Occupational Hazards of chemicals in electronics industry

Recently, more than 140 Korean workers in Samsung electronics are known to have developed serious diseases at a very young age. About one third of them already died. More than 20 of them had demanded compensation from the government which is guaranteed based on the workers' compensation law. But the government has recognized none of the cases as occupational diseases and refused to compensate.

There are many similar experiences in the countries producing electronics products. Although there have been some important reports of occupational diseases as cancer and reproductive problems, workers in electronics industry are still exposed to various chemicals without proper protection nor compensation.

The electronic industry has a complex supply chain in the global network, mainly depending on mass-production in developing countries or countries in economic transition with weak legislation and lesser capacity in managing the chemicals. The social environment of workers in electronics industry tends to limit workers' capacity to protect their own health at the workplace.

This presentation will review the chemicals used in the global electronics manufacturing industry, the limitation of current industrial hygiene and health monitoring, and the reported or underreported important adverse health effects like cancers and reproductive hazards. They will be reviewed and they will be discussed.