International action week to raise awareness of asbestos hazards
For the 22nd time, the annual “Global Asbestos Awareness Week” (GAAW) of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) in the USA, which is also used by numerous countries worldwide for their own initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and for demands for better occupational safety.
The campaign week brings together experts and those affected by asbestos-related diseases to exchange knowledge. The aim is to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos exposure and the prevention of asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma in order to improve public health protection. A wide range of information is provided in various languages and the social media content is made available under the hashtag #2026GAAW in order to achieve the widest possible reach.
The focus week, themed “Awareness Today, Protection Tomorrow”, will feature daily awareness programs from various leading organizations. Some of the event focuses will include actions to ban asbestos mining and use worldwide, increase controls to ensure compliance with existing regulations and build international partnerships to protect public health.
The week’s events will include guest lectures by experts, testimonials from people affected by asbestos-related diseases, informative videos and other activities. Global Asbestos Awareness Week will end on its final day (April 7, 2026) with a worldwide virtual candlelight vigil in honor and remembrance of asbestos victims who have died from asbestos-related diseases. This is also intended to draw attention to the need for a joint international commitment to the prevention of asbestos risks.
Asbestos
Despite many asbestos bans in various countries around 200,000 people worldwide die every year as a result of exposure to asbestos. In some countries, asbestos is still not banned, meaning that its use is still legal there. Asbestos is still present in numerous building materials, public facilities, workplaces and consumer goods, many people continue to be exposed to the health risks. This makes it clear that education, prevention, political measures and international cooperation are still urgently needed.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) in Germany
Numerous German institutions are participating in the “Global Asbestos Awareness Week” with a wide range of information to warn against the health risks posed by asbestos and to reduce them in the long term.
In Germany, the focus of Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) is on a wide range of campaigns by various associations, education providers and other initiatives. During the month of April, there will be an increased number of training courses on how to handle asbestos and various events to raise awareness of the risks posed by asbestos. These activities are intended to make tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts more aware of the risks posed by asbestos-containing materials in buildings and products such as plasters, fillers and tile adhesives that may contain asbestos. Improved occupational health and safety measures are also still being called for, such as compliance with stricter safety standards and better recognition of occupational diseases. Many suppliers are also campaigning for a worldwide ban on asbestos through their activities.
Actions by associations against the effects of asbestos
In 2026, the Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) will continue to promote awareness of the dangers of asbestos and health protection, particularly with regard to the stricter Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) of 2024. With the “Asbestos Charter”, it is calling for a support program for asbestos remediation and is campaigning for more government inspections on construction sites. Around the time of the “Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW)” campaign week, more training courses on the safe handling of asbestos will be made available, such as special asbestos seminars and specialist training courses from various regional representatives of IG BAU and other providers of further training in accordance with TRGS 519 (Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances). In addition, IG BAU and other trade unions use this period to draw attention to certain issues such as the risk of asbestos in existing buildings and to call for better occupational safety for tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts working in old buildings. The Employer’s Liability Insurance Association for the Construction Industry (BG BAU) also offers training courses and workshops on the safe handling of asbestos. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) also offers a central website to provide information on the correct handling of asbestos and, for example, possible asbestos risks during renovation work as well as legal requirements.
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Sources:
#2026GAAW
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