Today, April 28, 2010, marks the annual Workers’ Memorial Day, which is an international day of remembrance for workers who have been killed, disabled or injured while on the job.
The United States has recognized the day since 1989 and April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Canada has been celebrating Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28 since 1985.
The day provides an opportunity to highlight the preventable risks within certain occupations that are sometimes hidden from workers and to fight for improvements in workplace safety. The slogan for the day is Remember the dead – Fight for the living.
According to the International Labour Organisation, more than two million people pass away as a result of work-related accidents. Hazardous substances are responsible for approximately 440,000 work-related deaths each year, with asbestos claiming the lives of about 100,000 people.
Asbestos is the primary cause of the rare and fatal cancer mesothelioma. In the United States, anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma each year. Other conditions caused by asbestos exposure include asbestosis and lung cancer. For all three of these illnesses, symptoms often take more than 10 years to arise after someone has been exposed.
Occupations that have presented the highest risk for asbestos exposure include those in the shipyard, construction, automotive and manufacturing industry. Previous power plant and chemical plant workers may also be at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease.
It is suggested for those who may have been exposed to asbestos while on the job to receive routine medical checkups in order to look for signs of asbestos exposure.
Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.