Issues and consequences of the risk of exposure to asbestos

U brojnim trgovačkim društvima (poduzećima) u proizvodnji, odnosno u realizaciji registrirane djelatnosti korišten je azbest pa su radnici radeći kod tih poslodavaca bili izloženi riziku posljedica toga i takvoga rada. Za neke od tih radnika posljedice su pogubne jer su oboljeli od azbestoze i drugih bolesti. Mnogi poslodavci prestali su s radom, a pravni sljednici, neki od njih, od 2005. godine i ne obavljaju djelatnost u kojoj se upotrebljava azbest jer je zabranjen. Ozbiljan je problem (veliki broj socijalnih slučajeva) kako obeštetiti (ako je uopće moguće) radnike koji su bili izloženi azbestu. Države se javljaju kao „jamac“ isplate novčanih naknada kao oblika obeštećenja. Na to Republiku Hrvatsku obvezuju nacionalni i regionalni propisi (konvencije MOR-a, direktive EU-a), ali i nacionalni propisi o tim pitanjima i odnosima. Propisi su na snazi i primjenjuju se u složenom i zahtjevnom postupku. Razlozi financijske naravi determiniraju rješavanje tih pitanja, a posljedice se javljaju i nakon 30 pa i 40 godina od izloženosti radnika riziku rada s azbestom. Predmet ovoga rada ukazuje na težinu društvenih i pravnih odnosa i pitanja.In numerous companies asbestos was used in the production or realization of the registered business activity, so workers working for these employers were exposed to the risk of the consequences of such work. For some of these workers, the consequences were devastating because asbestosis and other diseases deteriorated their health. Many employers closed down their businesses and some of their legal successors have been out of business since 2005 when asbestos was banned. A serious problem (large number of social cases) is how to compensate (if at all possible) workers who have been exposed to asbestos. States act as the "guarantor" of payment of cash benefits as a form of compensation. The Republic of Croatia is bound by national and regional regulations (ILO Conventions, EU directives), as well as by national regulations governing these issues and relations. The regulations are in force and they form the legal basis in often elaborate and demanding court processes in which financial considerations determine the resolution. Namely, consequences of exposure to asbestos can occur even as late as 30 or 40 years after exposure. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the gravity of the social and legal aspects of this issue