Environmental Health Program

http //wwwl.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/. 

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A key element of the mission of the CSDP is to eliminate safely the aging U.S. stockpile of chemical agents and munitions. The Army has in place safety and occupational and environmental health programs at chemical agent disposal facilities that have been visited by the Stockpile Committee (NRC, 2001). The committee found these programs to be comprehensive, professional, and adequate to meet the occupational health and safety needs of the CSDP workers as well as to protect the public and the environment (NRC, 2001). 

Center for Environmental Health Flemish biomonitoring program for surveillance of environmental health Program will include development of an early warning system based on biomarker measurements in people living in Flanders. Study population includes 1,600 people (European Commission 2004). 

This chapter discusses CSDP monitoring of employee health status as it relates to the workplace. A responsible industrial operation involving hazardous substances must have an effective occupational and environmental health program to monitor workers for health effects that might result from unknown exposures to chemical or physical agents during normal operations or from accidental exposures during upset conditions. 

In this chapter, the occupational and environmental health programs at JACADS, CAMDS, and TOCDF, and, by extension, those planned for the additional seven sites, are reviewed and evaluated. 

The function of an occupational and environmental health program is to protect and promote the health and safety of employees and to protect the public and the environment from hazards that may arise from indus-... 

In 1992, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) issued a statement on the scope of occupational and environmental health programs and practice (ACOEM, 1992). The essential components of this detailed statement are summarized below. 

The occupational and environmental health program should ensure that programs are in place for fitting... 

Periodic Evaluations of the Occupational and Environmental Health Program... 

An essential element of any medical program is informed patient consent prior to the performance of any test or procedure. Although informed consent is not specifically mentioned in the ACOEM components of occupational and environmental health programs, it is inherent in the ethical practice of medicine. The ACOEM Code of Ethical Conduct (adopted October 25,1993) states that physicians should relate honestly and ethically in all professional relationships. Also, the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics has issued guidance relative to patient consent, confidentiality of medical records, and communication of the results of tests and procedures (AOEC, 1987). 

The Army s CSDP includes all of the essential components recommended by ACOEM for an occupational and environmental health program except for participation in the development of government health and safety regulations. The lack of Army involvement in this area is appropriate because this is an industry regulatory activity. Several of the nonessential program components recommended by ACOEM, such as palliative treatment of disorders to enable a worker to complete a work shift and to obtain health education and counseling, are included in the Army s program. 

CSDP occupational and environmental health program, the committee believes that the program described in the referenced documents has been fully implemented and that medical records are being maintained as prescribed. The committee noted that medical surveillance for chemical agents and heat-stress prevention programs are carried out rigorously. The committee concluded that the program is comprehensive, professional, and adequate to meet the known occupational health needs of CSDP workers. 

Finding 4. The CSDP s overall occupational and environmental health program, as well as the specific versions implemented at JACADS and TOCDF, are comprehensive. That is, they include all of the required... 

Recommendation 4. The Army and its operating contractors should continue to execute and refine a vigorous, proactive occupational and environmental health program at all chemical agent disposal sites. 

ACOEM (American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine). 1992. Scope of Occupational and Environmental Health Programs and Practice. Journal of Occupational Medicine 34(4) 436-440. 

Health Canada (1998) Aluminum, Environmental Health Program. 

As a result of EPA s role under the HHPS, the programs that EPA administers are all advisory, and while EPA is a valuable source of information on environmental health programs and school site selection criteria, none of its programs are mandatory. Some states and localities have used the information developed by the EPA and its sister agencies prior to the implementation of HHPS to develop mandatory programs. Because the Act is relatively new, and the activities required by EPA are still in their infancy, it is too early to determine the likely success HHPS will have in reaching its goals. 

Congress enacted the Healthy High-Performance Schools Act to ensure that all children would be able to attend schools that are free of harmful substances, are energy efficient, and can accommodate children with disabiUties and special needs. The Act provided grants for assistance to the states and directed EPA, in conjunction with DE and the DHHS, to establish model guidehnes for siting of school facilities and for environmental health programs for schools. 

The Act allowed, but did not require, EPA in conjunction with DE, to make grants to the states (i) to provide technical assistance to schools to use existing EPA tools to address environmental issues and (ii) to develop and implement environmental health programs that include standards for building... 

Not later than 2 years after December 19,2007, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other relevant agencies, shall issue volimtary guidelines for use by the State in developing and implementing cm environmental health program for schools that-... 

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