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Occupational health and safety officers in many industries are usually very concerned with the exposure of the workforce to potentially harmful situations including radiation, repetitive motion injuries, toxic chemicals and industrial accidents. As one of these officers working in a paint manufacturing plant, I have been, for years, concerned about the exposure of the workforce to a chemical known as Methyl Titanium. The chemical is essential in the process of paint manufacturing.
No study has ever shown that exposure to the chemical is harmful; however, my investigations have shown that the part of the workforce in the plant that comes into contact with the chemical seems to use more sick days on average each year compared to the part that is not. This has made me very suspicious about the safety of Methyl Titanium.
There are no substitutes for this chemical in the paint-making process; therefore the company cannot stop using it. In this light, Im contemplating applying the Precautionary Principle to remedy this situation.
The Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle is a measure taken beforehand against possible danger (Websters 2nd Edition of the New World Dictionary, qtd by Graham, 2004). This is aimed at protecting the force in the time being before sufficient evidence is produced pertaining to the safety or otherwise of the situation; this prevents irreversible or/and severe harm coming to the workforce due to exposure. The precaution principle is used when science cannot give a clear path to follow in handling a situation.
In this case, there isnt enough scientific evidence to show that exposure to Methyl Titanium is harmful; however, the precautionary principle may be applied until such evidence is available. Therefore the decision to apply the principle will be based on the external validity of my observation. External validity is defined as the approximate truth of propositions, inferences, or conclusions that are based on generalizations (Trochim W., 2006).
For example in this case, I have generalized the group that I observe into those exposed and those not exposed; and I came up to a conclusion that exposure resulted in more sickness during the year. Whether this conclusion would hold for another group in another place and time defines the external validity of my conclusion. The other forms of validity are internal validity (based on experimentation) and ecological validity.
The justification for reporting this and for applying this precaution is to protect our work force from harm. This will cushion the workers and the plant from costs that arise from health implication arising from exposure to the chemical. The direct costs to the workers may include the cost of life (death),diseases, pain and suffering, health care, loss of employment and of income; the indirect cost , like the suffering of the family that cannot be quantified are estimated to be up to 4 to ten times the direct ones [ILO].
To the employer, the direct costs of the workforces ill health will include a low morale of the workers, reduced quality of work, payment of work not performed, reduction in production ; and healthcare and compensation payment. Some indirect costs to the employer are replacement of workers, negative feelings by fellow workers, training of new workers and time spent in investigation and writing of reports pertaining the health situation [ILO]. In order to avoid all these cost that may arise in the future due to ignorance of the situation, it is prudent to employ precautionary measures at this juncture.
In order to manage the potential risk associated with the contact with Methyl Titanium, I have come up with three programs.
Informed consent program; this will involve revealing the findings of my observation to both the workers and the management. This will allow the workers to choose whether they want to continue working in the section or not (preferably in writing). This will effectively transfer the responsibility from the company to the worker.
Reduction of exposure program; this will aim at reducing as much as possible the contact between the chemical and the workers. This can be done in several ways. One way is by reducing the time that the workers are exposed; either by reducing the days in the week that an individual works in the exposure section, or the hour in the day; the workers can go in shifts. The other way of reducing exposure is providing protective gear to the worker that is impenetrable to the chemical.
Records and research program; this will aim at keeping long term records of the exposure and their effects; this will help in retrospective studies. Additionally, the management will be compelled to initiate and fund research pertaining the effects of exposure to Methyl Titanium on health so that future decisions will be scientifically informed.
Effects of Applying the Precautionary Principle
In this case, there maybe effects of applying the principle. First of all, the claim of hazard may be over-exaggerated (Graham, 2006). This will result in an investment of time and money to fight a risk that never was. The claim nay also cause a halting of operation for further investigation; the firm will loose time and money and the workers may have to be laid off in the period of closure. The claims, if made public may lead to an industrywide boycott of the chemical without any scientific proof of the claims; this will have a severe economic repercussion to the companies who produce and supply it.
Conclusion
What is the value of human life? The measure that can be put in place at least to make sure that no harm comes to human life cannot be escaped. The precautionary measures may cost some money or cause some inconveniency; but if in the future my suspicions are proven true, then will shall have saved many lives and prevented human suffering. If indeed the chemical has no harm, then it is my belief that its no folly to be cautious.
References
Graham John D, Ph.D. (2004), The Perils of the Precautionary Principle: Lessons from the American and European Experience. Web.
International Labour Organization: (Not dated): Your health and safety at work; Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety. Web.
Pollan Michael, (2001), Precautionary Principle: Science & Environmental Health Network: Science, Ethics and Action in the Public Interest. Web.
Trochim, William M.K.: (2006): External validity: Research Methods Knowledge Base. Web.
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