefighters are often provided hero status for their exposure to hazardous working conditions. The can-do culture throughout the firefighting ranks is likely to be a very significant contributor to these unfortunate incidents ... There still appears to be no effective incentive for safe behavior.” 

An investigation into the 2004 death of a female firefighter in California’s Stanislaus National Forest resulted in no violations. According to news reports, Cal-OSHA concluded no workplace violations contributed to the firefighter’s death.

Two years later, five firefighters were killed by southern California’s Esperanza Fire, set by an arsonist. As in the Yarnell Hill Fire, crew members succumbed when winds shifted and blew fire over them. The Department of Labor did not immediately provide records about its investigation to The Arizona Republic. However, news reports at the time said OSHA determined the firefighters and Forest Service violated six serious safety standards, mostly involving communication failures. According to one report, forest officials appealed the findings and reached a settlement in which two of the violations were dropped and the other four were amended.

Such findings led to a backlash. Surviving family and colleagues were outraged and horrified to see wildfire victims blamed for their own deaths. Wildfire administrators resented findings of safety infractions by their agencies.

Some wildfire professionals launched a sort of rebellion in 1995, asserting that the 10 Fire Orders are merely guidelines that could not possibly be followed on a fire line, and should not be used to judge performance afterward. Then-Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt immediately issued a memo declaring a “zero-tolerance” for violations of the Fire Orders with the admonition, “We don’t bend them or break them.”

J.A. Thackaberry, a Purdue University professor who also researched the evolution of wildfire safety standards, said in a 2005 paper that the entire profession was “at odds with whether it manages safety as a virtue or safety as a duty.”

The wildfire community was trapped in a dilemma: If safety guidelines are treated as inviolate rule, firefighters might refuse to be interviewed after fatalities for fear of reprisals. In that case, how can deaths be investigated to provide learning tools for the future?

The answer remains muddled. Some wildfire professionals and academics dogmatically insist that mistakes should be identified. Others have adopted a social-psychology theory known as “hindsight bias” to argue that judging firefighter performance after an accident is inherently unfair. Agency managers, meantime, borrowed “risk-management” views from the insurance industry to treat fatalities as inevitable, albeit partially preventable.

Mike Johns, senior litigation counsel at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, wrote a report for an international wildfire conference declaring that fatalities constitute “a random collision of law, policy, fire science, safety science, politics, sociology and psychology among those who will judge the bad outcome.”

Johns, a former hotshot who declined comment for this story, disputed the common notion that wildland firefighters don’t get hurt in burnovers unless someone was negligent. Johns asserts in his writings that wildland fires require decision-making in dynamic and stressful circumstances, and those called to that duty should not be second-guessed by non-experts using hindsight.

In fact, at some point in the mid-2000s, the U.S. government agreed and completely reversed Babbitt’s position. Agencies began referring to the Fire Orders as foundational principles. Federal lawyers, defending the Forest Service in a civil suit, successfully argued that the protocols are not rules, just suggestions. The National Inter-Agency Fire Center in Idaho, which coordinates U.S. wildfire suppression efforts, issued guidelines saying fatality investigators should not establish the cause for an accident or identify violations of safety protocols in public reports.

Thus, the Serious Incident Investigation conducted by a team of experts on the Yarnell Hill Fire reached no public conclusion in September as to the cause of the fatal accident. It did not even address whether fire managers and crews adhered to the Fire Orders.

But Arizona’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is required by law to determine whether conduct violates safety regulations. And, in an industry where the Standard Fire Orders and Watch Out Situations are fundamental baselines, they issued citations Wednesday when rules are neglected.

The perfect time to start a family

SO you've conjured up the wedding, white-picket fence and 2.5 kids by the time you're 35, giving you enough time to make partner at work before your 40th.

Sounds like a dream, right? Well dream on, because experts say the right time to start a family shouldn’t be dictated by your childhood fantasy, but rather when you are physically, emotionally - and financially - able.

Stop dreaming, start planning

"I think it’s rare for people to sit down and plot out their lives well in advance and have that all fall perfectly into place - real life rarely works out that way!" says CEO of Profile Financial Services, Sarah Abood.

"Ideally, the right time to have a family is when you’re emotionally ready and physically able, and the finances need to work around those basic facts.

