Prevention of occupational and environmental diseases by implementation of ISO14000 and BS8800 for industries

Abstract

KEY WORDS Rapid industrialization usually brings both economic development and environ-environmental diseases mental pollution, which often produces occupational diseases in the workplaceoccupational diseases and environmental diseases in the nearby community. From experience of docu-ISO 14000 menting 17 occupational diseases, we found that they resulted from a lack ofBS 8800 a comprehensive hazard communication system. The spillage of such unknownchemical hazards also produced environmental diseases for the neighbouringfactories and community. Because the general treatment of occupational andenvironmental diseases must include the identification of hazard and taking pre-ventive procedures to avoid further exposure, it is essential to recognize andcontrol the hazard at the start of an industry. Thus, implementation of the lifecycle assessment in ISO (International Organization of Standardization) 14000series will guide an industry to identify and minimize the use of hazardouschemicals. A similar practice of risk assessment and reduction for every unit oper-ation in the production process proposed by BS (British Standard) 8800 will alsohelp to improve occupational health. Although implementation of such systemsis a voluntary compliance, actual practice demands the same systems in relatedor satellite factories and has a strong market implication.Copyright