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e-Toolkit

Asbestos-related disease

A note from our CEO
Section I: Taking action to eliminate asbestos-related diseases
Actions leading to national bans on asbestos
Towards a global ban on asbestos
International bilateral & multilateral mechanisms
History of Mining, consumption production and use of asbestos
Transitioning to alternative non-asbestos materials
Proactive removal of ageing legacy asbestos materials
Section II: Country summaries, case studies and resources
Country summaries
Case studies
Research on ARDs
Section III: What asbestos is and the risks it poses
What asbestos is and how to identify it
Exposure pathways
Asbestos removal, management and disposal
Asbestos in fibres in drinking water
Public health risks from asbestos cement products
Section IV: Health impacts of exposure to asbestos
What are asbestos-related diseases
How are asbestos-related diseases diagnosed?
Can ARDs be treated?
Patient support, care and information
Reporting, coding and registration of ARDs

ILO Conventions, recommendation and declarations

The ILO Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162)
The Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139)
1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: Amended 2022

The ILO Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), is a key international instrument addressing occupational exposure to asbestos. It focuses on preventing and controlling asbestos-related health hazards for workers, requiring countries to implement measures for their protection and compliance with regulations.

Key provisions of Convention No. 162 concern:

  • replacement of asbestos or of certain types of asbestos or products containing asbestos with other materials or products evaluated as less harmful,
  • total or partial prohibition of the use of asbestos or of certain types of asbestos or products containing asbestos in certain work processes,
  • measures to prevent or control the release of asbestos dust into the air and to ensure that the exposure limits or other exposure criteria are complied with and also to reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

The Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139), provides for the measures to be taken for the control and prevention of occupational hazards caused by carcinogenic substances and agents. Key provisions of Convention No. 139 concern:

  • periodically determining the carcinogenic substances and agents to which occupational exposure shall be prohibited or made subject to authorization or control;
  • making every effort to have carcinogenic substances and agents to which workers may be exposed in the course of their work replaced by non-carcinogenic substances or agents or by less harmful substances or agents;
  • reducing the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances or agents and the duration and degree of such exposure to the minimum.

More recently in 2022, the ILO amended the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work which committed governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations to uphold basic human values that are vital to our social and economic lives. It affirms the obligations and commitments that are inherent in membership of the ILO, namely:

  • freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
  • the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
  • the effective abolition of child labour;
  • the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and
  • a safe and healthy working environment.

The ILO position on safety in the use of asbestos

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