Posted on September 3, 2018
Before you start your Labor Day BBQ and enjoy a day of rest, I encourage you to take a minute to reflect on workers’ sacrifices and achievements. Tragically, asbestos-caused diseases remain a leading workplace killer.
Although asbestos consumption in the US continue to decline from 1973’s record high of 803,000 metric tons, imports and deaths continue. It is reprehensible that our country continues to allow asbestos to cross our borders to meet so-called “manufacturing needs.” Asbestos takes nearly 40,000 American lives annually.
Today, we received the US Occupational Health and Safety Yearbook Fall 2017-Summer 2018 from Dr. Celeste Monforton. Click the link to read more about the Year in U.S. Occupational Health and Safety.
As ADAO says, “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.” Check out IOSH’s No Time To Lose campaign and their Asbestos Fast Facts sheet for prevention information.
We invite you to light a candle with us in memory of workers who have lost their lives due to asbestos-related diseases and in support of courageous Mesothelioma Warriors who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and from take-home exposure. Like so many others, my late husband, Alan, paid the ultimate price for his job–his life.
But there is good news for the future of American laborers and the public: We have never been closer to banning asbestos. Thanks to our incredible community of donors, volunteers, and supporters, ADAO has been able to stay on the front lines of legislative reform, helping to draft and pass a new bill called the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act that empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take federal regulatory action against asbestos. Now, we’re keeping the pressure high to ensure the EPA uses their power to finally put a stop to the imports, processing, and distribution of the deadly material.
Help us by joining over 100,000 people and signing our petition telling the EPA to ban asbestos without any loopholes or exemptions.
Watch for more updates and news from our 13th Congressional Staff Briefing on September 26, 2018.
As we say — together, change is possible.
Linda
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