Source
American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo, May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim, California. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2005 May; :1
Abstract
In the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami in Asia, significant occupational health and safety issues emerged that required urgent attention. Several groups were deployed either in rapid assessment or coordinating teams to evaluate occupational hazards and safety risks in the affected regions. Through their technical capacity and staff support, they were able to make significant impact on identified problems, as well as partner with international groups and agencies, trade associations, and workers’ and employers’ organizations. This roundtable will describe efforts undertaken to identify pressing occupational health and safety concerns in the midst of this calamity and innovative methods that provided direct assistance to those in need. Roundtable participants will discuss field experiences. This session will provide a framework to enhance the ability of the occupational safety and health community to work more closely in future events.