The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that they are banning the final type of asbestos imported into the United States, chrysotile asbestos. The EPA’s ban is considered a major win for cancer prevention, as asbestos exposure is known to cause varying types of cancer and is linked to 40,000 deaths in the United States every year. 

Asbestos does not break down naturally over time, and it must be removed by hand. Asbestos is present in older structures as it was previously the go-to material to strengthen pipes and tiles, soundproof walls, and fireproof buildings. This usage peaked in the 1970s before restrictions began to come into play in the 1980s. 

Laborers are often the construction personnel required to get up close and personal with legacy asbestos in the removal process. Because of this, Laborers and other construction professionals are at a heightened risk of asbestos exposure. If mishandled, the asbestos removal process can harm a worker’s health and put their safety at risk. Thankfully, the Ohio Laborers’ Training Center offers a variety of EPA-approved Asbestoses Abatement courses for members to learn proper procedure and safety when dealing with asbestos. Those training center classes can be found here.

While the effects of the chrysotile asbestos ban will not be immediate, the EPA has set compliance deadlines for industries and plants that continue to use chrysotile asbestos to phase out the material. For more information, check out the article by Laborers Health and Safe Fund of North America and the White House’s press release about the asbestos ban linked below.