Construction workers and next of kin of deceased workers filed a lawsuit in Tokyo, Japan seeking damages of approximately 6.6 billion yen (about US $444 million) from the government and manufacturers related to illnesses stemming from exposure to asbestos. 178 plaintiffs including construction workers and family members filed the suit against 46 building manufacturers and the Government of Japan.

According to the Mainichi Daily News, the class action suit is the first that has been filed in Japan related to health damages caused by asbestos exposure at construction sites.

The government and manufacturers knew of the dangers of asbestos inhalation but failed to take proper precautions, according to the plaintiffs. Negligence included failing to cease promoting asbestos as a cheap fire retardant and failure to ban production of the material.

Plaintiffs have also scattered responsibility among a number of government agencies, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for sanctioning the use of asbestos under Japanese Industrial Standards, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for approving the use of materials comprised of asbestos and other substances under Japan’s Building Standards Law.

As evidence the filing states that after inhaling asbestos in the workplace, 172 people have developed lung cancer or mesothelioma, and that almost half of those afflicted are now dead. The argument continues stating that the government and health ministry did not act quickly enough after international organizations issued warnings in 1972 that asbestos could be a carcinogen.

Another lawsuit is expected in Yokohama shortly, to be filed by 40 construction workers.  It will be interesting to watch this process unfold; the Japanese government and large Japanese corporations are interlinked in ways that make the relationship between Congress and the Washington DC lobbyists look like a casual acquaintance.