Occupational health and safety in chemical industries in transitional economies

In the field of occupational hygiene, the setting of permissible levels of hazards in the work environment is one of the mechanisms used in occupational health to prevent health impairment in the worker. The term “permissible level” has been defined. Basically, it is a quantitative hygiene standard for a level considered to be safe, expressed as a concentration for a defined average time. In recent times, the World Health Organization has preferred to use the term “recommended health based occupational exposure limit” in place of permissible level. This term refers to levels of harmful substances in the workplace air at which there is no significant risk of adverse health effects. Such health-based standards do not take into account the level of technological and socioeconomic conditions that prevail in different nations. In recognition of this deficiency, it is the responsibility of each nation to set its own operational occupational exposure limits. All too often, we do not set operational occupat iona l exposure l imi ts depending on local circumstances, but tend to rely on permissible levels borrowed without modifications from developed nations. It is essential to consider first the development of health-based recommended exposure limits, which are determined purely on It is time that we deliberate on occupational health and safety in chemical industries in transitional economies. As new industries develop, existing industries expand, and new technology is introduced, the environment is increasingly placed at risk and hazards to human health arise. History has shown that industrial innovation is rarely matched in speed with corresponding protection of the community and its environment. It is estimated by the International Labour Organization that some 200,000 work-related deaths occur each year all over the world. In addition, a large number of workers are victims of work-related accidents and illnesses. Against this background, the highly complex chemicals encountered in the work environment necessitate constant vigilance through an occupational health program to provide a scientific basis for decisions aimed at protection of human health from the adverse consequences of exposure to these substances in the occupational environment.