South Korea Tightens Asbestos Regulations

South Korea is strengthening its Asbestos Safety Management Act (ASMA) beginning next month to better protect those involved in the renovation or demolition of older structures. The country has added to the recent, worldwide momentum aimed at minimizing health risks stemming from exposure to asbestos. South Korea already is one of 58 countries that have banned the toxic mineral, joining that club in 2009. New Zealand became the latest country to ban asbestos in June. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in May announced his intention to work toward a ban. The United States earlier this year amended its Toxic Substances Control Act, which will give the Environmental Protection Agency more power to restrict the use of asbestos. The U.S. still does not ban it. South Korea’s revised ASMA, which becomes effective Aug. 15, would require owners of commercial and residential buildings with asbestos to have a certified safety inspector present to supervise all work. That inspector must record the changing status of asbestos within the structure and ensure that proper asbestos removal and disposal procedures are followed. “Exposure to the particles of worn-out asbestos materials during reconstruction can lead to health risks,” Lee Seung-bok, professor of architectural engineering at Yonsei University told the Korea Herald. “Like other developed countries which have used a large amount of asbestos in the past, we have to make sure the removal or dismantling of asbestos is do...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: asbestos ban asbestos ban in canada asbestos ban in united states asbestos regulations mesothelioma south korea asbestos Source Type: news