Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107827

Emmanuel Blackwell, BA, National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903, 301-571-4226, rruttenberg@nationallaborcollege.edu

Until 1970, the asbestos worker had been installing asbestos-related materials on piping, boilers, process systems, and furnaces. During that era the asbestos worker suffered asbestos-related diseases at an alarming rate. In the 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Standard 1926 Sub-Part C, Hazardous Materials 1101, instituted regulations governing the ways asbestos could be removed, as well as outlawing the use of asbestos in all materials.

The number of asbestos-related illnesses has decreased because workers used the protection that OSHA outlined in its standards. It has been said that the personal protective equipment that OSHA requires be used in asbestos abatement is solely responsible for the decrease in asbestos-related illnesses.

This work reviews the use of personal protective equipment used over the last 30 years and measures the decrease over time. This paper draws the conclusion that OSHA laws are responsible for union workers improved health.

Learning Objectives:

• See panel ID #105524

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.