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Supreme Court Rules on Asbestos Warnings Involving Maritime Law

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene® (ABIH®) reminds workers and industry of the need to protect all types of workers and the public from asbestos exposure risks.


Lansing, MI – WEBWIRE

While this Supreme Court ruling is specific to maritime law, it is a reminder for all industries to be aware of the hazards that asbestos-containing materials can pose to workers, and sometimes even their families, if those individuals have not been properly trained and protected against exposure risks.

Last month a divided Supreme Court ruled that under maritime law manufacturers have a duty to warn about potential exposure risks from asbestos-containing parts that are later added onto their products by third parties. The case made its way to the high court after a U.S. Court of Appeals remanded the case in 2017, ruling that manufacturers may face liability.
 
The decision came about after two Navy veterans, who developed cancer, and their wives sued five manufacturers that produced equipment for Navy ships. The court stated the following in their decision: In the maritime tort context, a product manufacturer has a duty to warn when its product requires incorporation of a part, the manufacturer knows or has reason to know that the integrated product is likely to be dangerous for its intended uses, and the manufacturer has no reason to believe that the product’s users will realize that danger.
 
One group of professionals is uniquely qualified to quantify and manage asbestos exposure risks, in all types of occupational settings, is known as Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs). CIHs are trained and experienced in air sampling, health risk analysis, hazard communication, community exposure, engineering controls & ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work environments. These and other core competencies of the CIH® program make these professionals vital for protecting workers and their families from harm due to exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials.
 
“While this Supreme Court ruling is specific to maritime law, it is a reminder for all industries to be aware of the hazards that asbestos-containing materials can pose to workers, and sometimes even their families, if those individuals have not been properly trained and protected against exposure risks,” said Dirk Yamamoto, PhD, CIH® and Chair of ABIH®. “Asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, may not show up for years after exposure and can be deadly.”
 
The American Board of Industrial Hygiene® encourages government institutions, agencies, companies, and organizations to utilize CIHs to protect workers and communities from these types of exposure risks. To learn more about ABIH®, the Certified Industrial Hygienist® credential, or to locate a CIH® to perform asbestos or other industrial hygiene services, please visit www.ABIH.org or email abih@ABIH.org . Please call (517) 321-2638 for questions about ABIH® or its credentials and designations.
 
About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene ®
Since 1960, ABIH®, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH® is the premier credentialing body responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance, and ethics enforcement. ABIH® also administers the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP®) credential for established environmental practitioners and the Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) designation for early-career practitioners. Currently, more than 7,600 people around the world hold the CIH® credential, QEP® credential, or EPI designation. 
 


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 OSHA
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