Answer:

• Is it expected to protect the health of ALL the workers exposed to the hazard that the standard specifies?
• Does adhering to the standard protect the health of workers at all times in all types of conditions?

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Question #2:

• What are some types of standards that you are aware of in occupational and environmental health?

  
  

  Answer:

  
  
  1. Legal frameworks for overall working environment and work processes, for example, the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  2. Standards for instituting medical surveillance programmes, for example, the Lead Regulations.
  3. Standards for exposure levels or biological indices e.g occupational exposure levels as per the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations.
  4. Standards established by international agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation’s Codes of Practice.

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  Question #3:

  • What criteria need to be considered when setting standards?

    
    

    Answer:

    
    Standards should aim to prevent health impairment. Zeilhuis (1991) argues that the no observed (adverse) effect level (NOAEL/NOEL) should be the basis for standards. An adverse effect is the "causation, promotion, facilitation and/or exacerbation of a structural and/or functional abnormality. The abnormality has the potential of lowering the quality of life, causing a disabling illness or leading to a premature death" (WHO, 1978).

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