Health Aspects
GOAL
Protect the health of workers and the public from the adverse effects of a chemical accident (chemical releases, explosions, fires).
The assessment of the risks of a hazardous installation should consider all potential health impacts from different accident scenarios. This would include: immediate harm; longer-term consequences from acute exposure (such as cancer and chronic diseases); indirect impacts from the result of contaminated drinking water or food; and psychological damage. Consideration should be given to potential impacts to workers, the public and emergency response personnel.
Suggested activities include:
- Ensure that hazard identification and risk assessments of hazardous installations take into account all the potential health impacts of a range of scenarios
- Involve medical and welfare services, including hospitals and public health agencies, in emergency planning processes
- Develop back-up plans if local treatment facilities are inadequate or impacted by the accident/natural disaster
- Make available information needed by emergency response personnel for identification, triage, initial treatment and rehabilitation of those injured by a chemical accident
- Assess the medical resources needed to respond to different types of emergencies and ensure that these are available (including antidotes, oxygen, transportation, decontamination equipment and personal protective equipment)
- Establish mechanisms to facilitate pooling and/or sharing medical resources
- Take into account the need to protect health care workers from exposure to hazardous substances (e.g., from handling victims or unexpected exposure at the accident site)
- Ensure that hospitals and other treatment facilities develop an emergency plans, coordinated with the local off-site plan
- Establish and maintain training programmes for response personnel and medical/health personnel
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- WHO - Human Health Risk Assessment Toolkit: Chemical Hazards, second edition [2021]
- UNEP: A Flexible Framework for addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness – A Guidance Document (2010)
- OECD: Guidance concerning Health Aspects of Chemical Accidents (1996)
- IPCS, OECD, UNEP, and WHO: Health Aspects of Chemical Accidents: Guidance on Chemical Accident Awareness, Preparedness and Response for Health Professionals and Emergency Responders (1994)
- WHO - Manual for the Public Health Management of Chemical Incidents [2009]