Industrial screening programs for workers

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Environment; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1982.9932495· OSTI ID:5108342

Lavine, M P

Industrial screening efforts to identify classes of workers who are more susceptible to workplace hazards, by virtue of their fertility, genetic, or lifestyle characteristics, represent a relatively new approach to reducing workplace risks. Screening is attractive on cost and effectiveness grounds. It offers the firm an inexpensive alternative to reducing further workplace emissions. It may provide the only acceptable solution where no level of exposure is deemed acceptable for some workers. Screening has, however, already raised some important economic, legal, social, medical, and moral questions. Employers, employees, administrative agencies, and the courts are offering different, often conflicting answers. Ultimately, the acceptability of various screening schemes rests upon judgments about how a society justifies the distribution of risk. The questions that industrial screening programs raise are only partially answered by empirical evidence; the rest is a matter of values. 38 references, 1 figure, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, PA
• OSTI ID: 5108342
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 24:5; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
COST
EMPLOYMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ETHICS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LEGAL ASPECTS
PERSONNEL
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS