The Canadian government has announced it plans to completely ban the use, import and export of asbestos by 2018.
Canada says it plans to allow for consultation with provinces, communities, industry, scientists and health professionals, and other stakeholders throughout the ban’s process.
“The Prime Minister made a commitment to move forward on a ban on asbestos and asbestos-containing products in Canada,” says Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “We are delivering on that promise. We will put in place the best regulatory measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians as we move forward towards a complete ban on asbestos.”
Canada’s asbestos ban will:
- Create new regulations that ban the manufacture, use, import and export of asbestos under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999, the legislative framework that protects people from the risks associated with hazardous substances such as asbestos.
- Establish new federal rules that aim to limit the risk of people coming into contact with asbestos on the job.
- Expand the current online list of asbestos-containing buildings owned or leased by the Government of Canada.
- Raise awareness of the health impacts of asbestos to help reduce the incidence of lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Read the rest of this article on the American Society of Safety Engineers’ website.
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