Emergency services: occupational safety and health risks
English
Description
This report shows that emergency workers have a high risk of suffering fatal accidents, injuries and occupational diseases. Past disasters demonstrate that both communities and companies are often not fully prepared for major accidents and catastrophes. Better protection for emergency service workers against occupational hazards should be given high priority, as current environmental, economic and political developments suggest that there will be an increase in the severity and frequency of disasters in the future.
Other data
Carbon monoxide, ammonia, cyanide, isocyanides, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, phosgene, methane, sulphur dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzodioxins including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), asbestos, synthetic polymers nerve agents (sarin), blood agents (hydrogen cyanide), blister agents (nitrogen and sulphur mustards), heavy metals (arsenic), volatile toxins (benzene), pulmonary agents (phosgene), poisonous gases (cyanides), and corrosive acids carbon monoxide, ammonia, phosgene, sulfur dioxide