"But there’s no doubt that planning ahead financially can help make things a lot easier to manage, whenever you decide to bring a child into your life."

Ms Abood, who had her first child at 24 and her second at 42, says having a family is stressful enough without unnecessary financial strain – and planning ahead is the key.

"Get rid of the credit cards, car and any other personal loans - these types of lifestyle debts are a major drain on the budget, which will come under even more pressure with a child in the picture."

When two becomes three – on one income

Secure housing is very important when planning a family - if you have a mortgage, it needs to be one that doesn’t require two people working full time to pay off.

"Remember we are in an environment of historically low interest rates at present - but what happens when - not if - interest rates go up?" she says.

"As a rule of thumb, 20 per cent equity in the home should be a minimum target, and you should still be able to afford the mortgage if interest rates went up by about 3 per cent pa, on a lower income.

"If this isn’t the case, seriously consider moving to somewhere more affordable before starting a family. If you’re renting, the same point about affordability applies –, make sure you can still afford the rent plus foreseeable increases, on your reduced income."

She says it is important to draw up a will and get life insurance to cover any debts and replace your income while your child is dependent, as well as income protection insurance in case of accident or illness.

"And try not to let your retirement planning fall by the wayside if you are taking time out…keep trying to pay super even if it is a small amount."

Realism on a budget

The current paid parental leave scheme does help new parents financially – if you earn less than $150,000 and are the primary carer, this can pay up to $662.10 per week for up to 18 weeks, which is just over $11,000 – but how do you make that last without sacrificing your much-needed morning latte?

"Whatever you decide to do, doing a realistic budget early is very important, as it’s likely that your lifestyle will need to change substantially," she says.

And there are other ways to cut costs.

She says travel is great for broadening the mind but it has the opposite effect on the wallet.

"Seriously, the kids will be perfectly happy with a camping or caravan trip rather than a trip to Disneyland," Ms Abood says.

"And your kids also won’t care much what postcode you live in. Being close to supportive family is more important if you possibly can. If your mortgage is a stretch on one wage, bite the bullet now and move somewhere less fashionable – and less stressful."

Cars are another big expense, so don’t buy new and ask yourself whether you really need to own one - or two.

"There are many car sharing services that offer the convenience of a car when you need one, without the ownership costs," she says. "And stop being influenced by your peer group.

"If you often meet up with friends in expensive restaurants with expensive wine, then your living expenses will be high. It’s hard to save when everyone around you is spending –you might want to start spending more time with your less extravagant friends!"

Mesothelioma Law Firm

Know the Risk Factors

Although several materials can possibly cause this disease, mesothelioma is primarily attributed to exposure to asbestos as reported by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the CDC. Furthermore, Asbestos has been classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a human carcinogen.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant Mesothelioma. The latency period for the disease is reported to be around 20 to 40 years. So exposure to asbestos can go unnoticed for decades. Hence, mesothelioma cases are diagnosed years after the first exposure to asbestos occurs. In a study conducted by the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), annual multiple-cause-of-death records were analyzed for the period from 1999 to 2005. It was found that a total of 18,068 deaths were reported because of malignant Mesothelioma.

Who should be concerned?

Asbestos is imported into the United States and was even mined in the country during the 20th century. In the US, the use of asbestos peaked in 1973 when it amounted to 803,000 metric tons before declining to 1,700 metric tons in 2007. Industrial workers employed in settings such as manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding prior to 1980s are the ones who are at most risk, as federal safety regulation was not in place at the that time. Exposure continues to occur today because of the demolition of buildings in which asbestos was used during construction.

Steps to Take in Case Of Asbestos-Exposure Related Mesothelioma

After taking into consideration several research findings, exposure to asbestos has been singled out as the main cause ofMesothelioma in most cases. This exposure affects individuals differently. Several factors are involved, including concentration, frequency and duration of exposure as well as the shape, size and chemical makeup of the fibers that determine your chances of contracting Mesothelioma.

It is natural to feel concerned about Mesothelioma if you have experienced chronic exposure to asbestos. Doctors recommend that such people should get regular CT scans or chest x-rays. They must also get lung function tests as these tests can detect problems caused by asbestos fibers. If any problems are detected, you should obtain a professionalMesothelioma diagnosis. In the unfortunate event of being diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you have the grounds for filing a lawsuit. A Mesothelioma law suit can help you claim compensation for the additional costs borne in dealing with this disease as well as for the resulting emotional distress and trauma.

