Controlling health risks

The final article, by S. G. Bell and G. A. Codd of the University of Dundee Department of Biological Services, is concerned with detection, analysis, and risk assessment of cyanobacterial toxins. These can be responsible for animal, fish, and bird deaths and for ill-health in humans. The occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms and scums on nutrient-rich waters is a world-wide phenomenon and cases are cited from Australia, the USA, and China, as well as throughout Europe. The causes, indentification and assessment of risk, and establishment of criteria for controlling risk are discussed. 

State intervention in man s activities to protect the health of the inhabitants goes back to prehistory. The motivation may not have been altogether altruistic the king acted to protect his subjects because he regarded them as his property. Public health protection began for disease control. With industrialization, came the need for control of even more hazardous forces and substances. This extended protection became technological in accident analysis and response. Present efforts in controlling risk, such as from nuclear power, are a continuation of this development. 

Rational control of health and environnental risks from technical development requires scientific knowledge which must be acquired through the orderly process of the scientific method of inquiry. Contrary to widely held opinions the latter is no less subjective than other rational human endeavors which require decisions under uncertainty. Indeed, to be applied, the method requires a value system which in ordinary research is supplied by the various scientific disciplines. Because of differences among the disciplinary value systems problems often arise in the interdisciplinary settings of efforts to control risks from technical development. Metrics, the concepts, theory, and practice of measurement is suggested here as a way to deal with such problems. 

Over the years, scientific research with human subjects has provided valuable information to help characterize and control risks to public health, but its use has also raised particular ethical concerns for the welfare of the human participants in such research as well as scientific issues related to the role of such research in assessing risks. Society has responded to these concerns by defining general standards for conducting human research. As an example, studies carried out for the authorization of a medical product, have to be conducted in line with the World Medical Association s Declaration of Helsinki, which describes the general ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects (World Medical Association 2004). The Helsinki Declaration was first issued by the World Medical Association in 1964 and has been revised several times since then. 

Full details are given in the HSE information leaflets obtainable as given below see also RSC (1996). Before the commencement of any work that involves or creates substances that may be hazardous to health, the risks, control measures and disposal procedures to be adopted should be assessed and recorded on appropriate forms. These should be signed by the assessor, and where appropriate by the student, and then countersigned by the Head of Department. One copy should be kept for local reference in the laboratory, with the original filed centrally for inspection by external inspectors. Only after this, should any new chemicals be ordered by a designated person (or deputy) who should check that the COSHH form has been duly completed. COSHH guidelines may be summarized in seven points ... 

The thickness of the platelets can be adjusted by controlling the reaction conditions to produce interference colors. The pigment crystals are mechanically sensitive and show a fast sedimentation behavior because of the high density (6.4gcm 3). Agglomeration tendency and occupational health (toxicity) risks are the reason why Pb(OH)2 2PbC03 is not produced in powder form, but is flushed from the aqueous phase into suitable organic solvents or resins and handled as stabilized dispersions. Today, the application of basic lead carbonate is limited to artificial pearls, buttons, and bijouterie. 

Gaylor, D.W. 1983. The use of safety factors for controlling risk. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 11 (3) 329-336. 

Scientists assess a risk to find out what the problems are. The process of deciding what to do about the problem is risk management. The second procedure involved a much broader army of disciplines, and is aimed toward a decision about control. Risk management assumes we have assessed the health risks of a suspect chemical... 

The exposure control strategy for a given site should be designed to address each of the health/environmental risk reduction requirements identified in the risk-based evaluation. The appropriate exposure control strategy for a given site will depend on the nature of the health/environmental risk reduction requirements. 

L OELs should control risks to health — They should provide standards that could be used along with other information to decide on appropriate control measures and to assess the adequacy of measures in place... 

The reservoirs are the dinoflagellates causing the DSP the poisoning source and transmission mechanism are the bivalve shellfish with toxins—mainly mussels, although sometimes scallops are also involved. The subjects at risk are the people eating them, who usually live on the coast, have a low education, and are consumers of shellfish moreover, they pick the shellfish themselves directly from the shore, thus bypassing any health control, which increases the risk. 

Personal features People most at risk are those living on the seashore of countries with underdeveloped monitoring systems, with no watch network for sea toxicity events, and a low level of health education. Traditionally, they are consumers of shellhsh, which they usually pick themselves from the sea without it undergoing any health control. There are no differences in sex and age. 

International Electrotechnical Commission. International standard lEC 61508 functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety related systems. Geneva 2000. Health and Safety Executive. Controlling the risks in the workplace. [Online]. 2015 [cited 2015 July. Available from http //www.hse.gov.uk/risk/controlling-risks.htm. 

Health and Safety Executive (2014) Risk Assessment - A Brief Guide to Controlling Risks in the Workplace [Online]. Available http //www.hse. gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf [8 October 2015]. 

After the global financial and economic crisis in 2009, business leaders wondered whether MBA schools were adequately addressing business ethics, especially with regard to controlling risk. In many cases, the economic risks to an individual business can be reduced in such a way that systemic risk to the entire economy is increased. It is also commonly known that a short-term focus may place the long-term health of the business in jeopardy. 

Formally accept (or reject) the Safety Case after it has been prepared and presented by the operator. Not only must the Safety Case as written be accepted, the operator has to demonstrate that his organization has the ability, management commitment and resources to properly assess and effectively control risks to the health and safety of staff and the general public. 

As previously mentioned, to meet Health and Safety requirements class teachers must understand and apply the principles of risk assessment and follow regular and approved practice. If pupils are to become responsible, safety conscious adults, they too need to learn how to assess and control risks. This is an essential requirement of the National Curriculum Science Orders (DFE, 1995) that require teachers to promote in pupils a sense of personal responsibility for health and safety in the context of science (see Figure 7.1). Furthermore, changes to teacher training courses (DFE Circular, 14/93) mean that schools now assume greater responsibility for the training of prospective teachers and therefore need to ensure that... 

The health and safety management system is the process which turns uncontrolled hazards to controlled risks. The key elements are ... 

Using chemicals and other hazardous substances at work can put peoples health at risk. So the law requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health. Effects from hazardous substances include ... 

The application of ergonomics in a system that includes the following components health and risk factor (job or worksite) surveillance, job analysis and design (hazard prevention and control), medical management, and education and training. 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was passed in 1947 and administered by the US Department of Agriculture. The EPA became responsible for the act in 1970. A 1972 amendment included provisions to protect public health and the environment. FIFRA controls risks of pesticides through a registration system. EPA can refuse to register a pesticide or to limit its use if evidence indicates a threat to humans and the environment. All pesticides and general disinfectants used in healthcare facilities must hold EPA registration. 

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