Chapter 3 - Occupational Health and Safety Programs For Hazardous Waste Workers

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the continuing need for a committed organizational management focus on the occupational health and safety (OHS) program effectiveness through the coordination and integration of multidisciplinary resources, includingbusiness management, finance, industrial hygiene, environmental/occupational law, toxicology, engineering, industrial and construction safety, as well as occupational medicine and nursing. A proactive OHS management team must solicit assistance and frequent input of colleagues involved in industrial hygiene, safety, toxicology, engineering, regulatory compliance (legal), biostatistics, epidemiology, medical surveillance, loss control/risk management (insurance), environmental management, and especially the company's senior management team. The structure of the OHS program should allow employees and management alike to communicate not only problems and recommendations, but also any modifications in programs, policies, and procedures that improve the performance of the program. The OHS management has the ultimate responsibility of maintaining an accurate assessment of associated health and safety risks within each work site. The purpose of an occupational safety program is to protect the employee from both potential and recognized hazards of a particular work operation, whether chemical or physical in nature.