The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new
Asbestos Fact Sheet at the urging of Linda Reinstein, President, CEO and Co-Founder of the
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).
On July 22, 2013 Linda met with
Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA to discuss asbestos hazards and
the need for additional resources to educate and to protect the public
from asbestos-related diseases.
The resulting Fact Sheet summarizes the hazards involved when asbestos
fibers are released into the air. It highlights where the hazards may
occur, including cleanup after natural disasters, during the manufacturing
of asbestos-containing products, during renovations, construction and
shipyard work to name a few.
The fact sheet also defines OSHA Standards to protect workers from exposure
to asbestos fibers in many types of work places. And what protections
exist for these Standards, including permissible exposure limits, assessment
of workplaces, monitoring exposure levels, hazard communication, training
and medical requirements for each industry.
OSHA notes that this fact sheet is one in a series of informational fact
sheets highlighting their programs, policies or standards. It does not
impose any new compliance requirements.
We commend Linda for her tireless efforts to educate the public on the
hazards of asbestos. Linda lost her husband
Alan in 2006 to malignant pleural mesothelioma and fought back by becoming one
of the most influential voices in the ban asbestos movement.
For more important information on asbestos from OSHA, please visit
here.