Risk Assessment in the Working Environment in Estonia

• Autorzy: Tint P.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The first step to chart hazards in the working environment in Estonia (labour force: 0.65 million) was taken by the National Board of Health Protection in the beginning of 1996. The existing chemical, physical, and biological agents in the working environment were investigated with the help of local health inspectors in all counties. An identification of hazards and workers at risk was carried out. The results of the analysis showed that 16% of Estonian industrial workers are exposed to different hazards: 20,000 persons are exposed to noise, 11,000 are working in the conditions of vibration, 10,000 are affected by unsatisfactory microclimate, 6,000 complain about long-lasting work in a compulsory posture, the overexertion of eyes'is suffered by 5,500 persons, and physical overload by 3,500 workers. In the group of chemical hazards the greatest numbers of workers are exposed to organic dust (6,500) and welding aerosols (5,400), followed by petroleum products (2,700), and oil-shale dust (4,300). The measurements of working conditions showed that an average of 30.3% of the results are above the standards. Proposals for the improvement of the situation in occupational safety and health are presented.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

occupational risks; noise; vibration; chemicals

PL

ryzyko zawodowe; hałas; chemikalia

• Wydawca: Taylor & Francis
• Czasopismo: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics
• Rocznik: 1998
• Tom: Vol. 4, No. 2
• Strony: 237--248
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 10 poz., rys., wykr.

Twórcy

autor

Tint P.

• Tallinn Technical University, Estonia

Bibliografia

• [1] Aitio, A. (1991). Hitsaushuurut mahdollisimman vähiin [The welding aerosols as few as possible], Työ. Terveys. Turvallisuus, 21(5), 13.
• [2] Antti-Poika, M. (Ed.). (1993). Työperäiset sairaudet [Occupational diseases], Helsinki, Finland: Työterveyslaitos.
• [3] Commission Recommendation of 22 May 1990 to the Member States concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupation diseases (90/326/EEC). Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L 160, 26 June 1990. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 3 9-43 .
• [4] European Commission, Directorate General V. (1996). Guidance on risk assessment at work. Health and safety. Luxembourg: Author.
• [5] Kalliokoski, P., Pfäffli, P., Riihimäki, V., Starck, J., Vaaranen, V., & Helminen, P. (Eds.). (1992). Työhygienia. Työolot ja niiden parantaminen [Occupational hygiene.
• [6] Working conditions and their improvement]. Helsinki, Finland: Työterveyslaitos. Occupational health in Estonia. National report. (1996). Estonian Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, 1, 33-35.
• [7] Roots, I. (1996). Health and working environment. In Health Protection 1995 (pp. 42-47). Tallinn ; Estonia: National Board for Health Protection and Institute of Preventive Medicine.
• [8] Swuste, P., Corn, M., & Goelzer, B. (1994). Hazard prevention and control in the work environment. Estonian Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, 2-3, 19-20.
• [9] Tint, P. (1996). The state and development possibilities of occupational safety in Estonia. In Abstracts of Occupational Health and Safety in Progress. Northern-Baltic-Karelian Regional Symposium (pp. 93-95). Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
• [10] Tint, P., & Saarela, K.L. (1994). Possibilities of development of occupational safety at Estonian enterprises. Estonian Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, 2-3, 23-24.