ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the need for engineering controls to reduce the risk of adverse health effects due to occupational exposures at hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal fa­ cilities. From a management perspective, the best opportunity for preventing adverse health effects lies with engineers who can recognize the potential risks while designing processes for waste minimization. One of the first steps toward reducing risk is the awareness of the etiology of the adverse health effect. In some cases, once an engineer becomes aware of a potential problem, the solution to reducing the risk is apparent. Therefore this chapter begins with a discussion of identification and prevention of health hazards. Examples are presented of workrelated hazards found in general industry and in several emerging hazardous waste treatment technologies.