38 Trainings
W Series
Managing Occupational Health Risks and Liabilities Renowned industrial hygienist and educator Dr. Jas Singh explains the need for occupational health programmes in Asia, Middle East and Africa
C
ompanies are increasingly implementing occupational health programs as they have adopted regulations to protect workers from exposure to hazardous materials and physical agents such as noise, heat stress, radiation, and ergonomic stresses. Such developments are relatively new to many Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries that are trying to implement measures to protect workers and comply with the expanding regulations. Market Insights
Worker exposure hazards are numerous and complex in the oil, gas and mining industries; the two industries important to the Middle Eastern and African regions. It should be noted that despite exposures to highly toxic and sometimes carcinogenic materials such as benzene in the oil and gas industry and asbestos and toxic metals- mercury among thosethere is a lack of recognition and control efforts in these industries. Much of this inaction is perhaps
Issue 02 | 2017 | www.imarketinsights.com
related to the lack of qualified and credentialed individuals in occupational hygiene disciplines in the region. Two of the oldest and most respected occupational hygiene organizations below have made recent efforts to fill this gap. These are the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and The American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), which have developed criteria and credentials to improve practices in