Why choose a Mesothelioma Law firm

The dangers associated with asbestos exposure have been known to the Asbestos manufacturers for decades. Victims of the disease rightly feel that they should have been warned about these dangers and so undue hardships both for the victims and their families could have been avoided. Treatment plans are often tailored to the patient’s needs so the medical expenses incurred because of the disease vary from person to person and are often considerable.

If you feel that you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma and have also been exposed to asbestos fibers during their lives, you will typically be eligible for filing a lawsuit and claim compensation for any treatment related expenses, as well as for the pain and suffering caused by this disease. The litigation process involved is quite complex. So it is better to hire the services of a Mesothelioma law firm that has the time as well as the resources to tackle investigations specific to your case.

International law[edit]

Asbestos is listed as a category of controlled waste under Annex I of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal [1992]. Specifically, any waste streams having asbestos (dust and fibres) as constituents are controlled (Item Y36). In general terms, Parties to the Convention are required to prohibit and not permit the export of hazardous wastes to the Parties which have prohibited the import of such wastes via the notification procedure in Article 13 of the Convention.

Australia[edit]

A nationwide ban on importing and using all forms asbestos took effect on 31 December 2003. Reflecting the ban, the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) revised asbestos-related material to promote a consistent approach to controlling exposure to workplace asbestos and to introduce best-practice health and safety measures for asbestos management, control and removal. The ban does not cover asbestos materials or products already in use at the time the ban was implemented.Credit Card^[13]

Although Australia has only a third of the UK's population, its asbestos disease fatalities approximate Britain's of more than 3,000 people per year.^[14]

Brazil[edit]

The São Paulo State law 12.684/07 prohibits the use of any product which utilizes asbestos. This legislation having been formally upheld by the Brazilian Supremo Tribunal Federal.^[15]

Canada[edit]

In late 2011, Canada's remaining two asbestos mines, both located in the Province of Quebec, halted operations.^[16] In September 2012, the Parti Québécois defeated the Quebec Liberal Party in the Quebec provincial election. The Parti Québécois followed through with an election promise to halt asbestos mining.^[17] In the process, the newly elected Quebec provincial government cancelled a $58 million loan that was to be provided to one of the two mines in order to make upgrades necessary to continue operations for 20 more years. Subsequently, the Canadian federal government announced that it would no longer oppose efforts to add asbestos to the list of hazardous substances under the international Rotterdam Convention.^[18]

France[edit]

France banned the use of asbestos in 1997, and the WTO upheld France's right to the ban in 2000. In addition, France has called for a worldwide ban.^[12]

India[edit]

On 21 January 2011, the Indian supreme court refused to ban asbestos in India. This judgment was passed down for case filed by an NGO on 2004. In spite of the health hazards, asbestos is widely used in India without any restriction.^[19] Activists in India and abroad have tried to persuade the governments of Canada and Quebec to stop the asbestos mining operation it recently revived in Quebec since it is banned there. The Canadian government has repeatedly blocked asbestos being listed as a hazardous chemical by the UN even though it spends massive amounts of money to remove it from Canadian homes and offices.^[20] While India recognizes it as a hazardous substance and has banned asbestos mining and its waste trade, it keeps its price low through patronage.^[20]

Italy[edit]

Italy fully banned the use of asbestos in 1992 and set up a comprehensive plan for asbestos decontamination in industry and housing.^[21]

Japan[edit]

Japan did not fully ban asbestos until 2004. Its government has been held responsible for related diseases.^[22]

South Korea[edit]

In May 1997, the manufacture and use of crocidolite and amosite, commonly known as blue and brown asbestos, were fully banned in South Korea.^[23] In January 2009, a full-fledged ban on all types of asbestos occurred when the government banned the manufacture, import, sale, storage, transport or use of asbestos or any substance containing more than 0.1% of asbestos.^[24] In 2011, South Korea became the world's sixth country to enact an asbestos harm aid act, which entitles any Korean citizen to free lifetime medical care as well as monthly income from the government if he or she is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease

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.^[25]

New Zealand[edit]

In 1984, the import of raw amphibole (blue and brown) asbestos into New Zealand was banned. In 2002, the import of chrysotile (white) asbestos was banned.^[26]

