Volunteers and Emergency Responders-How Safe Must it Be?

Workers have a limited right to refuse to work in areas where there are reasons to fear for their safety. Occupational safety and health professionals attempt to quantify risk so that workers can make informed judgments about the hazards of an environment. However, recent events connected with terrorism and natural disasters raise a troubling question. What are the ethics of asking people to work at sites where we can't readily assess or control the safety of the site? Do we treat volunteers differently, particularly if they feel compelled to be there? Even in more controlled situations, what right should and do workers have to refuse work where risks are difficult to quantify? What actions should health professionals and/or enforcement officials take to protect worker and volunteer health against their wishes to be at the site. The moderators of this panel represent the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), a network of clinical facilities and clinicians specializing in occupational and environmental medicine. Members are prevention-oriented, and dedicated to research and education. Drs. Mulloy and Orris will present their ideas from the clinical perspective and Ms. Kirkland will present regarding volunteers based on experiences in Katrina clean-up. The panel will then open for questions and discussion from the audience.