Tomorrow, April 28, 2012 is Workers' Memorial Day, an internationally recognized day that's been set aside to remember workers who have passed from work-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, or other work-related incidents. Though day was first set aside in 1970 by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, we are still fighting today for safe workplaces. Interestingly, April 28 is also the anniversary of the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Most people think that we don't need things like Workers' Memorial Day anymore because, surely, all of the wonderful laws in America protect workers in every environment from harm. Well, that's sort of (not really) true. Asbestos is not banned in the U.S. We are still importing hundreds of metric tons of the deadly material each year for use in construction and other consumer products, most commonly roofing materials. Workers are still being exposed to asbestos in this country every day.
And that asbestos can cause serious health problems decades down the line. Asbestos has been linked to numerous diseases and life-altering medical conditions. Worse, asbestos has been known to cause cancers, such as mesothelioma and certain types of lung cancer. The worst part? These diseases, especially mesothelioma, could have been prevented.
How, you say? Well, did you know that the companies who used asbestos in their products knew that asbestos could cause these horrible cancers long because it became known to the public? Yep, they did, but they actively hid the truth so they could continue to profit from asbestos. In even today, in many countries, these companies continue to perpetuate lies about the "safe use" of "certain types" of asbestos.
That's why we still need Workers' Memorial Day. Not just to remember those who have fallen, but to fight for those who deserve to live.
