While such risks can be seen as an inevitable side effect of industrial development, those directly involved with the promotion of health and safety at work suggest that employers are often reluctant to admit to hazards even when there is plenty of evidence or early warning signs.
The classic case is found in the history of the asbestos industry, which, even now, accounts for approximately 50,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. The risks have been long known. As early as 1918, insurance companies in both the United States and Canada stopped selling life policies to asbestos workers. Yet the industry continued to allow employees to operate without respirators, sometimes in dust so thick that it was impossible to see beyond a few yards. The industry also systematically overlooked the tragic consequences.