On the Italian migrants to Australia who worked at the crocidolite mine atWittenoom gorge, Western Australia

This article focuses on the extreme working conditions and intensity of exp osure at the crocidolite mine and mill of Wittenoom Gorge, Western Australi a, and on the Italians constituting 16% of the workforce. Part one provides the context and evaluates the mortality of Italians. The results confirm t hat migrants experienced high risks of asbestos-related diseases (asbestosi s, lung cancer and mesothelioma). Part two is based on field work contactin g living workers who had returned to Italy. The results focused on the soci al organisation of this mine, the way migrants perceived the work experienc e at Wittenoom and the danger of crocidolite exposure, and how risks were c ommunicated. In the absence of any serious management attempt to keep dust levels low and in the absence of adequate risk communication, workers prote cted themselves by quitting their job as soon as possible, within the const rains imposed by their employers. The failure to provide a safe work enviro nment, which could have meant closing the operation altogether, seems to ha ve been linked with the government policy of maintaining production at all costs, the lack of cooperation and communication between separate governmen t bodies, and the low profile played by the model of health surveillance.