Future Trends in Management of Hazardous Envhionments - Panel Summary

Abstract

Coming decades almost certainly will see a continuing process of change in the nature and distribution of workplace and environmental safety hazards and risks. This session discusses future trends in the management of hazardous environments, particularly in terms of how such management can benefit from the application of macroergonomic principles and methods, Thomas Albin points out that although the application of ergonomics will remain a key strategy for abating musculoskeletal problems in the workplace, there is need for a broader systems approach to ergonomics program design. Michael Smith deals with new types and patterns of hazards and risks related to the emergence of new technologies. Markku Mattila addresses future trends in management of workplace hazards from a Scandinavian and European perspective, including the integration of ergonomics and quality management. Victor Koscheyev and Gloria Leon discuss future needs and trends in systems management of large-scale disasters and in the psychological consequences of human exposure to such disasters. Thomas Smith notes that a number of prevailing concepts and practices in the safety profession remain contrary to the principle of ‘fitting the job to the worker,’ and that perhaps the greatest challenge facing the safety and hazard management field in the decades to come will be to broaden the acceptance and application of this principle to enhance safety performance in the workplace.