This presentation will identify the professional practice "blindspots" that create obstacles to linking together occupational and environmental approaches, and will discuss the programs that provide the greatest opportunities for integrated approaches.
Integrated approaches such as pollution prevention (P2) are increasingly seen as the preferred strategy for environmental problem solving, so that solving an air pollution problem does not inadvertently create a water pollution or hazardous waste disposal problem. Yet P2 approaches have not typically included the additional step of coordinating on worker health issues. Occupational practitioners often rely on "end-of-pipe" approaches without understanding the impact on environmental releases. The result can be "risk shifting" where fixing an environmental problem increases the risks faced by workers (or vice versa), and to lost opportunities for simultaneously fixing occupational and environmental problems. The need for greater coordination was explored at a June1999 EPA/OSHA/NIOSH workshop titled: "Common Sense Approaches to Protecting Workers and the Environment: Interagency Cooperation towards Comprehensive Solutions". This presentation will describe obstacles and opportunities to integration and will provide an update on integration activities.
Learning Objectives: see session overview (2582)
Keywords: Occupational Health, Environmental Health
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.