PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL PROTECTION

The formation of the International Center for Environment Safety and Health (ICESH) was based on the notion that activities related to protection of environment, occupational safety and protection of workers health have a great deal in common. Furthermore, it appeared that many production, research, health care and other facilities in certain countries would benefit from the availability of an information system written in a language useable by individuals who may not be necessarily trained in the legal jargon.

It is hoped that the identification and description of these principles will guide the international audience of ICESH in developing site-specific policies, guides and other materials and thus enhance environmental and occupational protection

General Principles

Rule I: The scientific foundation of legal and other requirements governing environmental and occupational protection must be based on Best Available Science (BAS)

It should be obvious that protection of environment, occupational safety and health must rely upon credible science. ICESH has adopted the concept of Best Available Science from the Institute for Regulatory Science (RSI).
Much of the information dealing with environmental protection and occupational health fall in the category of evolving science. In contrast a great deal of information dealing with occupational safety is based on application of scientific laws. Peer review and consensus process are mandatory for acceptability of all relevant requirements or decisions. Environmental and occupational protection deserve nothing less than Best Available Science

Rule II: The Ultimate objective of environmental and occupational management is the protection of human health and welfare.

The stated goal of the overwhelming majority of laws dealing with environmental protection in the U. S. and elsewhere and all laws dealing with occupational protection is the protection human health. Most countries enact laws dealing with air, water (surface water, groundwater, and oceans), soil, food, and numerous others to protect humans. At least in the U. S. the Endangered Species Act was enacted because of the desire to retain the genetic pool as potential sources for application in medicine and technology. It is correctly argued that an unhealthy ecosystem is unlikely to produce materials that are fit for human consumption.

Rule III: Environmental and occupational protection must be the second objective of every operation.

The primary objective of every operation is the accomplishment of its stated objective. For example, the primary objective of a facility that is designed to produce a specific chemical is the production. However, a production must consider the requirements of environmental protection by controlling the atmospheric emissions, treatment of waste water, and proper management of waste. Similarly, the objective of an investigator may be to synthesize a chemical, analyze a mixture, or evaluate a chemical reaction. However, all of these and all other activities that involve a contaminant must accept safety as their secondary objective. The literature is littered with failed attempts to accomplish a task because environmental and occupational requirements were not appropriately considered and accommodated.

Rule IV: Emergency Planning and Preparedness

Rule V Information and Training

Rule VI: Environmental and Occupational protection requires the appointment custodians for each operation.

Principle Applicable to Environmental Protection

Rule VII: The humanity has an ethical obligation to avoid unnecessary endangerment of other living organisms.

Protection of living organisms is deeply rooted in most cultures. Although ethics is not based on any accepted scientific system, it is well accepted not only internationally but also in most countries of the world. Avoidance of cruelty to animals is a well-established and commonly practiced principle. However, this concept does not imply that the population of various organisms cannot be reduced or eliminated. For example, a great deal of effort has been made to reduce or eliminate the mosquito theta is a vector for transmission of microorganism that causes malaria. Instead, the balance between the need to harm an organism and ethical considerations must be based on application of Best Available Science to resolve scientific issues to be followed by appropriate ethical considerations.

Rule VIII: Those responsible for environmental degradation are responsible for its remediation.

Principles Applicable to Occupational Protection

Rule IX Facilities
Rule X pressure, temp Protective
Rule XI: All activities that may enhance the intake of toxic agents by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption must be prohibited in an occupational operation.
Rule XII Preplanning must be an inherent part of any operation

Societal Principles

Rule XIII: A healthy economy is a prerequisite for attention to environmental and occupational protection

Rule XIV: Those who have been involuntarily subjected to exposure to hazardous conditions, loss of property, or limitations to freedom of action must receive just compensation

Rule XV: No municipality, state, province, state or country may undertake activities that exposes individuals outside of its legal entity to contaminants above acceptable levels.

The acceptability of contaminant levels must occur at two steps. In the first step the adverse effects must be determined through the peer review and consensus processes. Subsequently, the acceptability of the resulting risk must be agreed upon based on standards prevailing internationally and/or in the in the respective areas.

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