Report References to occupational exposures Challenges faced by workers however, NGOs feared that that the number of workers who died or developed disabilities as a result of work accidents may be much higher. Through the adoption of various unfair practices, employers often conceal information about work-related accidents. Many major cases are not reported and settlements are reached with the workers secretly. In case of fatal accidents, families of the victims are usually not informed, as contractors do not use proper names or addresses of the workers and there is no monitoring or inspection of the yards. Official and estimated figures do not include workers who died of occupational diseases related to long-term exposure to toxic and hazardous wastes and materials: the “hidden” deaths. It is virtually impossible to get any data about the number of affected workers, since the symptoms of many of these occupational diseases only appear several years after exposure, but it is estimated that a significant number of individuals died, and many others will die in the future, because of occupational diseases related to shipbreaking activities. For example, a medical study submitted to the Indian Supreme Court in September 2006 concluded that 16 per cent of the workforce handling asbestos in Alang showed symptoms of asbestosis, and was therefore at serious risk of developing mesothelioma in the future. In relation to workers’ rights, the former Special Rapporteur encouraged States to take steps to improve their regulatory and enforcement capacities in the field of labour law and worker safety, health and welfare, so as to strengthen the protection afforded to persons employed in the shipbreaking industry. States were also encouraged to eliminate obstacles which de facto prevent workers in shipbreaking yards from exercising their freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, and set up an effective and reliable system of labour inspections, with the participation of workers’ representatives. Shipbreaking States should also take immediate steps, to the maximum of their available resources, with a view to realizing fully the right of workers to social security in the event of accidents and occupational diseases. Yard owners should take all appropriate measures, when needed through State support and international assistance and cooperation, to improve health and safety at work (inter alia by providing adequate personal protective equipment and safety training), promote better health care, housing and sanitation facilities for workers, and develop appropriate mandatory insurance schemes to protect workers in the event of accidents and occupational diseases. In relation to data collection, the former Special Rapporteur urged ship-recycling States and yard owners to collect disaggregated statistical data on an annual comparative basis on workers who die or develop disabilities as a result of work-related accidents or occupational diseases, and make these data publicly available. • Inadequate standards of protection • Monitoring and A/HRC/39/48 27 “Review of the Work and The former Special Rapporteur reminded the Council of the extremely poor working practices Activities” and environmental conditions prevailing in most shipbreaking yards would continue to require the attention of the mandate holder. The former Special Rapporteur was of the view that the (A/HRC/15/22) (2010) Convention alone is not sufficient to bring about significant improvements in the working practices prevailing in shipbreaking yards or in the elimination of the serious environmental