United Kingdom[edit]

The British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has promoted rigorous controls on asbestos handling, based on reports linking exposure to asbestos dust or fibres with thousands of annual deaths from mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

• "At least 4000 people in Great Britain die each year from mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer as a result of past exposure to asbestos. Annual numbers of deaths are predicted to go on rising into the next decade."^[27]
• The TUC (UK) report cites a figure of 5000 deaths per year.^[28]

The HSE does not assume that any minimum threshold exists for exposure to asbestos below which a person is at zero risk of developing mesothelioma, since they consider that it cannot currently be quantified for practical purposes; they cite evidence from epidemiological studies of asbestos exposed groups to argue that even if any such threshold for mesothelioma does exist, it must be at a very low level.^[29]

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Previously it was possible to claim compensation for pleural plaques caused by negligent exposure to asbestos, on the grounds that although it is in itself asymptomatic, it is linked to development of diffuse pleural thickening, which causes lung impairment. It has been highly contentious, however, as to the probability of pleural plaques developing into pleural thickening or other asbestos related illnesses. On October 17, 2007 this point was clarified by the Law Lords′ ruling that workers who have pleural plaques as a result of asbestos exposure will no longer be able to seek compensation as it does not in itself constitute a disease.^[30] This ruling was however superseded, so far as sufferers of pleural plaques in Scotland are concerned, by the passing of the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions)(Scotland) Act 2009, which provides that in Scots law pleural plaques are to be considered an actionable type of personal injury.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations were introduced in the UK in November 2006 and are an amalgamation of three previous sets of legislation (Asbestos Prohibition, Asbestos Licensing and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations) aimed at minimising the use and disturbance of asbestos containing materials within British workplaces. Essentially this legislation bans the import and use of most asbestos products and sets out guidelines on how best to manage those currently in-situ.^[31]

Dutyholders of all non-domestic properties within the UK must establish an asbestos register and a management plan. The definition of "non-domestic" is "a property or structure (commercial, domestic or residential) where work is carried out" the obligation of the duty holder is that such operatives are not exposed to any asbestos based materials during the course of the work, the Asbestos Register states the presence or non presence of asbestos related to the inside and outside of the structure. The exception is where the property age (post-1999 when chrysotile asbestos was banned) would indicate that such products will not have been used during the construction of the building.

The removal of high-risk asbestos products from non-domestic properties is tightly controlled by the HSE and high-risk products such as thermal insulation must be removed under controlled conditions by licensed contractors. Further guidance on which products this applies to can be found on the HSE website along with a list of licensees.

United States[edit]

According to the Environmental Working Group Action Fund, 10,000 people die each year from asbestos-caused diseases in the United States, including one out of every 125 American men who die over the age of 50.^[32] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has no general ban on the use of asbestos. However, asbestos was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act of 1970, and many applications have been forbidden by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

According to a September 2004 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, asbestos is still a hazard for 1.3 million US workers in the construction industry and for workers involved in the maintenance of buildings and equipment.^[33]

A Senate subcommittee of the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee heard testimony on July 31, 2001, regarding the health effects of asbestos. Members of the public, doctors, and scientists called for the United States to join other countries in a ban on the product.^[34]

Asbestos is not part of an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) E 1527-05 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). A building survey for asbestos is considered an out-of-scope consideration under the industry standard ASTM 1527-05 Phase I ESA (see ASTM E 1527-05). ASTM Standard E 2356-04 should be consulted by the owner or owner's agent to determine which type of asbestos building survey is appropriate, typically either a baseline survey or a design survey of functional areas. Both types of surveys are explained in detail under ASTM Standard E 2356-04. Typically, a baseline survey is performed by an EPA (or state) licensed asbestos inspector. The baseline survey provides the buyer with sufficient information on presumed asbestos at the facility, often which leads to reduction in the assessed value of the building (due primarily to forthcoming abatement costs). Note: EPA NESHAP (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Regulations must be consulted in addition to ASTM Standard E 2356-04 to ensure all statutory requirements are satisfied, ex. notification requirements for renovation/demolition. Asbestos is not a material covered under CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ) innocent purchaser defense. In some instances, the U.S. EPA includes asbestos contaminated facilities on the NPL (Superfund). Buyers should be careful not to purchase facilities, even with an ASTM E 1527-05 Phase I ESA completed, without a full understanding of all the hazards in a building or at a property, without evaluating non-scope ASTM E 1527-05 materials, such as asbestos, lead, PCBs, mercury, radon, et al. A standard ASTM E 1527-05 does not include asbestos surveys as standard practice.

