The Double Standard in Industrial Hazards

Abstract

Industrial health hazards, both occupational and environmental, have been the object of increasing concern in industrialized nations. Control requirements and compensation liabilities have favored the emergence of alternatives to asbestos, carcinogenic dye intermediates, mercury, and other very hazardous materials. However, despite the domination of world markets and production by firms well aware of such dangers, progress has been delayed in the developing countries. Numerous examples of a double standard in health protection are cited, in which the affiliates of companies based in the United States, Europe, and Japan expose workers and communities in developing countries to dangers that would not be tolerated in the home countries of the multinationals. This widespread problem stands as a threat to public health and a challenge to professionals in this field, worldwide.