Posted on April 24, 2024
On April 28, 2024, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will unite with organizations worldwide to observe International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD). This date also marks the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which has provided every worker the fundamental right to a safe job for over fifty years.
This IWMD, ADAO reaffirms there is no safe level of asbestos exposure and advocates for a total ban on asbestos. Ongoing research underscores asbestos as a potent carcinogen, with exposure still causing significant harm to workers, their families, and communities.
In the US, AFL-CIO, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and others continue to champion the fight for safer workplaces. Janet Newsham from Hazards UK emphasized the urgent global need for safety, noting that “work kills a minimum of 2.9 million people every year.”
According to the World Health Organization, “125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace.” This statistic underscores the importance of collective action and awareness in combating the asbestos threat. Our ongoing efforts, including the recent Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1-7) and advocating for the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN), aim to prevent the needless loss of life both in and outside of the workplace.
We stand with these organizations in calling on Congress to enact a comprehensive ban on asbestos. Let’s honor those who have suffered by committing to eradicate workplace hazards.
For more updates and resources, follow AFL-CIO, IAFF, and Hazards UK. Join the conversation using #IWMD24 and support our efforts by signing the petition to ban asbestos in the U.S.
In solidarity,
Linda Reinstein