The General Assembly finds that: exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogenic agent, creates a significant hazard to the health of the people of the State; asbestos protective clothing that is used improperly or that is not maintained properly exposes a worker to this hazard; protective materials have been developed as substitutes for asbestos; and it is in the public interest to protect workers from this hazard by eliminating the use of asbestos protective clothing. A person may not sell in the State any item of new or used asbestos protective clothing. An employer may not: buy, for use by an employee, any item of new or used asbestos protective clothing; ask or require an employee to use any item of new or used asbestos protective clothing; or keep or otherwise possess any item of new or used asbestos protective clothing at a place of employment.