In this follow-up session to last year’s panel, six presenters will again discuss the importance of bringing both occupational and environmental concerns to the table in tandem. These panelists will highlight their work in this upcoming field, including a historical look at the differences in regulatory frameworks of OSHA and EPA, the changing role of industrial hygienists in promoting primary prevention, case studies of risk shifting from environmental media to occupational media, including both chemical and ergonomic risk, and an evaluation of worker participation in pollution prevention activities as a way to increase safety and health in the workplace.
There is a strong link between hazards in the environment and hazards in the workplace. Pollution prevention represents primary prevention in environmental protection. Traditional occupational health strategies primarily use control methods to protect the worker from hazardous exposures. Pollution prevention can serve as a model for preventive industrial hygiene, through reduction or elimination of hazardous chemicals, or by modifying processes to eliminate sources of occupational injury and illness. These activities decrease pollution by avoiding its creation. But reducing or eliminating hazardous conditions to protect the environment cannot be considered without looking at the effects of such activity on worker safety and health. When this happens, there is potential for risk shifting between environmental and occupational media. It is a goal of this panel discussion to demonstrate that the key component of pollution prevention can provide the guidance required to help prevent injury and illness from occurring in the workplace as well.
Learning Objectives: Participants, at the end of this session will once again be part of an exciting movement to promote the “integration concept” of uniting both occupational and environmental health issues at all stakeholder levels. They will take part in a unique group discussion on how to raise awareness among all public health professionals of the potential social benefits to be achieved by integrating pollution prevention and occupational safety and health.
Keywords: Occupational Safety, Environmental Health Hazards
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.