Posted on March 29, 2024
Each year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) dedicates April 1-7 to increasing awareness of asbestos and preventing exposure by bringing together experts and victims from around the world to share, learn, and take action. To view all 7 days of Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) content, please click here. Be sure to follow the online conversation by using #2024GAAW.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and there is no safe level of exposure. While promising research continues, prevention remains the only cure.
Day Six of Global Asbestos Awareness Week: Leveraging Digital Education for Prevention
On this sixth day of Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), we bring to light the impactful story of Sara from France in “Someone Pulled the Emergency Brake!” Sara’s experience underscores the crucial need for awareness and action in the fight against asbestos exposure.
Today’s focus is on the pivotal role of digital education in advancing asbestos prevention globally. We spotlight the “kNØw Asbestos” website, an initiative started by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). This platform is equipped with a wealth of educational materials, including fact sheets, infographics, and videos, all aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos and how to prevent exposure. Additionally, we highlight the invaluable resource of ADAO’s past Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conferences. These events have brought together experts across various disciplines to share their knowledge on asbestos-related issues. Recordings of these conferences, which offer essential information, resources, and research, are readily accessible on ADAO’s website.
As IOSH shares, “We believe everyone must be protected from asbestos and urge widespread action on tackling the global death toll caused by work-related exposures.” Click here to view their detailed resource.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) not only echoes the call for comprehensive education and prevention but also contributes significantly to these efforts. Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at IOSH, notes: “In the 25th anniversary year of the UK banning asbestos, and 125 years after factory inspector Lucy Deane first warned of ‘the evil effects of asbestos dust’, the battle against asbestos exposure is far from over. Hundreds of thousands continue to suffer due to past exposures, with millions more at risk in countries where asbestos is still used. Nearly 70 countries have banned asbestos, but that leaves dozens of others where the carcinogen is legal and lethal today. The challenge is compounded by the legacy of asbestos in existing buildings, which requires ongoing management and action. IOSH is at the forefront, offering excellent educational materials aimed at embedding risk management principles across national administrations and throughout global education and training systems. IOSH believes in safeguarding all individuals from the dangers of asbestos inhalation.
As ADAO continues to push forward with its digital education and prevention initiatives, we invite you to join us in this vital mission. Our collective efforts can lead to a future where the tragic consequences of asbestos exposure are eradicated.
In today’s educational spotlight, we present the video “L’amiante: le tueur que vous ne voyez pas” (Asbestos: The Killer You Can’t See) and our press release, LANCEMENT DE LA 20ÈME ÉDITION DE LA « SEMAINE MONDIALE DE SENSIBILISATION À L’AMIANTE » DU 1ER AU 7 AVRIL 2024 PAR L’ADAO, reaching out to French-speaking communities to spread awareness.
Tomorrow, on Day Seven, we will hold a candlelight vigil to honor and remember asbestos victims worldwide, paying special homage to our extraordinary friend and mesothelioma warrior, Mavis, from the UK. The vigil will also feature videos translated into Turkish and Ukrainian for the first time, further broadening our message of remembrance and resolve. Join us as we commemorate those lost to asbestos and renew our commitment to a safer, asbestos-free world.
Special thanks to our 2024 Sponsors: Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP (Platinum), The Gori Law Firm & Motley Rice LLC (Gold), Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (Silver)