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With Starmer implementing the wishes of business lobbyists, what chance to protect UK Asbestos ban? The immorality of Government's and big business, can be no better exemplified than by the Asbestos industry kicking and screaming to the law courts, in their attempt to stop killer Asbestos from being banned in the UK in the 1990s and later in the USA.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will revisit its 2024 decision to ban all industrial uses of asbestos, a move that has sparked concerns across public health and industry sectors. Asbestos, once a widely used material for its fire-resistant and insulating properties, has been linked to deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Over 60 countries have banned its use, and the US had largely phased it out, but recent developments suggest a potential shift. On June 17, 2024, the EPA revealed plans to reconsider its ban on chrysotile asbestos—commonly known as white asbestos—used in industries like automotive and manufacturing, specifically in brake pads and gaskets. This move follows mounting pressure from industry groups like the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which warned that the ban could disrupt supply chains and significantly impact existing contracts. In particular, some sectors, including the chlor-alkali industry, continue to rely on the material for producing chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The decision to reconsider the ban is fuelled by questions over whether the original restrictions went beyond what was necessary to eliminate risks. Lynn Ann Dekleva, a senior official at the EPA, noted that alternative measures, such as permanent workplace safety protections, might suffice to mitigate potential harm from the material. This reversal is controversial, especially given the well-established dangers of asbestos. The material’s microscopic fibres, when inhaled, scar lung tissue and can remain in the body for decades, leading to chronic respiratory diseases. While asbestos-related health risks were known since ancient times, it wasn’t until the 20th century that its full dangers became clear. By the 1970s, a wealth of evidence linked asbestos exposure to fatal diseases, yet industry groups were slow to acknowledge the connection, often downplaying or denying the risks. The proposed change has sparked concerns from public health experts who warn that any rollback of asbestos regulations could increase future health risks. In the US, approximately 40,000 deaths each year are attributed to asbestos-related diseases, a toll that could rise if the ban is lifted.
As the EPA reviews its position, the stakes for public health and industry regulation are higher than ever. This scenario was reported by this website in its report of the CWU's North West Region Health & Safety Forum's event in April this year, when John Flanagan of the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group; spoke of the risk of the UK's ban being watered down with pressure fro the US as part of any trade deal. The risk of this happening has come closer with an agreement between the US and UK, in exchange for cars tariff being lifted, the UK will import 13,000 tons of US beef to be sold in UK supermarkets! You can watch the part of John Flanagan's speech relating to the u-turn on a UK ban on Asbestos products by clicking on his photo above. Source: The Conversation / Brian Coupland / unionsafety See also: Are We About To See Asbestos Products Being Imported To The UK Once Again? CWU North West Region Health & Safety Forum Holds A Second Conference Event
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Now, unionsafety is alerted to a possible u-turn by the US Government agencies by the North West BT Unions Health & Safety Co-ord member and USR, Brian Coupland. As reported in the news website, The Conversation, Brian covers the main points of the news item: 