Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118749

Karla Armenti, ScD, MS, Consulting in Occupational and Environmental Sciences, COES, LLC., 26 Harrod Lane, Bedford, NH 03110, 603-472-8721, armeka@comcast.net

This presentation highlights the concept of risk shifting across occupational and environmental health parameters. In past sessions on the “integration of occupational and environmental health” we have discussed policies that address environmental problems, but create hazards for workers and how traditional workplace exposure control activities have the potential to shift risk to the general environment.

From these examples, we recognize there is a need to coordinate efforts between occupational and environmental professionals to simultaneously prevent hazardous conditions both inside and outside the workplace. This presentation moves this discussion further to consider “political risk shifting.” We ask the broader question of why workers must risk exposure to hazardous materials in order to stay employed, or risk unemployment if the desire is to eliminate those exposures. This contradiction pits environmentalists against labor, often forcing labor to concede important protections in favor of environmental protections of the general population.

Some groups have been successful in transcending these barriers and building coalitions promoting sound energy policies. This presentation discusses the activities of the Apollo Alliance, a broad coalition within the labor, environmental, business, urban, and faith communities supporting good jobs and energy independence and the Sierra Club's Blue-Green Alliance, calling for protecting the environment while promoting economic growth and a living wage.

Bringing awareness to the issue of risk shifting between labor and the environment will help to inform the joint policy setting process. Advancing public health goals requires an approach that consciously considers both worker health and safety and environmental health concerns.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Aticulate the need for simultaneous consideration of ocupational and environmental hazards that prevent risk shifting.
• Identify the key projects that promote the integrration of occupational and environmental health.
• Apply the knowledge gained from this presentation to the development of guidelines to inform the joint policy setting process.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Labor

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation