ABOUT THE ASBESTOS INSTITUTE
The Asbestos Institute is dedicated to promoting the safe use
of asbestos in Canada and throughout the world.
The Asbestos Institute, a non profit organization established in 1984, is directed by a Board of directors made up of industry, labour and government representatives. The Board establishes policies and approves the program and the budget. The Institute relies on the cooperation of a large network of medical, scientific, legal and technical experts and advisors, who provide services upon request.
Creation of national
industrial associations
Since its founding in 1984, the Institute
has provided technical and financial aid for the creation of a dozen
national industry associations in as many countries. These associations
distribute health and safety information to their members, organize
training seminars, coordinate dust-monitoring activities with the Asbestos
International Association (AIA), coordinate government-industry relations
and monitor developments.
Training workshops and courses
Organized in cooperation with national governments and often the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), these activities are intended to promote the controlled use of chrysotile
asbestos. To this end, the Institute has developed manuals on safe working methods and
equipment, as well organized training courses for industrial health specialists and workers
on air monitoring and dust control techniques.
The Institute has participated, in various capacities, in cooperation activities with more than 60 countries, including:
| ASIA Hong Kong India Japan Korea Malaysia Pakistan Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand |
AMERICA Brazil Canada Colombia Cuba Jamaica Mexico Panama Peru United States Venezuela |
EUROPE Belgium Czechoslovakia France Switzerland Turkey |
AFRICA Algeria Morocco Tunisia Zimbabwe |
Regulatory activities
The Institute tracks regulatory developments relating to
asbestos and other fibres around the towlrd, and attends international
meetings on health and safety issues associated with their use.
In Canada, the Institute collaborates with government in updating federal and provincial regulations in accordance with the latest scientific data and technical breakthroughs.
With the cooperation of the governments of Canada and Québec, the Institute also works with governments in other countries to promote the standardization of asbestos regulations.
Publications
The Institute publishes two different semi-annual newsletters, as well as numerous documents
and videos on health, safety and asbestos products.
Since the fall of 1995, the Institute has transferred a large number of documents to its Internet site, including a complete manual of prevention and control measures for industry, and a biomedical data bank which houses summaries of more than 8,000 scientific works.