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Industrial screening programs for workers

Journal Article · · Environment; (United States)

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