History and impact of asbestos on OHS in U.S. and internationally

Asbestos has caused one of the largest man-made disasters.  Between 1900 and 2013, the U.S. consumed 31 million metric tons of asbestos, which has given rise to continued occupational, environmental, and consumer exposure. Globally, an estimated 2 million tons of asbestos is mined each year, and the U.S. continues to import more than 1,000 tons annually.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures.  Asbestos not only impacts a vulnerable high-risk worker population, but an increasing number of younger patients under the age of 50 with no known occupational exposure.  Equally problematic is the long latency period for asbestos disease to present that results in misdiagnosis and under-reporting. More than 50 countries have banned asbestos, but the U.S. has not. This presentation will provide a brief historical overview of the global asbestos crisis describing U.S. policies and legislation, the corporate “scientific” studies funded by the pro-asbestos industries and their impact on legislation and civil justice, and the emergence of digital activism for change. The presentation will also address the inaccuracies in morbidity data, inadequacies in occupational health and safety protections, and regulatory violations.  U.S. and global strategies to identify risk and new resources and policies for risk management will be discussed.  The presentation will review progress and challenges in asbestos legislation, health education strategies and global advocacy to prevent exposure and to eliminate asbestos-related diseases.