Posted on November 30, 2018

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is delighted to announce that we will have the privilege of participating in the 2018 Asian Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organization conference (APOSHO 33) in Hong Kong. The conference, which is organized by the U.K.-based Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and APOSHO, will gather some of the best and brightest minds from the field of occupational health to consider this year’s conference theme: “Excellence through Communication and Collaboration.”

Beginning on December 4th, this  two-day conference, will feature international safety and health exhibitions, technical tours, and various symposiums covering a wide variety of topics. New technology, policy, and research will be examined for their potential to make workplaces and workers around the world safer and healthier.

APOSHO has been leading the way for thirty-three years. Guests of honor and keynote speakers include: the Director of Health for the Hong Kong Department of Health, Dr. Constance Chan; Executive Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Ms. Bonnie Yau; Group Medical Director of Occupational Health Services at International SOS, Dr. Olivier Lo; Chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, Dr. Wai-Kwok Lo; and the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health for Ministry of Manpower, Er Siong Hin Ho.

I am humbled to have the opportunity to deliver a keynote address, “21st Century. Communication. Collaboration. Action.,” during the conference, and look forward to discussing the important roles that education, awareness and advocacy play in preventing exposure to asbestos in the workplace, as well as ADAO’s success in mobilizing victims and stakeholders for a no-exemption U.S. ban on asbestos. I also hope to touch on efforts in Asia to ban this deadly carcinogen and how this will positively impact public health in the region.

We also look forward to seeing our longtime friend Alan Stevens, Head of Global Engagement at IOSH. who has echoed our frustration with the continued use of asbestos across the globe.“Asbestos is banned in the UK and other countries for a good reason: it is dangerous,” Alan has said “It is staggering to see how many people die from exposure to asbestos every year. That is well over 200,000 families suffering the devastation of lost loved ones. It is unacceptable for anyone in any workplace to be exposed to asbestos. We are calling on everyone, including employers, to do the right thing; to protect the people who work for them. IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign has an array of resources designed to assist employers put measures in place which protect their workforce.”

We are grateful to be among this esteemed panel of experts and look forward to discussing new, innovative ways to improve health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Attending international conferences is important for ADAO, as we are always learning new methods for pushing Congress to institute a ban. The strategies and examples of our peers in other countries help strengthen our fight at home.

Once again, ADAO is extremely honored to take part in the 2018 Asian Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organization conference and we look forward to collaborating with world leaders in the workplace and environmental safety.

Follow the conversation  on twitter at #APOSHO and remember that together, we are making change possible.

Linda Reinstein

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