1. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes many worker deaths worldwide, and most developed countries have banned its use. 2. Canada remains one of the largest producers and exporters of asbestos in the world, exporting over 220,000 tons per year to developing countries with low safety and enforcement standards. 3. The World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, Canadian Cancer Society, and other organizations recommend a worldwide ban on all forms of asbestos due to its carcinogenic properties and the lack of a safe exposure level.