Posted on October 31, 2025

When OSHA published its proposed revisions to the Asbestos Standard (29 CFR 1910.1001), we were stunned. For more than fifty years, these standards have served as the backbone of worker protection from one of the most lethal carcinogens known to humankind. The proposed changes would weaken—not strengthen—those safeguards. ADAO joined scientists, physicians, and public health leaders across the country in filing detailed objections to this deeply flawed rule.

What the Rule Proposes

OSHA’s draft rule would:

  • Remove explicit language defining when respiratory protection is required.
  • Permit the use of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), such as N95 masks, in asbestos environments.
  • Allow employers to select lower-efficiency filters instead of the current 100% efficiency requirement.
  • Shift critical decisions about worker protection from OSHA to employers’ discretion.

What Experts Are Saying

The American Public Health Association (APHA) warned that the rule would “shift the burden of expertise onto employers” and “create confusion, not compliance.” APHA underscored that OSHA’s mission is to protect workers, not to deregulate at their expense.

Dr. Mark Nicas, University of California, Berkeley, submitted a detailed technical analysis explaining why OSHA’s assumption that N95s offer equivalent protection to elastomeric respirators is “scientifically indefensible.” He documented serious flaws in the agency’s equivalency testing and urged OSHA to withdraw the proposal.

And in ADAO’s own filing, we made our position clear:

“Rolling back worker protections for a lethal substance is scientifically indefensible and contrary to OSHA’s statutory mission… Until asbestos is banned, OSHA must strengthen—not dilute—worker protections.”

Why This Matters

Asbestos remains legal in the United States. Each year, it kills an estimated 40,000 Americans from mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other preventable diseases. There is no safe level of exposure. Weakening the very standard meant to protect workers from a known carcinogen sends the wrong message—and risks real lives.

Our Commitment

ADAO stands shoulder-to-shoulder with scientists, unions, and advocates demanding that OSHA withdraw this proposed rule. We will continue pressing the agency, Congress, and the Administration to uphold strong, enforceable protections that prioritize health over industry convenience.

Prevention is the cure. Every worker deserves to breathe safely and return home free from exposure to deadly asbestos.

Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)