Asbestos kills. Ban it now.
There is only one useful thing you can do with asbestos.
Ban it.
Asbestos is the world’s biggest ever industrial killer. International Labour Organisation figures suggest asbestos diseases could eventually claim the lives of as many as 10 million people worldwide. At least 100,000 die each year — one person every five minutes.
- In some of the highest risk jobs, asbestos work is effectively a death sentence.
- There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, no safe asbestos product and no safe kind of asbestos.
- Asbestos cancer can take decades to emerge. Even if all asbestos was banned today, deadly diseases would continue for a generation.
| At least 100,000 die of asbestos diseases each year - one person every five minutes. |  IMF Australian affiliate AMWU campaigned for and won an unprecedented compensation deal for James Hardie asbestos victims. |
New markets, new victims
 Asbestos sheet cutting unit in Pakistan |
The fatal fibre is banned across the developed world. To compensate, the global asbestos industry, led by Canada, has launched a vigorous and costly marketing campaign in developing nations.
Ban asbestos now!
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Unions are working towards a worldwide ban. This means switching from asbestos mining, processing and use, to alternative products. It means industrial regeneration to replace deadly jobs with safe and sustainable jobs.
But we still face the deadly legacy. This is why IMF is backing its affiliated unions in campaigns for compensation and justice.
Safe jobs • safe world
IMF is demanding
- A global asbestos ban
- Transition to safe and sustainable jobs
- Justice for asbestos victims