Evidence-Based Tool for Redefining an Approach to Severe Malnutrition in Complex Emergencies

Abstract

Abstracts -13th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicinedistributed to the workers to assess their hazard exposures and their local experiences related to work and industrial hazards, chemical exposures, and their consequent health effects. Interviews and focus group discussions also were conducted. Results: There was 100% use of chemicals in the industries used as raw material or solvents for processing including toluene, alcohols, lead, and trichloro-and perchloroethylene. The industries generated dust and vapours, as well as acids and caustics. The blood lead levels of the 285 subjects sampled indicated that 40.7% had blood lead levels within the 21-30 ug/dL, which is considered by the Department of Health as inimical to the health of workers. When hazards and illness were correlated with the alpha set at 0.05, radiation exposure was associated with bone pain, and dust exposure with eye strain and viral exposure. Based on the results, a proposed exposure rating instrument for chemical exposure was developed. This tool provides an easy assessment of chemical risks using factors such as contact with the body surface, generation of vapor within the breathing zone, threshold limit values (TLV), and exposure time. For example, exposure rating estimate of "0" means "no" exposure either through dermal contact or within the breathing zone of the worker. "Moderate" exposure is given an estimate of "2", which means an exposure time of less than 50% of the total 8-hour workday. "Very high" exposure is excessive exposure above the TLV that varies by the chemical, and when the exposure time is beyond the 8-hour work duration. The interviews revealed that the terms of employment included lack of social benefits, practice of unfair labor terms like apprenticeship where workers are given only 75% of the minimum wage, forced overtime, piece-rate wage rather than daily minimum wage, and the restriction from organizing labor. Recommendations:It is suggested that a broad front of strategies coupled by a policy framework for industrial hazard exposures be developed. To fight for social inclusion at work means more involvement of the stakeholders in the development of actions to improve their control of their work, enhanced entitlements to economic and social benefits through policy frameworks of national governments and a thorough democratic alliance of various sectors including the now, so called third sector, so that social objectives are not subjugated to pure economic considerations. Disasters from industrial hazards can be reduced or controlled through the review of labour standards and the engagement of workers themselves through active labour organization to attain levels of safety and health in the workplace.