Neil didn't know he was breathing in asbestos at work — and it ended up killing him.
The Melbourne-based plumber died in June last year, two-years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by breathing in or ingesting asbestos fibres.
"It was a senseless death that didn't need to happen," partner Monica Ghirxi said.
Mr Woolard started his trade at the age of 15, and while he knew he had worked with the dangerous substance at different points, he did not think he had directly inhaled it.
It wasn't until a pain in his shoulder took him to the doctor, who then by chance discovered the incurable cancer had spread through his lungs.
Mr Woolard started chemotherapy, and while the family were initially optimistic, he quickly slowed down.
The family man who loved to travel was suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue and could not go for a walk without losing his breath.
"It just got worse and worse," Ms Ghirxi said.
"He struggled with his breathing, his muscle tone deteriorated, and then he started getting severe pain."
Ms Ghirxi said the last couple of months of his life were "horrid".
He passed away in in September 2021 at home, surrounded by friends and family, at the age of 64.
Call to get checked
In the aftermath of losing her partner of 18 years, Ms Ghirxi does not want his untimely death to be in vain.
She is calling out for people who might have worked with asbestos at some point in their lives to go to the doctor and get checked, as it could take many years after being exposed for an illness to develop.
Ms Ghirxi also urged family members to put pressure on their loved ones to do so if they are reluctant.
"If we found out that Neil had mesothelioma maybe three years ago, the treatment could have prolonged his life a bit more," she said.
But she is also urging businesses to do the right thing by their employees and the law, and identify and record all asbestos in their workplace.
"We're talking about people's lives," she said.
"We need to protect everyone; we need to make sure we follow all the procedures.
"Because this substance kills and no one should be going to work frightened they're going to get mesothelioma or not."
WorkSafe Victoria continues to prosecute
Her call comes as WorkSafe Victoria records its eighth prosecutions for asbestos mismanagement since 2019, including three since April.
Carton Finishing was fined $20,000 in October for installing insulation material on a machine which was later found to contain asbestos.
The regulator also conducted more than 1,400 asbestos-related visits to Victorian businesses in the 2021-22 financial year.
WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Narelle Beer says employers have "no excuse" for exposing their employees to asbestos.
"The deadly risk of exposure to asbestos dust has been known for more than 30 years," Dr Beer said.
"It's deplorable that workers continue to be needlessly exposed to this silent killer."
"There is no excuse for employers who expose their workers to friable asbestos and WorkSafe will continue to prosecute those who do to the full extent of the law."
The maximum penalty for asbestos exposure could constitute workplace manslaughter, which has maximum 25 years imprisonment for individuals and a maximum fine of $18.5 million for body corporates.
According to the federal government, Australia has one of the highest rates of melisthomeia in the world, with between 700 and 800 people diagnosed each year.