In 2010, Washington State passed a ban on hazardous materials in automotive brakes, phasing out asbestos in vehicle brakes, starting in 2014.

Tech startups Hampton Creek Foods, Beyond meat aim to repace chicken and eggs

THE startup is housed in a garage-like space in San Francisco's tech-heavy South of Market neighborhood, but it isn't like most of its neighbors that develop software, websites and mobile-phone apps. Its mission is to find plant replacements for eggs.

Inside, research chefs bake cookies and cakes, whip up batches of flavored mayonnaise and pan-fry omelets and French toast - all without eggs.

Funded by prominent Silicon Valley investors and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Hampton Creek Foods seeks to disrupt a global egg industry that backers say wastes energy, pollutes the environment, causes disease outbreaks and confines chickens to tiny spaces.

The company, which just started selling its first product - Just Mayo mayonnaise - at Whole Foods Markets, is part of a new generation of so-called food-tech ventures that aim to change the way we eat.

"There's nothing to indicate that this will be a trend that will end anytime soon," said Anand Sanwal, CEO of CB Insights, a New York firm that tracks venture capital investment. "Sustainability and challenges to the food supply are pretty fundamental issues."

Venture capital firms, which invest heavily in early-stage technology companies, poured nearly $US350 million ($385 million) into food-related startups last year, compared with less than $US50 million in 2008, according to the firm.

Plant-based alternatives to eggs, poultry and other meat could be good for the environment because it could reduce consumption of meat, which requires large amounts of land, water and crops to produce, backers say.

It could also benefit people's health, especially in heavy meat-eating countries like the US, and reduce outbreaks of diseases such as avian flu, they say.

"The biggest challenge is that people who consume a lot of meat really like meat, and to convince them to try something different may be extremely difficult," said Claire Kremen, faculty co-director of the Berkeley Food Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

The American Egg Board, which represents US producers, said eggs can't be replaced.

"Our customers have said they're not interested in egg substitutes. They want real, natural eggs with their familiar ingredients," Mitch Kanter, executive director of the board-funded Egg Nutrition Center, said in a statement.

The industry has reduced its water use and greenhouse gas emissions, and hens are living longer due to better health and nutrition, he said.

Hampton Creek's quest to replace the ubiquitous chicken egg is also backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and Khosla Ventures, a venture capital fund started by Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla.

In its food lab, biochemists grind up beans and peer through microscopes to study their molecular structure, looking for plants that can fulfill the culinary functions of eggs. So far, the company has analysed some 1,500 types of plants from more than 60 countries.

The research has resulted in 11 "hits," said Josh Tetrick, the company's CEO.

"Our approach is to use plants that are much more sustainable - less greenhouse gas emissions, less water, no animal involved and a whole lot more affordable - to create a better food system," said the former linebacker on West Virginia University's football team.

The company's first product - the mayonnaise - is sold for roughly the same price as the traditional variety. It soon hopes to start selling cookie dough and a batter that scrambles like eggs when fried in a pan.

"The egg is a miracle, so one of the hardest parts of replacing it is all the functions that it can do," said Chris Jones, the company's culinary director of innovations and a former contestant on America's Top Chef.

While Hampton Creek takes aim at the egg, another Gates-backed company is targeting the chicken itself.

Beyond Meat, located in Southern California, sells "chicken-free strips," which have the taste and stringy texture of poultry but are made from plant protein. It is sold at Whole Foods and natural food stores. It's also working on a product that mimics beef.

Inside its test kitchen in El Segundo, Caitlin Grady, the company's culinary ambassador, stir-fried the strips with broccoli, onion, peppers and sesame oil. "I cooked it just like a regular stir-fry, but I don't have to worry about the meat being raw,," Ms Grady said.

The company is also funded by Obvious Corp, a startup incubator founded by Twitter's founders, and Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, one of Silicon Valley's premier venture capital firms.

"It can fit in a vegan's diet. It can fit in a carnivore's diet," said Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown. "We're trying to appeal to the full range of consumers that are making some shift toward healthier protein."